CREATING a Catholic culture where youth ministry is valued is the biggest challenge facing Acts2 College of Mission and Evangelisation (Acts2CoME), according to principal Jane Borg.
The vocational training college has been in operation for almost a decade, and offers its students a variety of qualifications in youth ministry work.
Although youth ministry has grown in recent times, Mrs Borg said a mentality of it being useless still prevails.
“What holds us back is that it’s not in the psyche of young Catholics to do a year of Bible college,” she said.
“It’s not a requirement to hold youth ministry qualifications to go and run a youth group, which is unfortunate. And we hope that we would be able to work to some time in the Church where it is a requirement.
“Until that way of looking at things changes, it’s hard getting people to consider Bible college.”
Despite the challenges, the unique college, which is entirely volunteer-run, has expanded its academic repertoire this year to include a Diploma of Youth Ministry and a Certificate III in Christian Leadership and Ministry.
It has also added courses in Active Volunteering and Screen and Media to its scope.
The only Catholic Bible college in Australia, Acts2CoME is also joining forces with local Catholic secondary schools to provide students with a qualification in Active Volunteering for work they largely already do as part of the Christian Serving Learning program.
The college, which is a Registered Training Organisation, will work with the schools to “fill in the gaps” to ensure students meet the course requirements and attain a nationally recognised qualification.
“It’s really exciting,” Mrs Borg said.
“For us, the advantage is more exposure, and possibly to attract students who see that ministry is a career option.”
While the courses available at the college each run for a year of full-time study, which is spaced over three 12-week trimesters, they are packed with a variety of learning experiences.
“We do a mixture of learning and hands-on practical, so when they come out at the end they can actually ‘do’, not just ‘know’, and that’s essential as far as we’ve been concerned, right from the start,” Mrs Borg said.
The Osborne Park-based college has more than 40 graduates, and, while studying at Acts2CoME is not just for those pursuing ministry work, many have taken on roles within Catholic parishes.
Mrs Borg said she enjoyed catching up with past students immensely.
“I look at these young people each year, and I see the difference from when they walked in the door to when they walk out,” she said.
“The change in people is just incredible. If I had to run a class for one… for the change in that person’s life, it’s worth it.”
Graduate of 2009 Emma Passmore said her time at Acts2CoME provided her with all the knowledge and skills to be able to work in youth ministry.
“I found studying at Acts a great balance of learning about my faith, life skills and having lots of fun at the same time,” she said.
“The skills you learn and experience gained from the practical work are outstanding.”
The 26-year-old now works as a youth minister at Greenwood parish, and runs a thriving youth group of about 40.
It’s the sort of work that Mrs Borg believes is undervalued within Catholic circles.
“We’re losing opportunities with these young, on fire people… by not directing them into careers in the Church and not giving their qualifications some status,” she said.
Although she was unsure if the Catholic culture would change in the future, Mrs Borg said she was committed to fulfilling Acts2CoME’s mission.
“We’re trying to give people a solid grounding on their faith and the teachings of the Church,” she said. “They are formed as Catholics, and they have a whole range of skills that can contribute to society or the Church, wherever they go.
“We’re about equipping people to take the message of God out into the world.”