About
 
Comprehensive Youth Ministry
  • is the responsibility of the whole Catholic community
  • responds to the needs of youth
  • fosters the faith and growth of young people in Jesus Christ
  • engages young people in the active participation of the life, mission and ministry of the Church
  • develops leaders

Goals of Youth Ministry

  1. To foster the total personal and spiritual growth of each young person.
  2. To draw young people to responsible participation in the life, mission, and work of the Catholic faith community.
  3. To empower young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in our world today.

Youth Ministry...happens comprehensively

Youth ministry is more than programs and events. It is "the response of the Christian community to the needs of young people, and the sharing of the unique gifts of youth with the larger community." (A Vision of Youth Ministry, p. 6, quoted in RTV 1). To be most effective, this is a ministry to, with, for, and by young people that involves their families, their parish community, and the larger community. At the heart of ministry with young people is the presence of caring, supportive relationships where youth experience the Good News in the flesh.

A comprehensive approach to youth ministry utilizes the eight components identified in Renewing the Vision as a framework: advocacy, catechesis, community life, evangelization, justice and service, leadership development, pastoral care, and prayer and worship. These components guide our efforts in proclaiming the Good News, connecting young people with the faith community, and calling our young people to the challenge of discipleship.

"The Ministry of ADVOCACY engages the Church to examine its priorities and practices to determine how well young people are integrated into the life, mission, and work of the Catholic community" and within society. (RTV, p. 27) The ministry of advocacy includes protecting the sanctity of human life, speaking with and on behalf of young people, empowering the voice of young people, and developing partnerships in building a healthy community.

"The Ministry of CATECHESIS most effectively promotes the faith development of young and older adolescents when the curriculum is focused on important faith themes of the Church and on the developmental needs and life experiences of adolescents." (RTV, p. 30) It helps young people enrich and expand their understanding of the Scriptures and the sacred tradition. It provides a healthy future by encouraging youth to live faithfully in providing real life applications so that they may grow as disciples of Jesus Christ in their daily lives.

"The Ministry of COMMUNITY LIFE builds an environment of love, support, appreciation for diversity, and judicious acceptance that models Catholic principles; develops meaningful relationships; and nurtures Catholic faith." (RTV, p. 34) This included relationships between youth and caring adults, but not exclusively.

"The Ministry of EVANGELIZATION shares the good news of the reign of God and invites young people to hear about the Word Made Flesh." (RTV, p. 36) Drawing from Jesus' example, evangelization involves the community's pronouncements and living witnesses of adults and young people that the reign of God has become realized in and through Jesus. The ministry of evangelization incorporates several essential elements: witness, outreach, proclamation, invitation, conversion, and discipleship.

"The Ministry of JUSTICE AND SERVICE nurtures in young people a social consciousness and a commitment to a life of justice and service rooted in their faith in Jesus Christ, in the Scriptures, and in Catholic social teaching; empowers young people to work for justice by concrete efforts to address the causes of human suffering; and infuses the concepts of justice, peace, and human dignity into all ministry efforts." (RTV, p. 38)

"The Ministry of LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT calls forth, affirms, and empowers the diverse gifts, talents, and abilities of adults and young people in our faith communities." (RTV, p. 40)

"The Ministry of PASTORAL CARE is a compassionate presence in imitation of Jesus' care for people, especially those who were hurting and in need." (RTV, p. 42) It involves promoting positive adolescent and family development through a variety of positive (preventive) strategies, caring for adolescents and families in crisis through supports, counseling, and referral to appropriate community agencies; providing guidance as young people face life decisions and make moral choices, and challenging systems that are obstacles to positive development.

"The Ministry of PRAYER AND WORSHIP celebrates and deepens young people's relationship with Jesus Christ through the bestowal of grace, communal prayer, and liturgical experiences; it awakens their awareness of the Spirit at work in their lives, it incorporates young people more fully in the sacramental life of the Church, especially Eucharist; it nurtures the personal prayer life of young people, and it fosters family rituals and prayer." (RTV, p. 44)

(RTV - Renewing the Vision: A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry, 1997, USCCB)