CLI participants spend part of summer learning to lead

The first few weeks of summer vacation are a time when many high school students sleep late, hang out at the swimming pool or otherwise enjoy a break from hectic school schedules. But some Catholic teens don't even think about a break until they come back from the Christian Leadership Institute (CLI).

This year, the annual summertime CLI for youth was held at Pyramid Life Center in Paradox from June 27 through July 2. Fifty-five young people between 15 and 18 who are involved in ministries in their parishes, schools or communities participated.

CLI is sponsored by the Albany diocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis (OEC).

Body of Christ

Mary Harrison, associate director for youth ministry for the OEC, calls CLI an opportunity for young people to hone their leadership skills during six days of intensive learning and community living. The program includes workshops on leadership styles and skills, communication, decision-making, group dynamics, and planning.

"It gives our kids the opportunity to really experience what it means to be the 'Body of Christ' to each other, to be a living community," she told The Evangelist.

"The goal is to foster the leadership potential of each individual, and to increase his or her knowledge of the responsibilities of leadership in the parish, diocesan or high school ministry, and the larger Christian community."

What she learned

Monica Marois, a 17-year-old from Queensbury, said that the institute was "a great experience" because she learned several key things about leadership.

"I learned huge communication skills!" she said. "I also learned what goes into a positive experience in planning liturgies and in performing ministry."

Monica, who is active in youth ministry at Our Lady of the Annunciation parish, said that learning how to conduct a youth ministry service was "most enlightening. I also learned several key youth ministry components of leadership."

Energized

Monica is one of 20 members on her parish's youth ministry team who take part in community service. She also leads prayer sessions and participates in the faith formation program in her parish. She is looking forward to implementing what she learned at CLI in the youth ministry program.

"I hope to help create more energy in our program," she noted. "Even though the program is pretty good, we want it to be filled with more energy and dynamics than it already has. I want to schedule a youth ministry liturgy in the fall. I got a lot of really good ideas at CLI. I can't wait to start!"

On the last day of CLI, Bishop Howard J. Hubbard celebrated Mass, and "he was absolutely fantastic," Monica said. During his homily, "everything he said was genuine, and I could relate to it all."

Making friends

Christopher Mazzei, 15, of Albany attended his first CLI and said it was a little "awkward" sharing a bunkhouse with 18 other guys. But they soon all became friends. He will be entering his sophomore year at Albany High School in September.

His CLI experience, especially the group sessions, will enable him to become more involved in youth ministry at St. Vincent de Paul parish, he said.

"In a group, you have the advantage of everyone's skills, not just your own," he explained. "We learned small-group dynamics, and how not to focus on just one task but to incorporate everyone's feelings and ideas in the planning process. The goal that the group is trying to achieve is stronger and more effective that way."

Planning

Megan Sedlak, 15, will be entering her junior year at Catholic Central High School in Troy this year. She told The Evangelist that the most impressive time for her at CLI was participating in group planning for the teen liturgy.

"Just planning that liturgy taught me how powerful we can be as teens and how effective our plans can be when we all work together," she said. "It was awesome! Bishop Hubbard told us that there will always be hardships we must face, but that we can benefit from them, learn lessons. He said that if we work together, we could overcome most any difficulty we face."

In her parish, St. Bonaventure's in Speigletown, she said, "we already have a great youth ministry. After this experience, I want to work to make our programs even better than they already are."

(7/31/03) [[In-content Ad]]