Frequently Asked Questions

1. What does a parish team cost?
2. What does the team do while in the parish?
3. How long will a team stay in one parish?
4. Where does the team stay while in the parish community?
5. What are the requirements necessary for an applying parish?

1. What does a parish team cost?

These prices are approximations for the ministry year of 2009-2010 and are subject to change:

• NET Ministries of Canada : $42,000.00
  The amount of financial contribution to NET Ministries of Canada Inc. will be $42,000.00 payable by September 30, or $10,500.00 paid on the first of September, November, January, and March.
• Program Supplies : Approximately $5000.00
  These include weekly supplies, training materials, snacks, advertising, retreat supplies, etc.
• Office Supplies : Approximately $2000.00
  Computer, Internet, supplies, etc
• Transportation Supplies : Approximately $5000.00
  Cost for gas and maintenance (highly dependent upon distances travelled).
• Vehicle and Insurance : (Prices vary greatly, so no approximation is given)
  The parish is responsible for providing a mini-van capable of holding 8 passengers simultaneously. The parish also is responsible for the cost of insuring the vehicle.

Approximate Total (excluding the cost of van and insurance) : $54,000

2. What does the team do while in the parish?

While the team is staying in one parish, they go through a specific process which then allows them to hand over a functioning comprehensive youth ministry program when they leave. The team will seek to accomplish 5 goals.

1. Foster the spiritual and sacramental growth of young people.
2. Draw youth to participate in the life and mission of the parish community.
3. Form leaders in youth ministry.
4. Develop a hospitable environment for youth.
5. Provide a link between school, family, and parish communities.

3. How long will a team stay in one parish?

NET recognizes the value of a two year mission in each parish in order to aid sustainability and create a stronger foundation of youth ministry. Although we recommend two years, the initial commitment from both the parish and NET Ministries of Canada is only one year. After a few months of ministry, NET and the parish will discern a second year commitment. For each year that the team stays in a parish, they will be present to the parish for 8 months, with the exception of a 3 week break at Christmas.

4. Where does the team stay while in the parish community?

During the 8-month stay, the team members will stay in host homes. Host homes are community members who graciously and generously invite team members to stay with them for a 2-week period. Each host home will have a minimum of 2 team members stay with them at a time. We ask that each community appoint one person to act as host home coordinator for the team. The host home coordinator is responsible to schedule in which homes team members will be staying for the duration of the 8 months.

5. What are the requirements necessary for an applying parish?

There are certain requirements that we look for in parishes that apply for parish teams. Should a parish not meet the necessary requirements, the NET staff will give them an explanation of which requirements they did not meet and how they could improve. If the parish takes it upon themselves to make the recommended changes, they may still be considered for a parish team. The following outlines the main requirements:

• The parish must plan to hire a full time youth minister to replace the team once they leave.
• The parish must be equipped with an adequate sound system that meets NET’s standards.
• The parish must provide a space for the team to use as an office, already set up with phone, Internet, computers, and furniture.
• The parish must believe that they have enough willing host families to billet the team for the duration of the year.
• The parish must provide transportation for the team, which includes the vehicle, insurance, licensing, gas, and maintenance.