Catholic youth, leaders attend week-long Leadership Institute

    Recently, 16 Catholic youth, young adults and adults from Aroostook County participated in a weeklong Christian Leadership Institute, otherwise know at CLI.  This training hosted participants from around the state and was held on the University of Maine at Farmington campus at the end of July.
    Participants attended interactive workshops focused on building community, journaling, project planning, consensus decision making, liturgy planning, group dynamics, public speaking, prayer, youth ministry, servant leadership and affirmation. All workshop experiences were sponsored by the Diocese of Portland and offered a multitude of ways to develop, enhance and support youth leadership.
    During the week, each small group had the opportunity to put their newly learned skills to use by planning and implementing different activities for the large group. Spiritual development along with spiritual experiences accompanied their practices, which helped participants articulate their faith. Personal skills were formed, shaped and modified for present and future parish leadership, school leadership and community leadership.
PARTICIPANTS – Youth and adults from Aroostook County participating in a weeklong Christian Leadership Institute were from left, front, Mark Boucher from Notre Dame in Madawaska; second row, Matt Albert from Notre Dame in Madawaska; Art Sloat, Chris Harris, Paul Griffin, all of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Houlton; third row, Casey Violette from St. Peter Chanel in Van Buren; Jeanine Morneault, small group leader from Sacred Heart in Caribou; Donna Deschaine, small group leader; Gabrielle Brewer and  Robyn Violette from St. Peter Chanel in Van Buren; Nicole Cyr from Notre Dame in Madawaska and Joachim Parent of St. Peter Chanel in Van Buren; back row, Sophie Ouellette from Our Lady of the Valley in St. Agatha;  Denyse Guerrette from Notre Dame in Madawaska; Karen Ouellette workshop presenter from St. John Vianney parish and  Marissa Ouellette from St. Peter Chanel in Van Buren.