Youth group games   www.jubed.com  |  www.youthgroupgames.com.au

Looking for some games to get the group started? Need ideas for those dreaded “ice-breaker” activities? These two sites have hundreds of games that you can easily adapt to your group – whatever their ages. Youth Group Games even gives you the option to tailor your game choices to fit exactly what you need them for.

he Source for Youth Ministry   www.thesource4ym.com
Multimedia is always a great way to get young people interested. This website lists over 100 film titles, providing analyses on the film’s themes and values. Films include Gladiator, Where the Wild Things Are, X-Men Origins: Wolverine and more. Most reviews even reference an important moment in the story, which means you can just borrow the DVD, play the scene, and the group can then discuss. Everyone is always keen to talk about movies! Note: There are other resources on this website that are handy to use, but please be mindful that its contributors are not necessarily writing from a Catholic perspective, and therefore may differ slightly on some topics.

How many times have we cringed at the sight of a flyer that uses clip art from the 90s? It’s bad enough that most people have their own preconceptions of the Church without having to turn them off even more with poorly designed flyers. Well don’t just laugh at it, do something about it! Check out these sites for some cool downloadable artwork, inspirational slideshows, background visuals, short films, etc.

Catholic Media House www.catholicmediahouse.com

This is a great website for short inspirational videos, beautiful still backgrounds, podcasts, etc. They have free downloads and also resources you can purchase.

Lifeteen Youth Movement

www.lifeteen.com

Various youth resources including a free "Sunday, Sunday, Sunday" podcast you can download to help you prepare for Sunday Mass Readings

Matt Maher www.mattmahermusic.com

Listen to and download music from Catholic (American) musician Matt Maher.

Pope2You www.pope2you.net

Includes Facebook applications, WikiCath, iPhone applications and the latest Pope videos

REsource (Online Teaching and Learning) http://resource.fraynework.com.au

Cultivation Ministries   www.cultivationministries.com
Cultivation ministries wrote Growing Teen Disciples, a youth ministry program with solid theology, brilliant theory, clear strategy, practical suggestions, and real-life stories that provide direction for building a youth ministry. If you want to learn how to develop a comprehensive, disciple-making youth ministry, this is the book. You can download this and other helpful resources and tips from their website.

Catholic Youth Ministry   www.youthministry.catholic.org.au
This is the official website by the Bishops Commission for Pastoral Life. It aims to assist youth ministers on a national level, providing various youth resources from around the country and a strategic document for implementing Anointed and Sent, the national vision for youth ministry in Australia. It’s mostly still being developed but keep an eye out for this one.

YM Central   web.me.com/batman760/YM_Central/Home.html

This is a very good website created to help youth ministers in developing their Catholic Youth ministry. Although there are no ‘free’ programs on this site, it is worthwhile visiting to gain ideas and perhaps purchase their programs.

Centre for Ministry Development   www.cmdnet.org
The Center for Ministry Development helps develop youth ministry in the US, using the US Bishops’ document Renewing the Vision. Their FREE downloadable resources propose holistic ministry, empowering young disciples, promoting participation in the community, and fostering the personal and spiritual growth of each young person.

The Great Adventure   www.greatadventureonline.com
73 Books. One Story. Your Story. The Great Adventure Online is a fun and engaging Catholic bible study for people of all ages. The great thing about the TGA is that they provide every element of the study – worksheets, leader’s notes, and more. It is big in the USA and it’s just a matter of time until it catches on in Australia.