"Faith can take you places you never dreamed of going."
-Michael V. Novak
In August of 1986, Michael V. Novak received a phone call and was asked to teach 7th grade catechism one night a week. He accepted. Later that year, he was asked to start up a high school youth ministry program at the same church. Again, he accepted. As work in a family business dwindled, Michael needed to offset his income and took on additional youth ministry positions at other churches. At times, he worked at three different parishes.
In 1996, Michael was taking a walk in his neighborhood and noticed a man planting flowers in front of the rectory at a church in the subdivision. As the man stood up to greet Michael, Michael recognized him. He was the pastor of the parish. The two shared a common friend, so Michael talked to the priest about that friend. From there the conversation advanced and soon the pastor realized Michael was involved in church work. He asked Michael to come inside and before you knew it, Michael had a full time position at the church just around the corner from his home.
From there, Michael's ministry took off. He had already been involved in local, national and international activities for youth. He had experience beyond the years of his young age.
Michael continued to run the faith formation program as well as the youth ministry program. His innovative ideas led to very large numbers at his weekly youth ministry gatherings. It didn't hurt that his own children were also high school students and invited many of their friends to the meetings and outings. At times, his group was in excess of 80 teens when they traveled both nationally and internationally. They began taking trips to a wide variety of places and built quite a reputation for themselves.
Michael received several awards for service to the community and faith programming. His retreats became legendary, as did the weekly gatherings. What he brought to youth ministry was a unique, uplifting, soul searching program that was fun, introspective and enlightening. His tedious and sometimes monotonous planning sessions were the driving force behind all the accolades of his ministry. Michael was, and is, a perfectionist when it comes to lesson planning, retreat planning, service trips and every other excursion he has ever been involved in. His training and building of leaders is beyond compare. His mission is simple: to train each and every young person to be a disciple of the new millennium.
In 2006, the same pastor who had hired Michael before was transferred to another parish. Michael was interviewed and accepted the same position he had before. Now he was even more experienced and even more at the forefront of youth ministry. His faith formation program became the Academy of Faith Formation and combined aspects of both catechism programs and private, parochial schools. It was a totally new and innovative concept, and it worked to perfection. The program is still in full force today, and his exploits in youth ministry have stretched beyond international borders. Michael was asked to be an animator for 4 consecutive World Youth Days (Germany 2005, Australia 2008, Spain 2011, and Poland 2016)), acting as an emcee, an announcer and an entertainer all at the same time. He was placed in front of crowds of thousands to lift their spirits as they filed into the seats and hallways and even out into the streets for his live engagements. Back home, his group may not be as large as it once was, but it is certainly is just as powerful! His teens engage themselves in meetings and outings that are one of a kind. Oftentimes, they are led by the youth themselves and build upon the previous year's exploits. His programming is extensive. His inspiration is limitless. His energy and enthusiasm is unending. Ministry is so much more than a job to Michael. It is a way of life. It is the fulfillment of hopes and dreams for himself and others. And it is one incredible ride for all those who participate!
Everyone has a ministry. If you want to call it something else, go ahead, but I believe it is just that, a ministry. Everyone is called to make the world a better place and in doing that, they are ministering to others. If faith has you down, explore. If religion or creed leaves you frustrated, find. If you feel the world is against you, flourish. Wake up tomorrow and dare to be different. Change your routine in a very noticeable and flamboyant way. Don't be afraid to adapt to any situation in which you find yourself, no matter how uncomfortable or unfamiliar it may seem. Just like the disciples of old who now pass the torch to you, go light the world afire!
In 1996, Michael was taking a walk in his neighborhood and noticed a man planting flowers in front of the rectory at a church in the subdivision. As the man stood up to greet Michael, Michael recognized him. He was the pastor of the parish. The two shared a common friend, so Michael talked to the priest about that friend. From there the conversation advanced and soon the pastor realized Michael was involved in church work. He asked Michael to come inside and before you knew it, Michael had a full time position at the church just around the corner from his home.
From there, Michael's ministry took off. He had already been involved in local, national and international activities for youth. He had experience beyond the years of his young age.
Michael continued to run the faith formation program as well as the youth ministry program. His innovative ideas led to very large numbers at his weekly youth ministry gatherings. It didn't hurt that his own children were also high school students and invited many of their friends to the meetings and outings. At times, his group was in excess of 80 teens when they traveled both nationally and internationally. They began taking trips to a wide variety of places and built quite a reputation for themselves.
Michael received several awards for service to the community and faith programming. His retreats became legendary, as did the weekly gatherings. What he brought to youth ministry was a unique, uplifting, soul searching program that was fun, introspective and enlightening. His tedious and sometimes monotonous planning sessions were the driving force behind all the accolades of his ministry. Michael was, and is, a perfectionist when it comes to lesson planning, retreat planning, service trips and every other excursion he has ever been involved in. His training and building of leaders is beyond compare. His mission is simple: to train each and every young person to be a disciple of the new millennium.
In 2006, the same pastor who had hired Michael before was transferred to another parish. Michael was interviewed and accepted the same position he had before. Now he was even more experienced and even more at the forefront of youth ministry. His faith formation program became the Academy of Faith Formation and combined aspects of both catechism programs and private, parochial schools. It was a totally new and innovative concept, and it worked to perfection. The program is still in full force today, and his exploits in youth ministry have stretched beyond international borders. Michael was asked to be an animator for 4 consecutive World Youth Days (Germany 2005, Australia 2008, Spain 2011, and Poland 2016)), acting as an emcee, an announcer and an entertainer all at the same time. He was placed in front of crowds of thousands to lift their spirits as they filed into the seats and hallways and even out into the streets for his live engagements. Back home, his group may not be as large as it once was, but it is certainly is just as powerful! His teens engage themselves in meetings and outings that are one of a kind. Oftentimes, they are led by the youth themselves and build upon the previous year's exploits. His programming is extensive. His inspiration is limitless. His energy and enthusiasm is unending. Ministry is so much more than a job to Michael. It is a way of life. It is the fulfillment of hopes and dreams for himself and others. And it is one incredible ride for all those who participate!
Everyone has a ministry. If you want to call it something else, go ahead, but I believe it is just that, a ministry. Everyone is called to make the world a better place and in doing that, they are ministering to others. If faith has you down, explore. If religion or creed leaves you frustrated, find. If you feel the world is against you, flourish. Wake up tomorrow and dare to be different. Change your routine in a very noticeable and flamboyant way. Don't be afraid to adapt to any situation in which you find yourself, no matter how uncomfortable or unfamiliar it may seem. Just like the disciples of old who now pass the torch to you, go light the world afire!