About Us

The Diocese of Columbus Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry is appointed by the Bishop to empower strong Catholic leaders through the development of spiritual, pastoral, and intellectual skills for their ministry of forming young disciples in Christ Jesus.

We, the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry in the Diocese of Columbus, under the leadership of the Bishop, participate in the mission of the Catholic Church by advocating for and supporting Catholic youth and young adult ministry on the diocesan and local level.  To that end, we endeavor:

 

• to support parish and school youth ministry leaders, young adult ministry leaders, and college campus ministry leaders.

 

• to provide leadership, resources, and training for the education and formation of ministry leaders, young people, and their parents to be agents of evangelization and catechesis within their families as well as in their community.

 

• to advocate for the role and needs of young people in the Church and in society and promote the role of the Church and the Gospel in the lives of young people and their families

 

• to promote a comprehensive approach to youth ministry and ministry to their families as articulated in Renewing the Vision and young adult ministry as articulated in Sons and Daughters of the Light and campus ministry as articulated in Empowered by the Spirit.

 

• to promote and encourage ministry to young people and families within all cultures, settings, and environments within the Diocese of Columbus with special attention to the growing Hispanic population.

 

• To advocate for and foster the professional development and spiritual growth of ministry leaders. 

 

• to collaborate with local and national leadership organizations for the promotion of youth ministry and the professional development of church leaders.

 

• to collaborate with the organizational structures of the Diocese of Columbus and with other ministry and youth-serving organizations that affect the fields of youth ministry and young adult ministry.

 

• To assist leaders in accompanying young people to encounter the person of Jesus through prayer, relationships, service, and the sacraments of the Church.

 

• To promote Catholic sports and scouting as youth and family ministry.  

 

• To encourage and support parish youth ministry involvement in diocesan and national youth initiatives, introducing young people to a greater sense of the diocesan and universal Church.