SPIRITUS
YOUTH MINISTRY
Four-Phase Model
The Four - Phase 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.
Key Implementation Strategies
SPIRITUS Youth Ministry focuses on transforming Catholic schools into active hubs for evangelisation. They achieve this by networking leaders and teachers through three primary pillars: Student Ministry, Post-School Youth Ministers, and the Spiritus Leaders Network.
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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.
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Schools are encouraged to participate in regional events like Shine and Lead (Secondary) and Illuminate (Primary) to spark initial faith engagement.
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Schools leverage trained post-school youth ministers—graduates of "Equipping Schools"—to mentor current students and facilitate ministry programs.
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Staff and church leaders receive ongoing formation through the Spiritus Leaders Network, a collaborative initiative with ACU La Salle Academy designed to sustain the mission of evangelisation.
Key Goal
To provide a continuous "pathway" of faith, moving from an initial encounter to active leadership within the Church community.
Programs
Spiritus Programs provide a faith and leadership pathway for students from Years 5–12. Through retreats, Religious Education resources, youth ministry 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
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, and 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 Spiritus Youth Ministry senior youth ministry teams, for further formation and ministry opportunities.
Junior Secondary Yrs 7 & 8
The Amazing Race
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.
Middle Secondary Yrs 9 & 10
Introduction to Youth Ministry & Leadership
This program offers a curriculum pathway for students in years 9 and 10 to learn about youth ministry and leadership. The program includes three phases: a youth ministry retreat or conference, two units of study in Religious Education (Introduction to Youth Ministry and Leadership and Ministry), 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.
Senior Secondary 11 & 12
Spiritus
Youth Academy
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.
Spiritus Youth Ministers Network
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.
Phases of Development
The development of Spiritus Youth Ministry should ideally go hand in hand with Spiritus Leader formation.
The four phases of implementation of the Spiritus vision for a diocese, system or member country, include Connection, Establishment, Focus Area Plans, and Growing Youth Ministry. The phases involve building relationships, establishing leadership structures, developing key documents and plans, introducing Spiritus Youth Ministry models of formation and mission, and growing youth ministry.
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 meeting the requirements for accreditation to teach Religious Education and to teach/lead in a Catholic school. 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
SPIRITUS YOUTH MINISTRY (SECONDARY)
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