Leaders Formation
Become a certified Catholic Quince Prep Leader!
This formation is offered online, or in person as a 2-Day retreat, to parish and diocesan leaders who would like to facilitate the Quinceañeras Preparation at their own parish or diocese.
Who
- Parish or diocesan leaders: Deacons, Youth Ministers, catechists, volunteers, etc. Need to be referred by their parish or diocese. Due to the nature and sensitivity of the topics covered in the course, it is generally preferable to have female leaders, as young ladies may feel more comfortable discussing these issues with female facilitators.
- Minimum age: 18 years old.
- Catholics in good standing with the church, especially regarding the importance of sacraments and Christian virtues: chastity, purity, and pro-life
- No experience is required.
- Leaders need to be proficient in the language they are taking this formation in (English or Spanish). They should also have appropriate computer skills.
- At the end of the formation, participants will be asked to read and fill out our Agreement.
How - Online Formation
Cost is $175/Leader (includes online formation, plus materials shipped in the US)- This formation is to be completed entirely online within 3 months.
- Leaders will be assigned to work with a certified and experienced female mentor.
- Leaders will complete the same course teens will complete. The purpose of this approach is to “get the leader in the teen’s shoes” so they can experience what the teens will and develop an awareness sense of the teens’ needs.
- Female mentors review leaders’ work and provide an Answer Key for every assignment completed.
- Answer Keys offer a complete revision of the topics covered in it as well as some valuable teaching tips and advice as part as the formation. Answer Keys are rooted in the teachings of the Catholic Church, the Theology of the Body (for teens) of St. John Paul II, and the CCC (Catechism).
- At the end of the formation, participants will be asked to read and fill out our Agreement.
- Upon completion of formation, leaders will receive a Quince Prep Leader Certification and a set of instruction materials.
Content
1- Knowing You Better Form: Participants respond to a few questions about their family background, spiritual life, motivation to become a quince prep leader, etc. so mentors can get to know them and build a good rapport.2- Assignment: God’s Plan for Humanity, and especially for woman, through Genesis in the light of St. Paul II’s teaching: Theology of the Body (adolescents’ version). Participants will also learn about the real meaning of the Quinceañera Celebration as an act of thanksgiving for their life and faith.
3- Assignment: My Life as God’s Precious Child: Difference between sacraments and blessings; importance of sacraments to stay on their path to holiness; commitment to lead a Christian life by setting concrete spiritual, physical, social, academic, and personal goals.
4- Assignment: In the Footsteps of Christ: Your body is a temple: morality vs. immorality, formation of conscience, vocation to Christian chastity and purity having the Virgin Mary as our greatest role model, and in the light of Saint Maria Goretti’s story.
5- Feedback Form: Participants complete this short form with their comments about the course.
Materials Included in the Formation
One Leader's Manual
Includes the lesson plans with objectives for each session, materials needed, activities, resources, notes for leaders.
It also provides the possible answers for the questions teens will be asked.
View a Leader's Manual sample
Power Point Presentations
The leader will use this PowerPoint to accompany each lesson.
These presentations will be emailed to the leader at the end of the formation.
One Quince Notebook
Every teen will use this during the retreat.
One sample of the double-sided Prayer Card
Two Purity Pledge Cards for teens
US $175 (includes online formation, plus materials shipped in the US).
Feedback
Carla Ferrando-Bowling, President of the Hispanic Federation -CFLA & QP Coordinator of St. John Baptist De la Salle Church in Chillum, MD
“The program is very well structured with topics of faith, comments, and complementary information that aid in the formation in this ministerial area. It addresses subjects that teens may not have discussed with their parents, opening up the opportunity to get to know them better, but above all, for them to know and appreciate their dignity as daughters of God.”
Angelica Malmberg, Assistant Coordinator, Hispanic Ministry, Diocese of Lafayette, LA
"After witnessing the joy and enthusiasm of the leaders, I have confidence that the instructional material and methodology of the Agapé Quinceañera Program will bring excellent results to our Hispanic community in the Diocese of Lafayette. Not only will the young girls receive this excellent education, giving them a completely different perspective than the world offers, but it will also provide them with the tools to deepen the importance of Christian and cultural values they bring. Just like your Ministry (Agapè), our desire is to provide the best tools to our parishes and leaders to better serve the people of God. I deeply appreciate Facilitator Carmen Chávez-López for her professionalism and support in implementing the workshop, as well as any questions that may arise in the future during the implementation of the retreats for our young girls."
After her first Quince Retreat, she wrote:
“The first session of the retreat was very beautiful, seeing the expressions of happiness on the girls’ faces is priceless. 8 teens came to the retreat, 3 of them are preparing for their quinceañera, and the others are their “damas”. I invited one of the girls, even though she didn’t want to, but I invited her to benefit from the material; she was one of the happiest. Glory to God!”
Ed Hopfner, Director of the Office of Marriage and Family Archdiocese of San Francisco
1. How would you rate the level of support and coordination provided by Agape prior to the leaders' workshops in Quinceañeras Preparation in your diocese?)
It was excellent – Carmen was in frequent contact to make sure we had all the details we needed and that we knew what we needed to do. Despite our difficulty in organizing a full cohort for the training – our numbers changed 3 or 4 times the last week – she and Rudy (tech support) were very flexible.
2. Regarding the organization, dynamics, and materials during the workshops, what aspects would you highlight as especially effective or valuable for the participants?
Again, excellent. As an instructor myself, I tend to judge others when they are teaching (“I like that… oh, that could have been different/better…”), and was impressed both by the command of the material that Carmen exhibited and the pedagogy she employed while presenting it. Her explanations were clear and easy to follow, she gave thoughtful and detailed answers to student questions, and seemed to pace the class at a level that was just right for all the participants.
3. What were the key reasons for choosing to collaborate with Agape ministries for these training sessions instead of other options available in the market?
Well, to be honest I’m not sure there are other options available for this particular training. However, in any case, I was originally inspired to bring Carmen / Agape here for the training b/c of the glowing report I got from a colleague of mine (Carla Ferrando-Bowling) who had gone thru the training, put on a Quinceañera prep program for her parish, and absolutely loved it. I’d thought about doing it (bringing the training here) for quite a bit, but that was the final ‘push’ I needed.
