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CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE

Alums recount positive impact of CLI retreats

 

In the hectic months of prom season, Faith Toomey of St. Henry's parish in Averill Park took on the additional stress of helping to organize a "Belle of the Ball" dress sale. Youth ministry members collected donations of second-hand gowns, jewelry, shoes, and handbags, which were then sold at a parish sale for under $5. 

The event was a huge success, helping to make expensive proms affordable for many high school students, while benefiting St. Henry's youth ministry program.

Ms. Toomey credits her experience at the Albany Diocese's Christian Leadership Institute (CLI) with encouraging her interest in service and providing her with the skills necessary to organize and carry out the dress sale. 

CLI is a week-long opportunity for Christian leadership development, open to Catholics in their sophomore through senior year of high school. Offered twice each year, the retreat brings students from parishes throughout the Diocese together for an intensive week of workshops, prayer, small-group discussion and community living. 

Retreats such as CLI are one of the Diocese's many efforts to cultivate faith discussion among young Catholics. Diocesan students also take part in the Service Action Learning Team (SALT), a five-day program of service and social justice, and attend the National Catholic Youth Conference.

Recently, 11 CLI alumni of the 2008 retreats gathered at the Adirondack Center in Johnstown for a reunion weekend. The group did team-building exercises, completed a ropes course and attended Mass at Holy Trinity parish in Johnstown. 

Time was also spent in reflection and discussion of the life-changing influence of CLI.

Since returning home from the retreats last year, the students have put their new leadership skills to use in a variety of efforts. The graduates have joined parish councils and youth ministry teams, served as peer leaders on retreats and volunteered as catechists in their home parishes. 

CLI participant Katie Noll co-teaches Kindergarten in her home parish of St. John the Baptist in Valatie. Discussing her students, she said: "At first, it's hard to get them under control, but I remembered stuff I learned at CLI, and it really helped."

Former CLI participants also apply lessons of Christian leadership to activities outside the Church. Many hold leadership positions in school organizations such as the student council, debate teams and the Key Club (a Kiwanis-sponsored community service group for high school students). 

As vice president of the Key Club in South Colonie, Alex Mastromarchi of St. Francis de Sales parish in Loudonville en-courages community service among younger students. He and fellow club members are working to establish K-Kids and the Builder's Club, similar organizations targeted at elementary and junior high students.

CLI leaves its impact on participants by introducing values and lessons in an enjoyable and enthusiastic environment. 

"You find community that you would not be able to find just in your church," explained Katie Raftery of St John the Baptist parish in Valatie.

"They make it fun," added Madeleine Ringwald of St. Teresa of Avila parish in Albany. "You learn stuff that's actually of value, but they make it enjoyable."

(06/25/09) [[In-content Ad]]

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