NETWORKS Spring 2011

N E T M I N I S T R I E S

N E T WO R K SS p r i n g 2 0 1 1

WHAT’S INSIDE: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR / ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT / D-WEEK / RETREATS / BANQUET

Challenging young Catholics to love Christ and embrace the life of the Church

reaching out &

looking beyond

The 2010-2011 year has been a year of growth and expanded outreach for NET Ministries. It is our hope that 2011-2012 will prove to be even more fruitful. Read on for information on what was improved upon this year and what we hope to expand upon in the future.

We expanded to 10 teams this year, and will fi eld 11 teams next year.

More than 920 retreats were conducted between the 10 teams.

Lifeline saw record numbers of 1,400+ teens at the youth Masses and programs, with an average number of 1,200 at each of the 8 programs.

The Gathering for youth ministry leaders reached over 130 diff erent

youth ministry leaders in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

91 dioceses in 38 states were ministered to through our traveling teams.

This June, 5 diff erent Discipleship

Weeks will be held in Minnesota, Texas, and California. Learn more at www.netusa.org/dweek.

Since 1981, over 1,900 young

adults have served on NET teams.

Approximately 1,516,775 youth

have been challenged to love Christ and embrace the life of the Church on NET retreats since 1981.

14.2% of NET alumni have pursued religious vocations.

51 NET alumni are ordained priests.

35 NET alumnae are fully professed

sisters.

5 NET alumni are fully professed

brothers.

This year we had our fi rst part-time school team, and next year we will minister in the same school full-time.

More than 120 blog posts were written by team members on the road this year. Read more and catch up with the teams at www.netusa.org/teamprofi les.

NETWORKS SPRING 2011

Dear Friends,

We have much to be grateful for and are excited to share with you some of the great things we have been able to accomplish through your generous support in 2010-2011.

This year we trained 110 NET team members - the most we’ve ever had. We continue to see more Catholic young adults step forward to take their place in the Church’s mission of evangelization. They are answering the Lord’s call, “Whom shall I send?” with a resounding “Send me!” With this increased number of team members, we were able to expand to 10 NET teams this year. In addition to expanding our reach to 91 dioceses across the country, we launched a new parish team at All Saints Catholic Church in Lakeville, MN.

We are also excited to be partnering with a local Catholic high school to provide a NET presence as a key part of their campus ministry program. Three days each week, four members of the Home Team patrol the halls of Providence Academy and serve as leaven within the school’s faith community. Team members befriend students, lead Bible studies, direct faith sharing groups, provide one-on-one mentoring, organize praise and worship in the chapel, and share their faith with the families of students with whom they stay. This approach to providing an evangelistic impulse to high school campus ministry may be opening yet another avenue for NET to awaken and strengthen the faith of our Catholic teenagers.

Our monthly youth Mass, Lifeline, has been seeing record crowds. Over 1,000 young people gather each month for Mass, inspired teaching, and prayer. On a couple of occasions, as many as 1,400 people fi lled the gym and overfl owed into St. Francis Hall for those faith-building events.

All of this and more is made possible by your generosity. Thank you for helping us challenge young Catholics to love Christ and embrace the life

of the Church. It is my hope that you will continue to stand with us as we work to renew the faith of the next generation.

With my heartfelt gratitude,

Mark BerchemFounder and Executive Director

N E T WO R K SN E T M I N I S T R I E S

Challenging young Catholics to love Christ and embrace the life of the Church

S p r i n g 2 0 1 1

board of

directors

PRESIDENT:Archbishop John C. Nienstedt, D.D.

FOUNDER/ EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Mr. Mark Berchem, M.S.W., M.T.S.

TREASURER: Mr. Jack Cozzens

Mr. Gerald Brennan, CIMA

Mr. Gordon DeMarais, M.A.T.

Mrs. Jan Gloudeman

Mr. Thomas Grundhoefer, J.D.

Mr. Daniel Hagen, CFAMrs. Helen HealyMrs. Patricia HuberMrs. Barbara KochDr. James Kolar, D.MIN.Mr. Alan Kraling

Mr. Patrick Regan

EPISCOPAL ADVISORY BOARD: Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., Ph.D., S.T.D.Archbishop Robert J. Carlson, D.D.Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr, D.D.Bishop Frederick F. Campbell, D.D.Bishop Sam G. Jacobs, D.D.

