As I talked with diocesan directors this past week at NFCYM’s Exchange, a common theme kept surfacing: burnout and turnover among youth ministers is real—and it’s taking a toll.
They shared stories of men and women who loved what they did but ultimately had to step away because:
- The parish couldn’t pay them enough as their families grew.
- Work–life balance was constantly off-kilter.
- They were assigned more roles with less support.
Those are only a few of the reasons people leave far too soon.
The high turnover we see isn’t usually about a lack of passion or commitment. It’s the result of system-level issues that, over time, wear people down. Issues like:
- Leaders not being trained to manage well.
- Financial models that don’t reflect the scope or sustainability of ministry work.
- A tendency to think programmatically instead of relationally.
- The belief that sacramental prep alone is the solution.
- Thin or nonexistent onboarding for new ministers.
- Expectations to give and serve that don’t match people’s actual capacity.
All of these matter. And all of them take time to address.
But what if you’re in the middle of it right now?
What if you’re already exhausted and need relief—not a long-term plan?
None of what follows will fix broken pay scales or unrealistic job descriptions. It won’t magically create volunteers or undo years of scope creep. But it can help you breathe again. And sometimes relief—not resolution—is what keeps someone from walking away.
Stop Waiting for Ministry to Feel “Under Control”
Because ministry is relational, it will never be a clean-cut, perfectly managed operation. There will always be moving parts, unfinished conversations, and tensions you didn’t plan for.
Yes, there are systems worth improving. But burnout often comes from believing things need to be fixed before they’re faithful.
Letting go of perfection and control isn’t giving up—it’s choosing trust over exhaustion. When we release the pressure to make everything work, we make space to remember why we’re here in the first place.
Name the Weight Out Loud (With the Right Person)
Find someone you trust and ask for what you actually need.
Sometimes that sounds like: “Can I vent for ten minutes? I don’t need advice—I just need to say this out loud.”
They don’t need to solve anything. They just need to listen, reflect back what they hear, and remind you that you’re not crazy for feeling this way.
Being heard without being fixed lifts more weight than most strategies ever will. It reminds you that burnout isn’t a personal failure—it’s often a sign you’ve been carrying more than one person should.
Don’t Turn Prayer Into Another Performance
If prayer has started to feel like one more obligation, start smaller.
God doesn’t need polished prayers or spiritual productivity. He meets us in our hardest moments and walks with us the entire way. Let prayer be the place where you stop doing and simply tell the truth.
If You Need Something Concrete This Week
If it helps to have something simple to hold onto, try this:
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Choose one conversation where you tell the truth instead of managing impressions.
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Choose one task you will not perfect.
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Choose five minutes to place what you’re carrying back in God’s hands.
Remember you don’t have to fix everything to stay faithful. Sometimes staying is an act of courage all on its own.