Office of Catholic Youth, Archdiocese of Toronto

WELCOME TO THE HOME OF THE

OFFICE OF CATHOLIC YOUTH

IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF TORONTO

DISCOVER WHAT'S HAPPENING IN

YOUTH MINISTRY

THROUGHOUT THE ARCHDIOCESE

LEARN MORE ABOUT

YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY

AND HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED

Young Adult Ministry

About

THE OFFICE OF CATHOLIC YOUTH (OCY) IS FOCUSED ON CULTIVATING RELATIONSHIPS AND PROVIDING SUPPORT TO THOSE WHO MINISTER TO YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE PARISH COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF TORONTO IN ONTARIO, CANADA.

Primary Mission

To assist in the evangelization of young people by providing consulting, training, and resources to start-up and sustain strong youth, campus and young adult ministry at the parish (local) level.

Our vision is to form youth and young adults into Christian leaders who come to know Christ, deepen their relationship with Him, and are transformed into one of His faith-filled disciples - evangelize, gather, catechize, and send forth.

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Secondary Mission

To host diocesan events: conferences, camps, retreats, etc., and collaborate with diocesan offices, school boards, lay associations, religious communities etc., that strengthen youth, campus and young adult ministries.

Our area of focus for youth is defined as tweens and teens ages 11 to 17. Our area of focus for young adults is defined as students and young professionals ages 18-35.

Our work is never done

While our office is funded by ShareLife, we can't help but dream about how much more we could be doing! If you would like to assist us in ministering to youth and young adults throughout the Archdiocese, please use the button below. We are very grateful for your support.

Team

Rev Francis N. Portelli, I

Fr. Frank Portelli

Director

Born and raised in Toronto, Father Frank was ordained in 2009 and served previously at St. Luke's Parish in Thornhill.

Leyna

Leyna
Jacques-Carr

Office Manager

Since rediscovering the richness of the church with her family, God has shown Leyna the joys of following Him by giving her the opportunity to be part of the OCY and by leading her to her, now, husband.

John

John MacMullen

Associate Director,
Youth Ministry

John brings an experienced youth ministry background from his many years as Youth Minister at St. Timothy parish in Orangeville.

Eamonn

Eamonn Doyle

Associate Director,
Programs, Technology and Communications

Eamonn is a native of St. Marys, Ontario and formerly worked in the television industry, spending 12 years at a national sports TV network.

Stephanie

Stephanie Benedetti

Associate Director,
Young Adult Ministry

Stephanie grew up participating in OCY events never imagining that God would call her to serve her home parish for 7 years as the parish Youth Minister.

Eliza

Eliza Trotter

Diocesan Coordinator of Campus Ministries

Eliza holds a Master of Arts in Medieval Studies and she joins OCY after many years working in independent Catholic schools in the GTA.

Chai

Chai Bonoan

Coordinator, Programs, Technology and Communications

Chai is an experienced graphic designer who worked previously as a parish youth minister, as well as a Re:Generation missionary.

Mark

Mark Misiak

Program and Events Coordinator

Having grown up in a large Catholic family, Mark holds passions for entrepreneurship and helping teens discover God’s love as a Youth Ministry volunteer at his parish.

volunteer

Become a Volunteer

Giving your time to help inspire young people can be very rewarding.

If you are looking to become involved with youth ministry or young adult ministry on a volunteer basis, please contact us and we can put you in touch with our area contacts. While there are volunteer opportunities from time to time in our office, the majority of opportunities arise in individual parishes.

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Ministry

Youth Ministry

We work with parishes throughout the Archdiocese to support and assist them in their mission of ministering to youth ranging in age from 11 to 18.

Youth Ministry Info

Young Adult Ministry

We work with parishes, campus ministries, and our own growing network of young adult leaders in an ongoing effort of ministering to students and young professionals ages 18-35.

Young Adult Info

Young Catholic Missionaries

We recruit and form young adults, creating young Catholic missionaries who go out in the world to evangelize. Our first program, RE:Generation seeks to build a culture of life.