NET is under the ecclesial vigilance of the Most Reverend John C. Nienstedt, Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. It is governed by a national board of directors, is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and has been audited by Lewis, Kisch and Associates, Ltd.

from the

executive director


Page 3NETWORKS SPRING 2011

alumni spotlight

“NET taught me how to be compassionate and forgiving because I also need compassion and forgiveness.”Francis Cabildo, a NET alumnus from 1994-1995, has gone on to pursue work in ministry after completing his year serving with NET Ministries. He currently is the Director of Campus Ministry at JSerra Catholic High School and leads worship for various events with The Francis Band. He also is a collaborative member of a non-profi t ministry called 242Revolution (www.242revolution.com). Francis, his wife Nicole, and their two sons, Dylan (5) and Brayden (2), reside in California.

WHY SERVE WITH NET? I felt that God was calling me to do great things. I saw NET as an opportunity to give back to God what he has done for me.

A FUNNY MOMENT ON THE ROAD: One night we ended up sleeping in a school gym. We were told we could use any of the sports equipment. My team leader, Ron, found a basketball and a trampoline. We proceeded to pretend

Jack and Jill

francis cabildo

that we were Michael Jordan and dunk the ball. Ron launched from the trampoline and did a monster dunk but he took the whole basketball rim down with him and shattered

the entire backboard. Yipes!

FAVORITE MEMORY FROM NET: The host families. It was so humbling to stay in peoples’ homes. It was a great way to get to know all the diff erent places we visited. I remember doing a family retreat and I was in charge of the preteens. I was praying with one of the little boys, maybe 6 or 7 years old. He was sharing how his family fought all the time. At the end of the retreat I witnessed this family come together and pray. The little boy found me and said, “Thanks, I knew Jesus loved us!” He pointed at the cross and said, “He loves us that much.” Wow!

NET’S IMPACT ON YOUR LIFE: NET has given me plenty of ministry tools, leading small groups, giving testimonies, running retreats, and leading worship, but most of my year with NET taught me how to be compassionate and forgiving because I also need compassion and forgiveness. It has also taught me how to off er my gifts of music with my whole heart and to lead others into a place where they can meet God through worship and praise.

ENCOURAGING WORDS: I encourage young people to consider serving with NET. It will teach you how to be a disciple. It challenges you and stretches you. It’s risky but you learn it’s not about you - it’s about Jesus.

LOUIS HALL (84-85, Staff 91-92) has created a single-panel comic series entitled Angelic Twaddle, which is full of playful guardian angel perspectives, insights and commentary on life. This original comic series off ers humor with a conscience. View more at www.angelictwaddle.com.


support net

$1,600 sponsors an entire NET team for one week$1,000 provides training for one team member$500 sponsors a day-long retreat for 60 youth*

*funds required in addition to retreat fees


ministries

$250 covers a team’s travel costs for two weeks$150 supports a NET team member for one week$50 allows 5 youth to participate in a Lifeline event

CONTRIBUTIONS ACCEPTED AT

NETUSA.ORG/SUPPORTNET


“And The Truth Will

Set You Free”John 8:32

IGNITE YOUR FAITH

D-Week is a four day retreat for disciples of Christ, designed to ignite (or re-ig-nite) your Catholic faith. Young people experience the love, mercy and power of God. Many say that D-Week has awak-ened or re-energized their relationship with Jesus Christ. Others speak of their faith being “set afi re” through the Holy Spirit. And still others share how Christ came alive for them in Eucharist, Recon-ciliation and Adoration.

EXCITING LINE-UP

Discipleship Week is an awesome com-bination of great music, excellent talks, praise and worship, Mass & Reconcilia-tion, entertainment, fun and fellowship!

QUOTES

“I learned that for me to have new life, I must accept the breath of God, the Holy Spirit. I also learned that I am nothing without the Lord. I am, in fact, precious, irreplaceable, and beautiful in the sight of God.” - Chloe, California

“I learned more about my faith. I met new people. I became closer to God and learned no matter how tough my life is, He will always be there for me. He will always be my BEST friend.” - Kyle, Texas

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS

Originating in St. Paul, D-Week has grown from being just one weekend a summer in Minnesota to now having over fi ve diff erent locations throughout the United States! D-Weeks will be in June 2011.

