What is IGNITE ?
IGNITE is a high-energy, weekend-long retreat for youth with demonstrated leadership abilities* in grades 7
and 8. A short term apprenticeship in Catholic discipleship of Jesus Christ, IGNITE will provide Grade 7 and 8
youth an experience of Catholicism as a comprehensive way of life—igniting in them the desire to live as
disciples and lead their peers for living the faith in their families, schools and activities. Hallmarks of IGNITE
are active and engaging learning sessions, powerful faith sharing and witness talks, prayer experiences, small
group discussions, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and Mass and so much more!
How is IGNITE different than Junior High Summer Leadership C.A.M.P?
1. JH C.A.M.P. has always been sponsored by an office of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, but we’re delighted
to announce that IGNITE is now co-sponsored by the Office of Youth & Young Adult Ministry and the Office
of Evangelization and Catechesis.
2. For many years, C.A.M.P. offered the same curriculum year after year. Activities were changed enough
that CAMPers who attended two years in a row would have a different experience, but the content didn’t
change. IGNITE, on the other hand, offers a two-year curriculum. The themes, goals, and content of each
year are complimentary, but are not sequential, providing a new experience each year. That means that a
JH youth can attend Year A or Year B in any order and still be in sync with the program. Also, the
curriculum for both years is correlated to the Archdiocese of Cincinnati’s Graded Course of Study for 7th
and 8th grade. You can be assured that everything that happens at IGNITE parallels and supports
everything you do in your parish or school for JH adolescent faith formation:
• Year A Theme (starting in 2014): Called to Be (called by the Holy Trinity to holiness, community, and
service)
• Year B Theme (starting in 2013): Jesus 24/7: To Know, To Love, To Serve (knowing Jesus personally,
developing a relationship with him as his disciple)
3. In 2014, IGNITE will move from June to March, allowing JH youth to participate in other Catholic
opportunities in the summer. For 2013, IGNITE will be held on June 7-9. In 2014 and every year thereafter,
IGNITE will occur in March.
4. Since 2010, a Parent Resource booklet based on the themes and activities used at C.A.M.P. has been
developed to help families go deeper after the weekend was over. We’ll be expanding this resource and
connecting it to more of the initiatives of Christ at the Center and Revitalizing the Domestic Church.
What’s the same about IGNITE and Junior High Summer Leadership C.A.M.P.?
You can count on the same commitment to excellence you’ve always appreciated about C.A.M.P.:
• Dedicated adult team leaders who bring a wealth of youth ministry experience, and have a deep love
for Christ, His Church, and young people;
• High-impact and high-energy learning activities that motivate youth to live as Catholic disciples of
Jesus;
• Powerful prayer experiences, including the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Mass;
• Practical ways that help youth connect the Catholic faith with their everyday lives;
• Fun!
*What Kind of Leadership Skills and Abilities Are We Talking About?
IGNITE is all about growing in discipleship—igniting the desire in JH youth for deeper relationship with Jesus;
to take seriously His invitation and challenge to live lives of holiness; and to be models of holiness for their
friends, in their schools, and in their families. IGNITE assists JH youth in growing the skills to be able to speak
more clearly about the Catholic faith and why it’s important to them, and to share with others how Christ is
working in their lives right now. They’ll be given age-appropriate tools to help them discern God’s will, and
encouragements that motivate them to live their faith in a comprehensive way – and to be a witness to their
peers.
The kind of “leaders” who most benefit from IGNITE are those who are already examples to their peers. Some
are already leaders on sports teams, student government or in the classroom or parish. Perhaps they are the
youth who are encouraging, compassionate, good team builders and inclusive of others. Also, those youth
who are quiet, shy and haven’t had an opportunity to be a recognized leader, but have demonstrated spiritual
maturity--an interest in knowing more about God and their faith, and have developed a regular prayer life.
Youth who attend IGNITE will not come back to your parish or school being able to run a youth group meeting,
plan an event for their peers, or facilitate a small group discussion—unless they already knew how to do that
before they attended IGNITE.
What to Expect When Your JHers come back from IGNITE
1. IGNITE Youth will come back with a lot of good stories…about Jesus that help them know Him better;
about saints—some heroic, some ordinary—but all who had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ
as His disciple; from the adult leaders who will share their personal encounters with Jesus; of their
own lives and how knowing Jesus is making a difference in their lives;
2. Prayer is the backbone of IGNITE. It’s what gives all the other experiences and activities of IGNITE meaning.
Youth will have experienced a variety of dynamic Catholic prayer experiences: lectio divina, an
examination of conscience, guided meditation, litanies, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and Mass, to
name a few.
3. In age- and developmentally-appropriate ways, IGNITE Youth will be able to describe what it means to be a
Catholic disciple of Jesus and how to live that in their daily lives.
Identifying Leader Kids and How to Invite them to IGNITE:
Because IGNITE is a retreat for JH youth who are ready to go deeper in their faith, attendance at IGNITE is “by
invitation only.” That means that IGNITE is not for every JH young person. We know that JH kids will be JH
kids—and we wouldn’t want them any other way. Qualities to look for when considering youth to invite
include:
• interest in spiritual things, especially Catholicism
• self-control
• a certain level of seriousness
• willingness to move out of one’s comfort zone…and grow
• enthusiasm for meeting new challenges and people
• a general positive outlook on life
It’s always easy to see the leader kids—they’re often extroverts and can command attention. But not every
extroverted kid is a leader in the way we hope they will be; and, sometimes, it’s our introverted kids that are
quietly leading under the radar. Investing in them now might help them prioritize in favor of the faith later.
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Ask your teachers or catechists to identify kids with the qualities mentioned above.
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Assess the list and identity the best candidates—making sure that the “quiet leader” kids are also in the
mix.
Give the IGNITE brochure to your invitees and mail one home to their parents along with a personal letter
from you on parish/school letterhead about IGNITE and why you think their child would be an ideal
candidate for this retreat. If your parish or school will be subsidizing the registration fee, let parents know
that, too. And, if you know a student who would benefit from a scholarship from IGNITE, some funding is
available as well.
Follow up with a phone call or email.
Your parish or school may send up to a total of eight (8) youth to IGNITE, as long as space is available.
Important Info:
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For 2013:
o IGNITE Discipleship Retreat—June 7, 8, 9, 2013
o Early registration deadline—May 6, 2013 (registration fee goes up $20.00 after May 6)
o Registration deadline: May 25, 2013 or when we reach maximum capacity, whichever comes
first. (IGNITE will be very popular. We anticipate closing registration by May, so get your
registrations in early.)
o Cost: $125.00 per person (includes room, board, and all retreat materials)
o Scholarships between $10.00--$60.00 per person are available; limited to two (2) scholarships
per parish or school
In 2014, IGNITE will move to the school year: March 21-23, 2014.
www.CatholicCincinnati.org/ministries-offices/youthministry