SPIRITUS

YOUTH MINISTRY

Four-Phase Curriculum Model

The Four - Phase Curriculum Model consists of an initial retreat experience, Religious Education curriculum units, formation and engagement of the ministry team and connecting students into the broader Church.

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Implementation Strategies

SPIRITUS Youth Ministry focuses on renewing Catholic schools as centres for evangelisation through three primary Focus Areas: Student Ministry, Post-School Youth Ministers, and the Spiritus Mission Network.

  • The backbone of student evangelisation. It begins with "kerygmatic" retreat experiences (Phase 1) and evolves into curriculum-integrated formation, the creation of senior ministry teams, and broader Church engagement.

  • Schools are encouraged to participate in regional events like Shine and Lead (Secondary) and Illuminate (Primary) to spark initial faith engagement.

  • Schools leverage trained post-school youth ministers—graduates of "Equipping Schools"—to mentor current students and facilitate ministry programs.

  • Teachers can complete onlinme training, accreditation, and ongoing formation through the Spiritus Mission Network, a collaborative initiative with ACU La Salle Academy designed to sustain the mission of evangelisation.

Our Goal

To provide a continuous "pathway" of faith, moving from an initial encounter to active leadership within the Church community.

Programs

Spiritus Youth Ministry Programs provide a faith and leadership pathway for students from Years 5 through to Year 12. Through retreats, Religious Education, youth ministry training and teams, service opportunities, and leadership formation, students deepen their faith, develop ministry skills, engage with the wider Church, and grow as disciples of Jesus.

  • Upper Primary Yrs 5 & 6

    SPIRITUS Youth Ministry - Junior is a program designed for upper primary school students, which aims to deepen their faith through a four-phase process. Phase 1 is an initial retreat experience called Journey with Jesus, which consists of four videos focusing on God's love, salvation, forgiveness, and faith as a journey with Jesus. Phase 2 builds on the first phase using a Religious Education resource called Daily Talks with God. Phase 3 aims to establish a Spiritus Youth Ministry Junior Team that conducts small ministry or service outreach initiatives. The Spiritus Youth Ministry Junior Skills Series booklet is used to guide the team in developing essential youth ministry skills. Phase 4 encourages students to connect with the broader Church, including parish and local senior Spiritus Youth Ministry teams, for further formation and ministry opportunities.

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  • Junior Secondary Yrs 7 & 8

    The Amazing Race is a junior secondary curriculum resource that aims to complement and enrich the Religious Education curriculum. It can be used as stand-alone lessons or embedded within the existing curriculum or reflection days/retreat experiences. The program focuses on teaching students about the Church as the Body of Christ, the Universal Church, God's saving plan for all creation, and how believers continue the mission of Jesus in the world. It also teaches students to evaluate and draw conclusions about the significance of rituals, prayer, sacraments, foundational Christian principles, scripture, and Church teaching.

    The program consists of two modules covering topics such as youth ministry, evangelisation, forgiveness, and reconciliation.

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  • Middle Secondary Yrs 9 & 10

    The Catch the Wave and the Introduction to Youth Ministry & Leadership program offers a curriculum pathway for students in the middle secondary years to learn about youth ministry and leadership. The program includes a youth ministry retreat or conference, two units of study in Religious Education and the establishment of a senior youth ministry team. The curriculum is designed to be taught as elective units of study and implemented as outlined in the manuals provided by Spiritus Youth Ministry. Upon completion of the program, students receive a Youth Ministry Training Certificate.

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  • Senior Secondary 11 & 12

    The Spiritus Youth Academy is a program offered in partnership with the Australian Catholic University's La Salle Academy. The senior Youth Ministry Team conducts activities such as liturgies, mission trips, and service programs. The Spiritus Youth Ministry Equipping School prepares senior students for leadership and service in youth ministry and cross-cultural missions. The Spiritus Youth Academy consists of two programs: the Formation Program and Faith and the optional Outreach Program. Upon completion, students receive the Spiritus Youth Ministry and ACU Faith and Ministry Award, including five additional ATAR points towards an undergraduate degree at the ACU. Students must complete assessment tasks overseen by teachers using a marking rubric supplied by the ACU la Salle Academy.

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The Spiritus Youth Ministers Network is a network that forms, equips and resources post-school youth ministers engaged in a year of mission whilst actively participating in the life of the Catholic Church. Youth ministers are engaged in a local placement on a part-time or full-time basis within schools and/or parishes. Youth ministers support the implementation of the Spiritus Youth Ministry model in schools, develop parish-based youth ministry and build pathways for young people to engage with the broader Church.   ACU-accredited Signum Fidei certificates are incorporated within the Youth Ministers Network formation and mission pathway.

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Spiritus Youth Ministers Network

Training and Accreditation of Teachers

Training Programs and Resources

  • Programs like Porta Fidei, Called, and Essentials for Faith Leadership focus on spiritual renewal as missionary disciples and faith leaders.

  • Spiritus Youth Ministry Equipping Schools

  • Online training

Professional Certification

  • SPIRITUS Youth Ministry Educator Certification: To qualify, applicants must have completed a Spiritus Youth Ministry Equipping School (YMES) or an online training course, alongside a retreat or formation experience within the last three years.

Diocesan Accreditation

  • Diocesan Recognition: Many Australian dioceses recognise these programs as contributing towards accreditation to teach Religious Education . Teachers are advised to confirm specific requirements with their local Catholic Education Office.

Pricing

SPIRITUS YOUTH MINISTRY JUNIOR

Primary

Spiritus Youth Ministry Junior consists of the Journey with Jesus Retreat, the Daily Talks with God religious education resource and involves the formation of a Junior Spiritus Youth Ministry team that assists teachers in running school liturgies, leading school prayer and in social justice activities.

Benefits and Inclusions

  • Access to Prayer Journal Daily Talks with God

  • Retreat Experience materials Journeying with Jesus

  • Support in forming a Junior Youth Ministry Team, for example:

    • Formation

    • Youth Ministry Skills Manual

  • Staff training

  • Membership of the Spiritus Leaders Network

Costing per annum

Schools over 200 students: $300

For further information or to implement Spiritus Youth Ministry Junior in your school, contact manager@csymi.com

Schools not part of a diocesan or other education system membership may apply to register as a CSYMI school. Contact manager@csymi.com

Individual School Pricing

Years 1 to 3 — Per Annum

  • Large — 900 students and above $3,000

  • Medium — 400–900 students $2,000

  • Small — 400 students and below $750

Years 4+ — Per Annum

  • Large — 900 students and above $2,500

  • Medium — 400–900 students $1,500

  • Small — 400 students and below $500

Includes free membership to the Spiritus Leaders Network

SPIRITUS YOUTH MINISTERS NETWORK

The Spiritus Youth Ministers Network forms, equips and resources post-school youth ministers engaged in a year of mission whilst actively participating in the life of the Catholic Church. Youth ministers are engaged in a local placement on a part-time or full-time basis within schools or parishes. Youth ministers support the implementation of the Spiritus Youth Ministry vision and model in schools and/or assist in developing parish-based youth ministry and build pathways for young people to engage with the broader Church.

Benefits and Inclusions

  • Youth Ministry Team training — Youth Ministry Equipping School

  • Access to Spiritus Youth Ministers Network formation programs and events

  • Access to Youth Ministers missions

  • Opportunity to receive accredited certificates through the Australian Catholic University program, Signum Fidei

Costing per annum

School or CEO:

  • $900 — first year

  • $300 — second year

SPIRITUS YOUTH MINISTRY

Secondary