THE NET DIFFERENCE

Each year, we send 175 young adults across the United States

in teams of 8-14 to proclaim the Gospel to Catholic youth.

The NET teams will share their love of Christ and the Church with over 125,000 youth from September to May this year.

NET Ministries retreats are designed for students in grades 7-12. The NET team will travel to your Catholic parish or school to conduct the retreat.

The mission of the traveling NET teams is to provide momentum for events in the existing youth programs present in the parishes and Catholic schools hosting the team.

NET retreats are designed to present youth with the truth of who they are as God’s children and how true joy and meaning in life are found by accepting Christ’s gift of salvation and living as His disciple.

Every NET retreat includes an extended time for the youth to pray and be prayed with to make a personal response to God’s invitation.

NET retreats include:

12 trained NET missionaries
Retreat setup and cleanup
Retreat talks
Small group discussions
Games: general + “Gospel-based”
Skits
Moving dramas
Music
Guided prayer time
Men’s and women’s sessions*
Prayer labs*
Recreational time*
Confession/adoration*

*varies based on length of retreat and priest availability
Youth/campus ministry personnel are provided an opportunity to follow-up and build upon the enthusiasm generated by the NET team. NET Ministries furnishes each retreat organizer with suggested material to help facilitate follow-up to NET retreats.

Virtual NET retreats demonstrate the truth of God’s love for us as His children and invite youth to respond to His invitation of a life of purpose, joy, and love as a disciple here on Earth and as a saint forever in Heaven in a unique, online format.

How does it work?

Streaming on an online platform, students can log on to the retreat site by using any web browser connected to WiFi. Each student should have their own device with video and audio capabilities (laptop, tablet, mobile phone, etc). They will be welcomed by 12-14 young adult missionaries. The online platform will allow for breakout rooms to provide live small group discussions; each small group will be led by two NET missionaries.

Every NET retreat includes an extended time for the youth to pray and be prayed with to make a personal response to God’s invitation. NET Ministries’ virtual retreats are designed for students in grades 7-12 and may include up to 50 young people per retreat.

NET virtual retreats include:

3-hour live and interactive online retreat
12-14 trained NET missionaries
Live retreat leader and live small group leaders
Small group breakout discussions
Games – both social and “Gospel-based” interactions
Live testimony presentations
Moving drama videos
Music
Guided prayer time

Our retreat goals are:

Help young people understand God’s love for them
Offer faith of the team members as a witness to the youth that faith in God is a desirable, acceptable, and exciting part of their lives
Encourage young people to grow in their commitment to Jesus Christ and His Church

Youth ministers and youth ministry leaders find that their youth group, Confirmation students, and faith formation students connect well with the team members because their own youthful experience allows them to be heard and understood by teens.

Safety

NET Ministries thoroughly screens and trains every NET team member prior to their work with young people. Specifically, NET follows the recommendations of the “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People,” which was created by the National Catholic Conference of Bishops (now USCCB) in June 2002 and June 2005.

Per these recommendations, all of our team members go through a four-part scrutiny to ensure their suitability for work with youth prior to their conducting any ministry with youth.

First, in the initial screening and selection process, NET requires several references for each potential NET team member, references who can testify to the suitability of a prospective team member. Each reference is originally submitted in writing, and then verified by our staff. This is part of the extensive application process which includes two live interviews and a letter from their Pastor stating they are in good standing with the Catholic Church.

Secondly, NET conducts a criminal background check of each prospect, specialized to accommodate the young age of the NET team members. Our criminal background checks are conducted by a private investigation agency called The McDowell Agency, which is also the agency being utilized by the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. This background check includes a search on the National Sex Offenders Database.

Third, NET team members are trained and certified in safe environments through the “VIRTUS–Protecting God’s Children” course by the National Catholic Risk Retention Group, Inc. NET Team members are also required to successfully complete NET’s training process, which is conducted prior to and during their ministry. During this training, the NET team members receive instruction concerning:

appropriate standards of conduct for those working with youth;
inappropriate speech, touch, and relationships with youth;
requirements for creating a safe environment for all retreatants;
guidelines for ensuring their own personal safety.

Lastly, all team members acknowledge, by their signature, that they have received, understood, and intend to conduct themselves in accordance with NET Ministries’ Personal Conduct Policies.

Once the NET team members are in active ministry with NET, they continue to receive ongoing training and supervision by NET staff members, which includes weekly contact and monthly onsite visits.

Personnel records, including the above mentioned paperwork, are all kept on each individual team member at the NET office. A more comprehensive explanation is available if needed by contacting NET’s Human Resources Coordinator at ministry@netusa.org.

NET has led youth ministry training for more than 2,500 young adults from around the world. The NET team members and other youth worker guests who attend the intense five week NET training are equipped to make a great impact with youth in years to come.

Through training and constant prayer, the team members are brought to a deeper understanding of their faith and given practical skills to effectively communicate that faith to others. In an environment that includes daily Mass, Reconciliation, individual and corporate prayer, and small group discussion, they also learn retreat skills that enable them to minister to thousands of young people.

NET team members receive training in the following areas: loving God and loving others, the content of the Gospel message, leadership and retreat ministry. They follow a structured and busy schedule that includes daily Mass and prayer, opportunities to meet individually with a priest, staff-led sharing groups, and recreation.

What makes NET Ministries the largest and most successful Catholic youth retreat ministry in the U.S. is the quality training that our 180 missionaries receive.

In mid-August each year, the new young adult team members begin five weeks of personal formation and retreat skills training. Frequent reception of the sacraments is a central part of training. They also learn and practice short dramas, presentations, personal testimonies, music, and small discussion groups.

At the end of training these young adults are placed onto teams. Each year these NET teams combine to proclaim the Gospel to over 90,000 Catholic youth in the United States.

Because they’re close in age to the youth they serve, team members are received by youth in a positive way. Their own youthfulness also allows our missionaries to authentically model what it looks like to be a young person who loves Christ and is successfully living as His disciple.

Schedule A Retreat

My life has literally changed since the retreat and I am now trying my best to become more like Christ.
– Youth, 14

I don’t want to call them the future of the Church. They’re the now of the Church. I’m so encouraged by them.
– Confirmation coordinator