OYYAM YouTube

OYYAM's YouTube channel is now up and running with the first videos, including the Convention, Rally, Ascend and Challenge Course videos for you to view. Check back on this channel regularly for videos of events and to stay connected with programs and services as the office offers them.

Subscribe to our channel at :http://www.youtube.com/user/seattleoyyam

Young Adult Service Team Applications

Today marks the deadline for Young Adult Service Team Applications for next year. We are excited to meet all the potential members and potentially have the largest team in our history. We have some really promising applications already and have completed a number of interviews, and offered a few positions. Please pray for the young adults discerning this year long commitment to serving in our Archdiocese.

Strong Catholic Families: Strong Catholic Youth

OYYAM is happy to announce that the Strong Catholic Families: Strong Catholic Youth Program is coming to Seattle. This three part in-service is facilitated by NFCYM (the same people who bring you NCYC) , and is designed to equip trainers to work with families in their parish on building strong Catholic Families. Region Reps will be soliciting field staff to assist in training families and attend this training. We will announce the dates in the next few weeks, but look for more information on the website and blog.
Learn more by contacting your region representative or reading this sample program.

Youth and Young Adult Ministers Retreat

Save the Date for the annual Youth and Young Adult Ministers Retreat on June 1-3rd at Far Away Retreat Center.

Cost is $50 per person please contact your region rep with any questions you may have.

CMD Certificate Program

Just a reminder to everyone that the CMD Certificate in Youth Ministry Studies Program is scheduled for April 24-25th in the OYYAM offices. To learn more about the program, visit http://seattleoyyam.org/?page_id=1987. If you went to class one, or are interested in starting the program contact your region rep for more information. Each region has limited scholarships available for those wishing to go.

Challenge Course Facilitators needed

OYYAM is hosting training on the new High Ropes at Camp Hamilton this Friday and Saturday. We need 2-3 people, who are looking for a way to supplement their income through weekend work. If you or someone from your parish feels called to support this leadership development program please contact Bridget at bridget.harris@seattlearch.org.

Calendaring for next year?

Calendaring for next year? Don't forget to check OYYAM's calendar for important dates such as Youth Convention, Retreat Offerings, Leadership Camp Dates, and all your gatherings. You can check just the information you want on each ministry specific calendar or get all of OYYAM's scheduled events and programs at our main department calendar.

For questions about any programs or events be sure to check the website at http://seattleoyyam.org.

Challenge Course Update

After this weekend, the new challenge course at Camp Hamilton will officially be offered to groups. Several of our staff will be out for training on this new equipment and the first 3 groups are scheduled to use the equipment in May.
The dedication of this new course is also scheduled for May 22nd. Look for more information about everything this new course offers under challenge learning at http://seattleoyyam.org. To inquire about availability for your group contact Bridget Harris at bridget.harris@seattlearch.org

Frances Farrel

It is with mixed feelings that the Office for Youth and Young Adult Ministry announces that Frances Farrell has discerned leaving her position as a Director in our office. Frances accepted the position of Pastoral Assistant for Administration at St. Joseph Church in Vancouver and will begin there on April 19th.

Over the past 6 years Frances has overseen, Youth Convention, Junior High Rally, One Week, countless service trips, Young Adult Ministry including the Young Adult Conference and most recently Outdoor Ministry and Hispanic Youth and Young Adult Ministry. Prior to that she served in many other roles at the Chancery.

Although Frances will be missed at the office, we wish her well as she moves into her next ministry. Please join us in sending Frances to her new job with the prayers and support of this community.

Camp Nurses Wanted!

Come and be a nurse at one of our three summer camps in Western Washington! We are currently looking for nurses to be a part of our staff. Gain excellent experience overseeing the health and safety of campers and staff. Nurses receive a stipend as well as a free campership for up to 2 children.

Minimum Qualifications

• Licensed in Washington State as a registered nurse (or other appropriate training as approved by the camp physician)
• Experience with children and young adults desirable
• Ability to originate, update, and/or monitor health care, maintain records, and implement the health care plan
• Current CPR and First Aid certifications
• Desire to work and live in a camp community

Compensation for Nurses

• 2 camperships for your children
• $50/day
• Staff T-shirt

For more information contact Jamie Fredrickson Jamie.fredricskon@seattlearch.org 206.274.3186

