As we begin to look at intentionally planning for formation nights with our mentors, it is important to remember that formation is personal. We don’t want to simply “push” our mentors through a training program. Instead, we hope that this time of formation helps our mentors to grow in relationship with God and in authentic Christian community with each other. 

This resource is not made to be a manual for mentor formation. It merely offers some resources and sample outlines to help you to build your own mentor nights, based on where your mentors are and what they need. It is our hope to continue to build this list so that it becomes a library of resources for you. The first two sample nights include a possible timeline and flow of the night. As we move deeper into the list, you will begin to see just the resources listed. Those resources are there to help you build a night similar to the samples. Once you have discerned what your team needs and which resource is most appropriate, consider crafting some discussion questions and prayer opportunities to round out the night. Don’t forget to leave time to connect with each other and foster community!

Mentor Formation Guide (.pdf)

While we can’t be with our young people right now, we CAN continue to support them in the families and in their homes. We can help empower parents to lead their families through what could be their best Holy Week ever. We’ve created some resources that will help. Please share them with your parents and families.

We have three videos that will be coming out this week to help families, specifically families with young children. These videos are designed to help parents pray with their children and as a family. The first video offers some general, practical tips for praying at home with children. The second uses the words prepare, pray, and process to guide parents as they dive into praying with their children, perhaps some of them for the first time. The third offers tips (similar to the first) for Holy Week and the Triduum specifically- how families might pray together in the coming days. Those will be available this week and I will send you an email with a link when they’re live. So you don’t have to search for them…. We’ll make it as easy as possible for you. I invite you to share them with your families… I  think if we can do that, not only will the resource help them, but our families will feel supported by us, as CYFs. I think that’s important, especially right now.

In an effort to reach out and support the teens of our diocese, we will begin this week intentional regular posting our diocesan youth formation Instagram and Facebook page. Those posts are aimed at engaging, supporting and encouraging our teens at this time.  I ask that you invite your teens to follow us on Instagram at ht.youthformation. Everything posted on Instagram will also be shared on the Diocese of Houma Thibodaux Youth Formation Facebook page. While most of our teens will likely be over on Instagram, everything will be on that YF Facebook page, too. Beginning this week, we’ll be intentionally posting there. To offer an example of what to expect: Thursday- Sunday, we’ll be walking teens through the Triduum… inviting them to walk with Jesus. Introducing them to some ways to pray and coaching them through prayer a little bit. Please invite them to follow along with us on Instagram at ht.youthformation and on the Diocese of Houma of Thibodaux Youth Formation Facebook Page.

One final thing, I just want to ask us all to remember to pray for our priests… and to invite our young people and their families to pray for our priests. Every year at the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday, our priests renew their priestly promises. This year, while they are not able to do that physically, all priests of the diocese are praying their way through the renewal of their promises together… praying a promise a day. I invite us all to keep them in prayer and we support them offer our gratitude for each of them.

I pray the Lord does beautiful things in your lives, in your homes, in your families this Holy Week. I appreciate you guys. Bye

[ Night 1 ]
Notes (.docx)
Notes Detailed (.docx)
Notes (.pages)
Notes Detailed (.pages)

[ Night 2 ]
Notes (.docx)
Notes Detailed (.docx)
Understanding Teens & Anxiety (.docx)
Notes (.pages)
Notes Detailed (.pages)
Understanding Teens & Anxiety (.pages)
Challenge Cards - Front (PDF)
Challenge Cards - Back (PDF)
Powerpoint (.pptx)
Powerpoint (.keynote)

[ Night 3 ]
Notes (.docx)
Notes Detailed (.docx)
Notes (.pages)
Notes Detailed (.pages)

[ Night 4 ]
Notes (.docx)
Notes Detailed (.docx)
Notes (.pages)
Notes Detailed (.pages)

[ Night 5 ]
Notes (.docx)
Notes Detailed (.docx)
Notes (.pages)
Notes Detailed (.pages)

[1]  Bishop Fabre's Vision for Youth Formation (PDF)
[2]  Implementating Youth Formation in Your Parish: A Practical Guide | Document from the Office of Parish Support (31-pages, PDF)
[3]  A Letter to Young People from Pope Francis (Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation, March 25, 2019) 
[4]  Living As Missionary Disciples | A Resource for Evangelization, USCCB
[5]  Joy of the Gospel (Evangelii Gaudium), Pope Francis
[6]  Diocesan Office of Safe Environment (Webpage)
[7]  Presentation for casting the vision of Youth Formation to be used in parish meetings (.ppt)
[8]  Document for potential Small Group Mentors to take home from a 'Pitch Meeting'  [Editable Word Document .docx] - (This is an example document that summarizes what they would be saying yes to as a Small Group Mentor.  See video 'Recruiting Small Group Mentors' for more info.)
 

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