NET Ministries
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NET Ministries, also simply known as NET USA or just NET, (an acronym for National Evangelization Teams) is a Roman Catholic Christian organization dedicated to spreading the Gospel to youth.
History[]
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NET Ministries was founded in the United States and is based in Saint Paul, Minnesota in the diocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. NET's roots go back to the St. Paul Catholic Youth Center (CYC) which offered a variety of programs from 1939 to 1989.
In 1980 NET's founder, Mark Berchem, through CYC organized eighteen high school youth retreats around southern Minnesota. Young adults traveled in a van giving these retreats over a three-week period in January. The following January three teams of youth were sent to Winona, Minnesota, Fargo, North Dakota, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota. In 1981 these missions extended to a full year commitment. In 1982 the acronym NET (standing for National Evangelization Team) became name of this movement, inspired by Mark 1:17 and Luke 5:4.
These developments were centred around the Catholic Charismatic covenant community 'Christ the Redeemer' (a member of the Sword of the Spirit association of covenant communities) where NET board member Jim Kolar works as coordinator.[1]
CYC closed in 1989 and NET was incorporated as a nonprofit corporation under the Archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis.
NET in other countries[]
In 1988, NET Ministries expanded to Australia, and to Canada in 1994. NET Australia and NET Canada are now separate organizations. In 2004, NET Uganda started as an offshoot of NET Australia, and NET Canada started a sister organization in Ireland. NET Scotland is currently run through NET USA.[2]
Programs[]
Each year, around 180 young Catholics from ages 18–28 are accepted to be "netters" for the year. After a four-week training, they are divided into around sixteen teams of 8-15 members. Each team is either a "retreat team" or a "discipleship team." Retreat teams travel around the United States in a van with a trailer, conducting retreats and parishes and schools.[3] Discipleship teams are based at a parish or school and stay there the entire year serving the local parish community.[4]
Child protection issues[]
Former NET and St. Paul's Catholic Youth Centre director Father Michael Kolar was credibly accused of sexually abusing numerous children. These accusations are substantiated and admitted by Michael Kolar personally. Despite warnings from abuse survivors, parents, another priest and Kolar's therapist, Michael Kolar was not reprimanded. James Kolar, current NET Board member, was also involved in legal action regarding reported abuses.[5][6][7][8]
Notable alumni[]
- Bishop Andrew H. Cozzens
- Bishop Scott McCaig
See also[]
- Sword of the Spirit
- Catholic spirituality
- Fellowship of Catholic University Students
- Life Teen
- Universal call to holiness
- Vocational Discernment in the Catholic Church
- World Youth Day
References[]
- ^ "Community of Christ the Redeemer: Taking the Call Seriously . an interview with Jim Kolar ".
- ^ "NET International". NET Ministries Scotland. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
- ^ "Team Life". NET Ministries. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
- ^ "Discipleship Teams". NET Ministries. NET Ministries. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
- ^ "Michael Kolar: Substantiated Claims of Sexual Abuse of a Minor".
- ^ "MIchael Kolar Priest File Part 1" (PDF).
- ^ "Michael Kolar Priest File Part 2" (PDF).
- ^ Baran, Madeleine (21 July 2014). "The Church Protects its Own". Minnesota Public Radio.
External links[]
| International associations of the faithful |
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| Other associations of the faithful |
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- Catholic lay organisations
- Catholic youth organizations
- Organizations based in Minnesota
- Non-profit organisations based in Australia
- Non-profit organizations based in Canada
- Non-profit organizations based in the United States
- Catholic organizations