Leadership Retreats Summer 2010

OYYAM is busy planning this summers Leadership Camps for youth in your parish and school. For more information about any of these programs follow the link below or email Bridget Harris at bridget.harris@seattlearch.org
Ascend HD High School Leadership Camp
Ascend HD is calling those entering 11th and 12th grades into a more defined experience of leadership. Taking what they have learned already Ascend HD asks participants to commit to servant leadership and work in leadership more directly in parishes and schools. This year Ascend HD will be held at Camp Gallagher on the Key Peninsula.
Ascend High School Leadership Camp
Ascend is designed for youth entering grades 9 and 10. This 5 day 4 night leadership camp takes place at Camp Hamilton in Monroe Washington and helps younger leaders identify and strengthen the gifts needed for servant Leadership in Catholic parishes and schools.
Camp 4:12 Junior High Leadership Experience
Camp 4:12 is a 4 day 3 night leadership experience for those entering grades 7-9 in parishes around the Archdiocese.
Summit Junior High Leadership Camp
Summit Junior High is program offered to leadership teams from Catholic Grade Schools around the Archdiocese. This is perfect for student councils and other student leaders grades 7-8.

Junior High Rally

This year we had over 860 participants in Junior High Rally, which is the largest we have seen in years. Thank you to everyone who made Rally possible.

For those of you who can't wait, or don't want to miss any information about Junior High Rally follow us on Facebook.

Junior High Rally - Record Numbers

Come to Junior High Rally to see the largest turn out we can remember at 860 registered participants. Thank you to all of those who put groups together.

Summer Camp Registration Open!

Summer Camp Registration is open for all three camps this summer. If you have youth in your parish who have never been to summer we invite you and them to come to the CYO booth at Rally to learn more about Catholic Camping.

More information and registration is available at camping.seattleoyyam.org.

Social Networking

As many of you may be noticing OYYAM’s presence on Social Networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook has been slowly increasing over the past few weeks. We have embarked on a pilot program within the Chancery to outline new policies and procedures around the use of technology in a constantly evolving environment.

Pope Benedict the XVI addresses the priests of the world on this issue in his annual World Communications Day address with the following:
“Responding adequately to this challenge amid today’s cultural shifts, to which young people are especially sensitive, necessarily involves using new communications technologies. The world of digital communication, with its almost limitless expressive capacity, makes us appreciate all the more Saint Paul’s exclamation: “Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel” (1 Cor 9:16) The increased availability of the new technologies demands greater responsibility on the part of those called to proclaim the Word, but it also requires them to become more focused, efficient and compelling in their efforts. Priests stand at the threshold of a new era: as new technologies create deeper forms of relationship across greater distances, they are called to respond pastorally by putting the media ever more effectively at the service of the Word.” read more

We are working to answer the Pope’s challenge to put the media at the service of the World and hope to soon be able to announce a revised policy about Social Networking and social media. However, we would like to remind all of our youth ministry community that we are in a pilot program phase and ask that you remain within the existing policy until the time a new policy is communicated.

Rally - a few weeks away

Junior High Rally 2010

Dive Deep

March 6th

Highline Community College

Reminder Junior High Rally is just two and half weeks away and the first registration deadline is next Friday so be sure to send your parish/school registration in as soon as possible.

If you need your numbers for the "Whale of Deal" offer so you can offer more teens the opportunity to experiance Junior High Rally, please contact your region rep.

For more information about Rally go to http://seattleoyyam.org and click on the picture of Archbishop Brunett at Convention to go to the events page. Or use the drop down menu.

For questions about Rally email Britta Folden at britta.folden@seattlearch.org

Young Adult Lenten Retreat

We just wanted to remind everyone that the deadline for registering for the Young Adult Lenten Retreat is approaching. Because the deadline falls on a Saturday we are extending the early registration deadline to Tuesday, February 15th.

If you or a Young Adult from your parish is interested have them contact Bridget Harris to register or find more information under retreat ministry at http://seattleoyyam.org.

Debbie Fisher's Mom

I am writing today with a request for prayer. Many of you know our registrar, Debbie Fisher. She is the wonderful person on the other end of the phone who answers your questions about summer camp and helps you with all registration questions and needs for Rally, Convention, and retreats. Debbie's mother, Sheila, passed away suddenly last week. Understandably, this is a very difficult time for Debbie. She has asked for prayers from all in her OYYAM and CYO family including all of our collaborators in ministry to youth and young adults - that's you! Please join us in holding Debbie close in your thoughts and prayers at this time.

Thanks.

Peace,

Frances

Retreats this weekend

The third Confirmation Retreat of the year starts tonight as well as the first Marriage Preparation Retreat of the year.

Please keep the youth and young adult participants at both of these retreats in your prayers this weekend.

For more information about Marriage Preparation Retreats or Confirmation Retreats visit the retreat ministry section of http://seattleoyyam.org.

Ascend HD Date Change

Due to several school conflicts we have changed the dates of Ascend HD. Ascend HD will now begin one day later on June 23rd and end one day later on June 27th.
Go to the leadership development section of http://seattleoyyam.org for more information.