LEARN MORE / REGISTER

For a list of dates or to register, visit www.netusa.org/dweek or email [email protected].

Discipleship Week is aimed at Catholic teens ages 13-18. The locations this year include:

MINNESOTA:

DuluthJune 13-16, 2011 (Mon - Thurs)[email protected]

Twin CitiesJune 20-23, 2011 (Mon - Thurs)[email protected]

CALIFORNIA:

ModestoJune 14-17, 2011 (Tues - Fri)[email protected]

RedlandsJune 21-24, 2011 (Tues - Fri)[email protected]

TEXAS:

VictoriaJune 27-30, 2011 (Mon - Thurs)[email protected]

Download the registration and health forms online at:

www.netusa.org/dweek

NET ALUMNI: WE COULD USE YOUR HELP! If you have available time to help staff one of the D-Weeks, please contact Joe Roueche at [email protected].


EMAIL:

PHONE:

FAX:

[email protected] x22651.450.9984

2011-2012

retreats

It’s time to begin scheduling retreats for the 2011-2012 school year! NET retreats are booked on a fi rst-come, fi rst-served basis.

A typical retreat includes the following components:Compelling talksSacramentsLively musicEntertaining gamesMoving dramasSmall groupsPrayer ministryHumorous skits

Each retreat off ers a unique experience, with a wide variety of songs, games, and skits to ensure a custom fi t for your group.

Consider speaking to the youth ministry leader at your church regarding scheduling a NET retreat. It is always our goal to spread the Gospel to as many youth as we can.

To schedule a NET retreat, please contact our Team Schedule Administrator:

becoming

catholic

An excerpt from The Catholic Spirit, the offi cial publication of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Dylan Heiman was never off ered the chance to be baptized. Now 18, he is seeking it on his own through the RCIA program at St. Eliz abeth Ann Seton in Hast ings, Minnesota.

Heiman, a senior [in high school], began his journey to the Catholic Church at a NET retreat at the parish in November of 2009. He then started coming to more events sponsored by the par ish NET team, and even tually decided to enr oll in RCIA in the fall of 2010.

“This was the first faith in-volvement I’ve ever had in my life,” he said, of the retreat. “My friends were going and I went with them. I found God.”

And NET team members like parish team co-leader Dan Driver found a young man eager to grow in his faith and, possibly, help others do the same.

“He surprises me — his faith is so genuine,” said Driver, who has met with Heiman one-on-one many times to help him understand the Catholic faith. “He really grasps the intellectual foundation, as well as what it means to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

“The things he’ll say are kind of like the child Christ in the temple — impressing the older, wiser people with his wisdom.”

Heiman is looking ahead to what his life as a Catholic will look like. It could include serving [with] NET Ministries.

“Right now, I’m applying for a NET team next year,” he said. “Hopefully, I’ll do that next year and pursue faith further.”

benefit

banquet

On April 26, NET held its annual Catholic Youth Benefi t Banquet. The banquet proved to be a success, with around 400 attendees and over 30 non-staff volunteers. Featured at the banquet was an address from Archbishop John C. Nienstedt as well as highlights from a NET retreat, as conducted by the Home Team.

If you were unable to attend the banquet but would like to support NET Ministries, please fi ll out the giving envelope stapled within this newsletter or visit netusa.org/donate.

Non-Profi tUS Postage

PAIDSt. Paul, MN

Permit No. 469

110 Crusader Avenue WestWest St. Paul, MN 55118-4427

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Address changed?Receiving multiple copies?Want to unsubscribe or switch to an e-newsletter?If so, contact us:Phone: 651.450.6833 | Fax: 651.450.9984www.netusa.org | E-mail: [email protected]

N E T M I N I S T R I E S

vehicle needed

NET is in need of a small, gas-effi cient vehicle to be used by team supervisors so they can visit NET teams as they travel across the country. We thought we would make our need known to you, our wonderful readers, on the chance that you might have a vehicle you are thinking of getting rid of and would rather donate it and receive a tax deduction than go through the hassle of trying to sell it.

If you would like to donate a small, reliable car, that is still in good running order, please call or email Dan Brewer with NET Ministries at 651.450.6833 or [email protected].

Thank you in advance for your generous response.

@netministries

www.netusa.org

CON

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http://on.fb.me/netministries

NETWORKS Spring 2011

Documents

Transcript of NETWORKS Spring 2011