No matter how much you plan, it always seems like there’s a last-minute rush of parents registering their kids for programs and adults stepping up to serve. The weeks leading up to a program kickoff feel like a building wave of excitement, panic, and everything in between. In these moments, we often wonder, “Am I going to make it?”
Eventually, the starting point arrives, and once programs begin, we tend to think, There’s nothing left to do but hang on, right?
Whether your program started a few weeks ago or you're waiting for Catechetical Sunday, it’s important to remember that kickoff doesn’t mean launching a finished product. There’s no such thing as a “final product.” If that were the case, device software would never need updates, cars would never break down, and I’d never need to repaint my house.
Your ministry is not a static program—it’s meant to grow and adapt. While it would be ideal to wait for a slower season to plan, what’s more beneficial is learning how to make adjustments on the go. To do that, you need to:
Schedule Time to Pause Throughout the Year
Even though our ministry is year-round, we schedule regular times to train our team and evaluate the programs. Families don’t mind if we take a week off, especially if it means improving the program. It's important not to confuse these “pauses” with holiday breaks like Thanksgiving or Easter. These should be intentional times to work on the program, even if it's not running.
Create a Training Plan for Your Team
One of the biggest challenges in recruiting volunteers is their lack of confidence in serving. The simplest solution is training. When we recruit volunteers, we promise a fulfilling experience and offer ongoing support.
Beyond initial prep, we use our pauses to focus on their growth—investing in their spiritual, human, and intellectual formation. We share videos, articles, and other resources to help them grow as leaders. For those who can take on more, we provide books and workshops to elevate their skills further.
We communicate our vision and expectations for them in the ministry. Buy-in can be tough at first, but once volunteers see the quality of what we offer, they’re all in.
Need simple training materials? Check out MYM Premium HERE
Spend Time on the Front Lines of the Mission Field
It’s easy to get lost behind a computer, working on content development for the ministry. But it’s much more effective when I can meet with someone face-to-face or have a phone conversation. While some people will reach out to you, sometimes we need to take the initiative and reach out to them first.
Inviting parishioners to talk about what’s happening in their lives gives you a clearer picture of their challenges when growing in their faith. Connecting with schools, local businesses, and community leaders also helps you get a broader perspective of the mission field.
Knowing who you’re serving and understanding their challenges enables you to make necessary changes in your ministry. You must be out front—greeting people as they come in, meeting with them in the community, and showing them that the Church is present in their lives. When people see you, they see the Church, and you’ll better understand how to proclaim the Good News effectively.
You don’t have to wait until next year to implement these strategies. Take a day next week to review your efforts and see if you can put these three suggestions into practice. It might take time to see big results, but it will help you set a sustainable pace for years.