RtVsession1 Scott

Editor's Notes

• #11: Welcome to the understanding Catholic youth ministry training. This presentation highlights the shift from previous models of youth ministry known as the Catholic Youth Organization (C.Y.O.), Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (C.C.D.), and the Catholic Schools only models to a comprehensive vision of Catholic youth ministry. The renewed vision encourages a comprehensive ministry with adolescents, their parents and the entire community. This training will provide a brief historical overview of Catholic youth ministry in the United States. It will also introduce the comprehensive approach of Catholic youth ministry including its goals and components as written in the U.S. Catholics Bishops’ 1997 document Renewing the Vision: A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry . Finally, the workshop concludes with strategies for implementing this comprehensive vision along with the invitation to brainstorm ideas in our local community.
• #12: "What is needed today is a Church which knows how to respond to the expectations of young people. Jesus wants to enter into dialogue with them and, through his body which is the Church, to propose the possibility of a choice which will require a commitment of their lives. As Jesus with the disciples of Emmaus, so the Church must become the traveling companion of young people. Pope John Paul II, World Youth Day 1995, Philippines In 1997 the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops published a new document with the input of many professionals in the field of Catholic youth ministry. Renewing the Vision built upon the 1976 Vision and was published as a document of the entire USCCB rather than from one department as in the past. The renewed vision emphasized in youth ministry focused on discipleship, included three goals and eight components.
• #13: "What is needed today is a Church which knows how to respond to the expectations of young people. Jesus wants to enter into dialogue with them and, through his body which is the Church, to propose the possibility of a choice which will require a commitment of their lives. As Jesus with the disciples of Emmaus, so the Church must become the traveling companion of young people. Pope John Paul II, World Youth Day 1995, Philippines In 1997 the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops published a new document with the input of many professionals in the field of Catholic youth ministry. Renewing the Vision built upon the 1976 Vision and was published as a document of the entire USCCB rather than from one department as in the past. The renewed vision emphasized in youth ministry focused on discipleship, included three goals and eight components.
• #14: "What is needed today is a Church which knows how to respond to the expectations of young people. Jesus wants to enter into dialogue with them and, through his body which is the Church, to propose the possibility of a choice which will require a commitment of their lives. As Jesus with the disciples of Emmaus, so the Church must become the traveling companion of young people. Pope John Paul II, World Youth Day 1995, Philippines In 1997 the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops published a new document with the input of many professionals in the field of Catholic youth ministry. Renewing the Vision built upon the 1976 Vision and was published as a document of the entire USCCB rather than from one department as in the past. The renewed vision emphasized in youth ministry focused on discipleship, included three goals and eight components.
• #17: Goal 3 Youth Ministry ... it’s about gifts and growth The third goal of youth ministry is “to foster the total personal and spiritual growth of each young person.” (RTV 15). Adolescence is an important time for mental, spiritual, social, and physical growth. Their experiences and relationships greatly influence their healthy and positive development. The Church strives to surround young people with the best possible external scaffolds—networks of caring relationships of family, school, peers, and other adults—while young people are developing their internal psychological and spiritual backbone—their values, life skills, commitments, and moral compass. The Church fulfills this third goal of youth ministry by ... Enabling young people to develop a personal relationship with Jesus. Actively supporting positive youth development and fostering healthy values and life skills. Supporting families of young people by providing resources, programs, and services. Providing opportunities to experience and express caring, service, and compassion for others
• #18: Goal 2 Youth Ministry ... it’s about connection The second goal is “to draw young people to responsible participation in the life, mission, and work of the Catholic faith community.” (RTV 11). Young people have a hunger for connection, to be in relationship, and to belong. Family, peers, school, youth serving organizations, and church are primary connections for young people. Some of the ways the church fulfills this second goal of youth ministry is by ... Being a ‘youth friendly’ community that welcomes young people, values their participation, and calls forth their gifts. Integrating young people into the liturgical, pastoral, and ministerial life of the parish community. Creating opportunities for young people to enter into healthy relationships of trust and respect with their peers and with adults. Promoting Catholic identity and religious literacy through programs of adolescent catechesis.
