Welcome to The Well! We are happy to provide this resource to parish Directors of Youth Ministry and other youth workers across the Diocese!  The Well is a collection of resources composed of articles authored by other Directors of Youth Ministry (DYMs) from inside and outside of our Diocese! National experts have also contributed on topics such as catechesis, incarnational ministry, and pastoral care of teens.

Water is a powerful symbol of life and salvation. Jesus taught at a well. He offered guidance and nourishment at a well. We hope that you can find a similar experience in this youth ministry “well.” It will serve as a great resource for your ministry…filled with ideas, contacts, and information specific to the Northern Virginia area. This resource is not comprehensive; it is meant to be an overview of youth ministry including recommendations on where to go for further reading.

The Well is patterned after the U.S. Bishops document on youth ministry: Renewing the Vision: A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry (RTV).The Well is divided into sections that closely follow the essential components of youth ministry as outlined in RTV.

Each section begins with a brief editorial on the subject matter that is meant to provide a glimpse of Arlington's vision of youth ministry. Then each section contains various articles that relate and expound on that section's component of ministry. Written by many professionals in the field, this resource represents hundreds of years of youth ministry experience, and sometimes differing opinions on how to best minister to young people.

Our goal is to provide timely updates and developments to this resource. Young people are forever changing, and the resources available are constantly trying to keep up.

Finally, please know that the staff of the Office of Youth, Campus, and Young Adult Ministries prays daily for you and your ministry with young people! Please join us each Tuesday at 3:00 pm as we pray together the Prayer for Youth, Campus, and Young Adult Ministries in the Catholic Diocese of Arlington - click here for that prayer.

May God bless all of your efforts,

Kevin Bohli, Executive Director

 Office of Youth, Campus, and Young Adult Ministries