Andre Tyson

The OCY is instrumental to me being a fruitful youth minister in three ways. First, our Youth Minster meetings give continual formation, growth, best practises and networking. Secondly, coordinating essential large-scale events we could not individually do on our own. And lastly, John Mac is a mentor to me as a Youth Minister and a family man.

Anthony Tamayo

Being part of the OCY Young Adult Ministry in the Eastern Region this past year had been a very beautiful and fruitful experience. Through this ministry I would have never thought of journeying with such authentic and intentional leaders where I was able to grow in my faith and shaping me into the leader I am today.

Maria Torrone

Through the Office of Catholic Youth, we have had re:gen come out to our parish for our retreats over the past four years. Every time they come there is always something so special about their message and how it's received by our students. In our Catholic school it is really important for us to promote chastity among our youth and help them see an alternative to what the society is telling them is the only option.

Gallery

All Youth Young Adult YCM Theology on Tap EDGE Camp Steubenville Toronto

Spiritus Via 2019 Kick-off — Spiritus Via 2019 Kick-off

More Spiritus Via 2019 BBQ Kick-off photos here.

ToT East: September 2019 — ToT East: September 2019

For more photos from this event ToT East September 2019 event, click here.

Mission Trip 2019 — Mission Trip 2019

More Mission Trip 2019 photos here.

Steubenville Toronto 2019 — Steubenville Toronto 2019

More Steubenville Toronto 2019 photos here.

ToT West: May 2019 — ToT West: May 2019

For more photos from this event ToT West event from May 2019, click here.

Mission Trip 2018 — Mission Trip 2018

More Mission Trip 2018 photos here.

New Year's Eve 2018 — New Year's Eve 2018

More New Year's Eve 2018 photos here.

Steubenville Toronto 2018 — Steubenville Toronto 2018

More Steubenville Toronto 2018 photos here.

YM Training Day 2017 — YM Training Day 2017

More 2017 Training Day photos here.

Steubenville Toronto 2017 — Steubenville Toronto 2017

For more SteubieTO 2017 photos, click here.

Re:Generation: November 2016 — Re:Generation: November 2016

For more Re:Generation photos from November 2016, click here.

Re:Generation: October 2016 — Re:Generation: October 2016

For more Re:Generation photos from October 2016, click here.

EDGE Camp 2016 — EDGE Camp 2016

For more photos from EDGE Camp 2016, click here.

Steubenville Toronto 2016 — Steubenville Toronto 2016

For more SteubieTO 2016 photos, click here.

Re:Generation: May 2016 — Re:Generation: May 2016

For more Re:Generation photos from May 2016, click here.

Theology on Tap East — Theology on Tap East

For more photos from this ToT East event, please click here.

Re:Generation: April 2016 — Re:Generation: April 2016

For more Re:Generation photos from April 2016, click here.

Theology on Tap West — Theology on Tap West

For more photos from this ToT West event, please click here.

Re:Generation Smiles — Re:Generation

For more photos from this special event, please click here.

Theology on Tap East Patrick — Theology on Tap East

For more photos from this amazing ToT East event, click here.

Theology on Tap North Fr Paul — Theology on Tap North

For more photos from this Northern event, click here.

EDGE Camp 2015 — EDGE Camp 2015

For more photos from EDGE Camp 2015, click here.

Steubenville Toronto 2015 — Steubenville Toronto 2015

For more SteubieTO 2015 photos, click here.

Theology on Tap East David — Theology on Tap East

For more photos from this Eastern Theology on Tap event, click here.

Theology on Tap North Three — Theology on Tap North

For more Theology on Tap North photos from this event, click here.

YM Training Day 2015 — YM Training Day 2015

For more photos from Training Day 2015, click here.

Theology on Tap East Crowd — Theology on Tap East

For more photos from this ToT East, click right For more photos from this ToT East, click right here.

Adoration and Social — Adoration and Social

For more photos from this Adoration and Social event, click here.

Theology on Tap West Listening — Theology on Tap West

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Theology on Tap East Group Smiles — Theology on Tap East

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Theology on Tap West Table 6 — Theology on Tap West

For more photos from this event in the West, click here.

Theology on Tap East Couple — Theology on Tap East

For more photos from this Eastern event, kindly click here.

