AN OVERVIEW OF YOUTH MINISTRY
The following overview, summarized from Renewing the Vision: A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry (NCCB/USSC, 1997) can be used as an outline of the Church’s total responsibility for youth ministry. All parish and diocesan leaders who serve youth share in this responsibility to some degree. In the parish, the youth minister, with the support of the parish community, is responsible for fostering the implementation of these objectives.
1. To empower young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in our world today.
2. To draw young people to responsible participation in the life, mission, and work of the Catholic faith community.
3. To foster the total personal and spiritual growth of each young person.
1. The Ministry of Advocacy: To engage 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. It places adolescents and families first by analyzing every policy and program – domestic, parish-based, diocesan, and international – for its impact on adolescents and families. As a Church we need to provide strong moral leadership; to stand up for adolescents, especially those who are voiceless and powerless in society.
2.
The Ministry of
Catechesis: To help adolescents develop
a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and the Christian community, and increase their knowledge of the core
content of the Catholic faith. The
ministry of Catechesis also helps young people enrich and expand their
understanding of the Scriptures and the sacred tradition and their application
to life today, and live more
faithfully as disciples of Jesus Christ in their daily lives, especially
through a life of prayer, justice, and loving service.
3.
The Ministry of
Community Life: To build an
environment of love, support, appreciation for diversity, and judicious
acceptance that models Catholic principles; develop
meaningful relationships; and nurture
Catholic faith.
4.
The Ministry of Evangelization:
To share the good news of the reign of God and invite young people to hear
about the Word Made Flesh.
5.
The Ministry of
Justice and Service: To work for justice; to serve those in need; to pursue
peace; and to defend the life, dignity, and rights of all our sisters and
brothers. This is the call of Jesus,
the urging of his spirit, the challenge of the prophets, and the living
tradition of our Church.
6.
The Ministry of
Leadership Development: To call
forth, affirm, and empower the
diverse gifts, talents, and abilities of adults and young people in our faith
communities for comprehensive ministry with adolescents.
7.
The Ministry of
Pastoral Care: To be a compassionate presence in imitation of Jesus’ care
of people, especially those who are hurting and in need. The ministry of Pastoral Care involves promoting positive adolescent and family
development through a variety of positive (preventive) strategies; caring for adolescents and families in
crisis through support, 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 (advocacy). Pastoral care is most fundamentally a relationship – a ministry
of compassionate presence.
8.
The Ministry
of Prayer and Worship: To celebrate
and deepen young people’s
relationship with Jesus Christ through the bestowal of grace, communal prayer
and liturgical experiences. To awaken their awareness of the spirit at
work in their lives and to incorporate
young people more fully into the sacramental life of the Church, especially
eucharist; it nurtures the personal
prayer life of young people; and it fosters
family rituals and prayer.