Thank you for sending youth representatives to the Diocesan Youth Council!
WHAT IS THE DIOCESAN YOUTH COUNCIL?
The DYC is an advisory body to the youth ministry efforts of the Diocesan Office for Missionary Discipleship and Evangelization. It is a group of High School teens who represent the parishes and Catholic high schools in the Catholic Diocese of Gary. The members of this body advise the Office in two ways. First, they act as a spokesperson for the needs of youth in their parishes and schools. Second, are an integral part of the planning and implementation of youth activities that encourage and support total youth ministry in the diocese. The DYC meets once a month.
WHAT HAPPENS AT THE DYC MEETINGS?
Each month is a little different, but generally each meeting includes: prayer, introductions and ministry updates, updates on diocesan & other programs open to anyone, leadership skills development/exercises, etc. Guest speakers present various approaches to Christian Catholic leadership development. Teens will also be empowered to use their leadership & ministry skills at various youth ministry activities and back in their home parishes.
HOW SHOULD PARISH AND SCHOOL LEADERS SELECT DYC REPS?
We leave that up to the parishes and schools! We encourage adult youth leaders to read the DYC bylaws to get a feel for the expectations of DYC reps. Diocesan leadership does not select your two reps- parish/school youth leaders do! We encourage prospective reps to submit the Information Sheet to the Office of Missionary Discipleship and Evangelization when reps have been selected. These Information Sheets are not “applications,” per se, but may be used as a tool for parish youth leaders if you have more than two youth interested in “applying” to serve on DYC. Here is the Information Sheet in English, and here is the Information Sheet in Spanish.
HOW MANY REPS CAN WE SEND?
Each parish can select up to two reps. It’s important to remember that the representative represents the entire parish/school, not just the youth/campus ministry, so if your youth program draws from multiple parishes, the rep should focus first on the one (s)he represents. The representative should be registered to that parish as well.
HOW LONG IS THE DYC TERM?
We will accept newcomers at any time, and we will honor our outgoing seniors in May of any given year. However, it is up to parish leaders to determine how long their reps serve. My recommendation is that parishes select reps to serve one or two year terms, starting in September. You may also wish to “stagger” your terms somehow, to make new reps feel more comfortable in the future.
TO WHOM IS THE REP ACCOUNTABLE?
During DYC gatherings, reps are accountable to the Coordinator of Youth Ministry for the Office of Missionary Discipleship (Vicky Hathaway), who will facilitate the meetings. Another youth ministry coordinator will also present during meetings. That person might rotate. Reps will receive monthly mailings that include permission forms for the next gathering that they are required to submit to the Coordinator of Youth Ministry for the Office of Missionary Discipleship. Reps’ YMC is also cc’d a copy of this mailing. Each rep is required to meet with their parish’s or school’s key youth ministry adult leader (youth minister, campus minister, director of religious education, pastor, or other designated adult youth ministry leader) at least once a month to process the monthly meetings, events, etc. Parish/School youth leaders are always welcome to attend DYC meetings, although never required.
WHAT IF WE DON'T HAVE A YOUTH MINISTRY PROGRAM AT THE PARISH?
That’s ok! The teens represent the parish community. If you have one or two high school students who are engaged in their faith and have shown an interest in leadership opportunities, encourage them to be your parish’s representatives!
I HAVE OUR REPS SELECTED. NOW WHAT?
Great! Send the names of the reps, along with their parent/guardian's contact information to Vicky Hathaway at [email protected]. She will send your reps welcome information, including an contact information form (Here in Spanish). If your reps are already serving on the council, send Vicky an email to confirm they will continue to serve. Don't forget that you can add reps at any time throughout the year! It's never too late to send a rep to the council.
You will be also added to an email list to receive all correspondence being sent to DYC reps. If there are others who should also receive these correspondence, please let Vicky know. To add yourself to the email list, please click here.