Advent Adoration — Advent Adoration & Social

For more photos from this Advent Adoration event, click here.

Theology on Tap West LArge Group — Theology on Tap West

For more photos from this ToT event, click here.

Steubenville Toronto 2014 — Steubenville Toronto 2014

For more SteubieTO 2014 photos, click here.

EDGE Camp 2014 — EDGE Camp 2014

For more photos from EDGE Camp 2014, click here.

YM Training Day 2013 — YM Training Day 2013

For more photos from this Training Day 2013, click here.

Youth Ministers Day 2013 — Youth Ministers Day 2013

For more photos from Youth Ministers Day 2013, click here.

Youth Ministry Subsidy

We have developed a process for parishes to apply to receive financial support through our Family of Faith Youth Ministry Subsidy.

Post Image Subsidy

Subsidy Application Process

UPDATE! Thank you to parishes who have applied for the subsidy. We will continue to accept applications and hold them until our next review period. For application information, please click below.

Sept 28: Feast of St. Lorenzo Ruiz, patron saint of Filipino youth and migrants, pray for us Torture and death > rejecting Jesus #FeastDay #StLorenzoRuiz #FilipinoPride #CatholicTO @archtoronto
Follow us @OCYToronto

Sept 28

News

News Post Image Edge Canceled

02 Mar'21 OCY Admin

Edge Camp 2021: Covid-19 Update

EDGE Camp is back! Read about the precautions we are taking to make sure all participants have a safe and fun camp experience.

Covid-19 Update

News Post Image Mission Canceled

03 Jun'20 OCY Admin

Young Adult Mission: Canceled

This year's mission trip for young adults has been canceled. We hope to plan another trip for the summer of 2021.

Mission Trip

News Post Image Steubie Canceled

24 Apr'20 OCY Admin

SteubieTO 2020: Canceled

Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, our 2020 conference has been canceled. Our next conference will be July 9-11, 2021 - please join us!

SteubieTO

News Post Image Totus Canceled

22 Apr'20 OCY Admin

Totus Tuus 2020: Canceled

After much consideration and discussion with parishes involved, we have decided to cancel this summer's Totus Tuus camps due to the continued uncertainty surrounding COVID-19.

Totus Tuus

News Post Image Certificate

05 Feb'19 OCY Admin

Youth Ministry Certification

In partnership with Franciscan University of Steubenville, we are pleased to offer a comprehensive youth ministry certificate program.

Certificate

Upcoming Events

If you would like your event listed on our site, please send us an email with the needed info. For more details on any event listed here, please click on the event title.

54-Day Rosary

Oct 7-Nov 29 Place: Online

Sisters Rosary Promo Photo

Theology on Tap Central

Oct 26 @ 7pm Place: Online

Lissette promo slide

Theology on Tap Durham

Oct 27 @ 7pm Place: Online

Kevin promo slide

Sisters of Life Retreat

Oct 30-Nov 1 Place: Online

Sisters Oct 30 promo slide

Mental Health Matters

Nov 4 @ 7pm Place: Online

mental health promo slide

Spiritus Vitae

Nov 4 @ 7pm Place: Online

Nov 4 Vitae promo slide

Spiritus Via

Nov 4 @ 7pm Place: Online

Nov 4 via promo slide

Theology on Tap East

Nov 9 @ 7pm Place: Online

Nov 9 promo slide

Theology on Tap Durham

Nov 24 @ 7pm Place: Online

Nov 24 promo slide

Theology on Tap Central

Nov 30 @ 7pm Place: Online

Nov 30 promo slide

Theology on Tap West

Dec 2 @ 7pm Place: Online

Dec 2 promo slide

Theology on Tap Durham

Dec 15 @ 7pm Place: Online

Dec 15 promo slide

Theology on Tap East

Jan 11 @ 7pm Place: Online

Jan 11 promo slide

Theology on Tap Durham

Jan 26 @ 7pm Place: Online

Jan 26 promo slide

Partners & Programs

Contact

Drop us a message

Contact Info

54 Hoskin Ave., Toronto, ON M5S 3L8
416-599-7676
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