Youth ministry leaders participate in discussions during this fall’s Thriveanooga event, which was hosted by ProjectYM. COURTESY OF PROJECTYM
With ‘like-minded folks in the trenches of ministry,’ Thriveanooga provides space for youth ministers to remember the importance of their work
BY CHARLIE HARDESTY, SPECIAL TO THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC
Youth ministry is a challenge. It can feel lonely, unsupported, exhausting, and shallow. It is also beautiful. There are moments of deep connection, joy, fun, and fellowship. When a young person truly gets it, that they are seen, known, and loved, not only by their Church, but by God – that is the sweet spot.
Being a youth leader is a rollercoaster ride of emotions, events, pouring oneself out, late nights, interesting food, and taking care of teens. Not everyone gets it. But Thriveanooga is an event – not a conference – which brings youth leaders together who get it. For one week each September, youth leaders descend into downtown Chattanooga, Tenn., to grow in ministry, support one another, pray, laugh, cry, and mostly remember what makes the challenging work of youth ministry so special.
Thriveanooga is put on by ProjectYM, which is a Catholic organization “built for youth ministers by youth ministers.” Their mission is to come alongside Catholic youth leaders and help them thrive. They do this by offering community, resources, and support.
In recent years, the Diocese of Owensboro has collaborated with ProjectYM offering formation for parish catechetical leaders in 2019, an overnight formation for youth leaders from the KY/TN province in 2022, and formation for the presbyterate in 2023. For the past two years, we have been taking youth leaders to Thriveanooga and I have been a team leader at the event.
Thriveanooga participants from the Diocese of Owensboro: John and Beth Probus from Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Henderson, Matt Knight from St. Pius X Parish in Owensboro, and Charlie Hardesty, director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry. COURTESY OF PROJECTYM
Matt Knight, who has been to Thriveanooga twice, shares, “I always put it on my calendar. I get to be around like-minded folks who are in the trenches of ministry with me. I also love the opportunity to collaborate with other youth ministers from across the country with fresh and new ideas that help our ministry program at St. Pius X.”
Beth and John Probus from Holy Name in Henderson have also both attended Thriveanooga the past two years. Beth reflects, “Thriveanooga is a network of youth ministers working together to better the outcome of your youth program. God truly has His hands upon this experience!”
According to John, who was the winner of this year’s mega-prize package at Thriveanooga, “I always enjoy going to Thriveanooga because of the faith family you encounter. I get to hear, but also talk about ways to engage our youth. You get a lot of awesome ideas.”
As the director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, it is my responsibility to resource and help our parish youth leaders offer the best ministry possible for their parish teens. I believe ProjectYM creates some of the best community, networking, support, and ministry ideas available today and is a great asset in the field of Catholic youth ministry. I look forward to collaborating with them for many years to come.
We will again be taking youth leaders to Thriveanooga in September of 2025. ProjectYM is also working to provide a similar experience for Catholic school campus ministers in June 2025. For more information of what ProjectYM offers, please check out https://projectym.com/.
Charlie Hardesty can be reached at [email protected] and (270) 683-1545.
A group photo of this fall’s Thriveanooga event, which was hosted by ProjectYM in Chattanooga. COURTESY OF PROJECTYM
Originally printed in the November 2024 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.