• #19: Goal 1 The first goal of youth ministry is “to empower young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in our world today.” (RTV 9). Young people are “searching for a noble adventure”, a compelling and challenging vision of life, and a cause worth their commitment. They hunger to hear the Good News that finds response in discipleship. As their companions on this spiritual journey, some of the ways the Church fulfills this first goal of youth ministry is by ... Proclaiming the Good News of Jesus through witness and word to young people. Enabling young people to live as disciples through their involvement in service, ministry, and leadership opportunities. Providing young people the faith skills for discipleship
• #20: Comprehensive Themes Effective youth ministry attends to the following themes: Developmentally Appropriate—recognizes differing needs, skills, experience, and aptitude of younger and older adolescents Family Friendly—see parents as allies in youth ministry, ministers to and incorporates parents in youth ministry Intergenerational—connects youth to the broader church community, fosters relationships between younger and those more seasoned in their faith Multicultural—recognizes, incorporates, and attends to the differing needs of youth and families from all cultures within parish, sensitizes the entire parish to the multicultural reality of the parish and greater community Community-Wide Collaboration—understands the context in which youth live—the community—seeks to partner with agencies (schools, other faith traditions, neighborhoods, police, hospitals, and youth-serving agencies, etc.) to meet commonly held goal of positive and healthy youth development Leadership—fosters (calls forth, trains, and supports) both youth and adult leadership within youth and parish ministry Flexible/Adaptable Programming—utilizes various methods, formats, activities, and schedules (days of the week, time of day, time periods, classroom model, retreats, online discussion, Internet, gathered groups, activities at the parish, activities off-site, variety of leaders, various prayer styles, music, and educational materials, etc.) to meet the needs of the youth and parents in the parish.
• #21: Components of Catholic Youth Ministry Background A Vision of Youth Ministry (1976) gave rise to 7 components for comprehensive youth ministry: basically melding and furthering the work done through CYO/CCD/Catholic School models. Renewing the Vision names 8 components for youth ministry: the component of Word (1976) is now broken into Evangelization and Catechesis as distinctive focus areas, while the remaining 6 components are expanded and deepened. The component of enablement (1976) is renamed as leadership development, creating community becomes community life, and guidance and healing (1976) is now pastoral care. Advocacy “ 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.” (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 and society.
• #22: “ 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) Catechesis 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.
• #23: “ 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) Community life affords the opportunity for gathering in many different forms; large groups, small groups, intergenerational groups, ongoing parish activities and celebrations to name just a few. This includes relationships between youth and caring adults, but not exclusively.
• #24: “ 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 is realized in and through Jesus. The ministry of evangelization incorporates several essential elements: witness, outreach, proclamation, invitation, conversion, and discipleship.
• #25: “ 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) This component helps youth to develop an understanding of Catholic social teaching and assess the needs in the community that need attention/service.
• #26: “ 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 for comprehensive ministry with adolescents.” (RTV, p. 40) Leadership development provides opportunities for young people to develop and share their gifts with the wider community. Mentoring, training and skill building provide a variety of platforms for growth and development.
• #27: “ 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. These strategies include 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.
• #28: “ 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) Prayer and worship encourages young people to experience deeply the richness of communal worship in the celebration of the liturgy. It also encourages an understanding of the discipline of personal prayer to encourage growth in their relationship with Christ.
• #29: “ 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) Prayer and worship encourages young people to experience deeply the richness of communal worship in the celebration of the liturgy. It also encourages an understanding of the discipline of personal prayer to encourage growth in their relationship with Christ.
• #30: "What is needed today is a Church which knows how to respond to the expectations of young people. Jesus wants to enter into dialogue with them and, through his body which is the Church, to propose the possibility of a choice which will require a commitment of their lives. As Jesus with the disciples of Emmaus, so the Church must become the traveling companion of young people. Pope John Paul II, World Youth Day 1995, Philippines In 1997 the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops published a new document with the input of many professionals in the field of Catholic youth ministry. Renewing the Vision built upon the 1976 Vision and was published as a document of the entire USCCB rather than from one department as in the past. The renewed vision emphasized in youth ministry focused on discipleship, included three goals and eight components.
• #31: "What is needed today is a Church which knows how to respond to the expectations of young people. Jesus wants to enter into dialogue with them and, through his body which is the Church, to propose the possibility of a choice which will require a commitment of their lives. As Jesus with the disciples of Emmaus, so the Church must become the traveling companion of young people. Pope John Paul II, World Youth Day 1995, Philippines In 1997 the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops published a new document with the input of many professionals in the field of Catholic youth ministry. Renewing the Vision built upon the 1976 Vision and was published as a document of the entire USCCB rather than from one department as in the past. The renewed vision emphasized in youth ministry focused on discipleship, included three goals and eight components.
• #32: For more information, print and online resources from the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry may be found online at www.nfcym.org. Thank you for taking time to learn about comprehensive Catholic youth ministry. Questions for reflection and sharing. What are some new things that you have learned from this training? What are some strategies that your parish could employ to encourage comprehensive youth ministry? How will your parish engage the voice of youth as you continue to develop these strategies? Closing prayer: Blessing of Youth God of Spirit and Truth, We ask your blessings upon our young people. May they come to know and share the wonder and awe that is within them as they grow in wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Bless their openness and enthusiasm, strengthen and support the many good works they do. Challenge and provoke them along their journey of faith as you guide them to understand their true calling in this world. In all these things we ask your blessing upon them this day, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Note: Prayer taken from the 2005 Youth Ministry Resource Manual, Spirit of God: Source of Strength, NFCYM, printed in the United States, 2004, page 141.