The Archdiocese of Toronto’s Office of Catholic Youth is seeing a broad surge in youth engagement across the archdiocese, evident in the more than 540 participants for workshops at its recent Elevate training days.

The yearly training session saw participants pack St. Bonaventure Parish earlier this month for workshops on delivering youth ministry. 

OCY has seen growth in parishes with youth ministry from a mere 10 to 12 active parishes in 2013 to 115 today. That's more than half of Toronto parishes and has effectively recaptured the pre-COVID momentum in expanding youth ministry with net gains in summer camps, Edge ministry participation and recent fall kickoffs. 

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“It’s been incredible, and we are literally more than halfway there to covering the entire archdiocese.  We had around 800 more kids attend summer camps run at parishes this year than last, our Edge Camps had upwards of 650 kids come out for five days at a 100-per-cent Catholic camp, and this Elevate Weekend, we had around 60 parishes represented,” said John MacMullen, OCY’s associate director of youth ministry. 

“When it comes to youth and even youth ministry kickoffs, the numbers are increasing. We're getting more Grade 6, 7 and 8 kids coming out, more high school-aged kids coming out — there is just a real healthy growth across the spectrum when it comes to youth ministry engagement in our parishes.”  

Speaking to The Catholic Register after an admittedly hectic, albeit largely encouraging weekend, MacMullen highlighted the highly energetic, hope-filled and enthusiastic atmosphere that kicked off the youth ministry season across the 265 adult youth ministers and core volunteers who attended the Saturday session and 275 high school peer leaders just a day later. 

Calling the events a true  reflection of what the Office of Catholic Youth prides itself on being, this year’s Elevate training amplified the familial vibe of youth and adults alike to become on fire for their missions, giving practical tools toward proclaiming the Gospel to the next generation of young people by offering opportunities to be present, active and involved in the Church today. 

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Thinking about the inherent importance of training the next generation of youth ministers, the old adage that comes to mind is that the youth are the future of the Church. However, for MacMullen, that future is closer to the present than many realize. 

“If we have 275 teenagers spending their entire Sunday to be trained and informed in how they can go be active in their parishes and help build up the Church through their time and investment now, that is a present action. That's not a placeholder for the future, but a reflection of the passion the youth have right now,” he said. 

Credited for influencing the event’s vibrant feel were keynote speakers  Michael Chiasson of Access52 Ministries and Stacey Leitmann, co-founder of HopeStone Catholic Formation. Participants were also thankful for the event’s broad selection of workshops that ran the gamut of youth ministry topics. These included engagement with parents, understanding Gen Z in 2025, evangelizing over coffee and even how faith can interweave in fitness and sports. 

According to MacMullen, the varied approach is a result of constant adaptation from OCY, meeting hopeful ministries where they are and ensuring they are able to carry out their mission effectively, no matter the environment or scenario. While some foundational workshops are taught every year, he revealed the team likes to keep things as fresh and engaging as possible.

“ We have to be prepared to disciple them as we walk and journey together while  trying to find how we can keep helping these people grow and keep them ahead of the curve,” he said. 

“Youth culture is never stagnant, and it’s always developing. If we're going to administer to young people, we need to understand the world in which they live. Some examples are teaching how to walk with kids whose parents or families reflect values contrary to the Church, or kids who want to reflect the Gospel but find it difficult day-to-day. We are always working on finding ways to help our ministers reach these people.” 

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Even with its extensive offerings for youth ministry training, OCY has noticed some parishes across the archdiocese no longer require OCY’s training, instead shifting to local in-house training, going back to the growing desire for involvement among younger Toronto Catholics. 

“Apart from the  COVID hit, which set us back by probably 30 to 40 per cent, we have been kind of steadily up and to the right year after year over the last decade,” MacMullen said. “That's what we’re seeing, but there is so much more training and passion (for youth ministry) going on that is going even beyond that, which is just amazing.”