youth_ministry.htm

YOUTH MINISTRY…A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE OF CHURCH
ST. FRANCIS CHRISTIAN FORMATION CENTER
ST. STEPHEN’S PARISH

When we look at our offerings of “youth programs” here at the Christian Formation Center we will find a long and progressive history with a continuum of unique events which recognizes and invites our youth into “ministry.” We also now make every attempt to move away from the terminology of “program” to the more inclusive language of “youth ministry.”

This Fall will be our 17^th year of the “Up+Word” middle school retreat. A commitment since 1992 we have gathered on Veteran’s Day weekend at Beaver Camp for that exceptional experience. We still average 25 young church in attendance, with a combination of high school and college youth as “team” providing great peer youth ministry. “Up+Word” is also uniquely ours as no other parish (in our diocese) has continued that retreat ministry with middle school youth.

Very often catechetical programming and youth ministry happens in parallel form. Our freshman “Catholic and Capable” program is such an example. Unique to that program is that it is skills based in its approach. In three modules the student is taught how to apply what they have gleaned in prior years of religious education. Engaging and relating to the freshman in sharing and critical thinking is often more about youth ministry than simply a student receiving information. We will have at least 20 freshmen this Fall.

Another very unique ministry with youth is the successful “Host Home” experience which is a component of our Sacramental preparation for Confirmation. For over 10 years, small groups of teens gather in a home to share and make connections with the Sunday gospel and their life. Although our host families may not realize it they are engaging in youth ministry…at its very best!

The past 5 years parish youth ministry events have been directed and enhanced by the commitment of a Youth Advisory Committee. The focus of this committee (of youth and adults) is to implement the U.S.Bishop’s youth ministry document “Renewing the Vision.” The bishop’s name youth ministry as “growth in discipleship, responsible participation in the life, mission, and work of the Catholic faith community…fostering the total personal and spiritual growth of each person.”

The YAC has been working with our parish concert ministry this past year to co-sponsor a very special youth ministry event here having invited Steve Angrisano to be in concert this Fall. A nationally recognized singer, song writer Steve will inspire, affirm, and renew our youth and their ministry and “presence” in church.

The YAC is also planning another “out-reach” experience this Spring (2010) in Philadelphia at St. Francis Inn. This will be our third trip to work in the soup kitchen in the inner city. For those able to participate in that kind of experience, it is one that is life changing and never forgotten.

We cannot over look how we as parish invite our adolescent youth into liturgical ministries. Music, reader, gift bearer, server…perhaps, we tend to forget these experiences are “youth ministry” and again, at its best! Seasonal prayer experiences for, by, and with youth have been successful and will continue to be planned. “Adventagious” is already on the calendar for Sunday evening December 6^th.

Our youth have always been welcome to participate in our Religious Education classes as aides or co-catechists during the year and in the special summer experience. Our youth in those roles are great examples for their peers, echoing God’s word with their presence each week.

This narrative overview is by no means inclusive of all we have provided in the last 25+ years and much more will continue to “be” as we focus on personal growth and responsible participation in the life and mission of the church with our adolescent youth. We stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before us and a wise director of youth ministry over 30 years ago approached youth ministry with a simple philosophy. He believed that our ministry as adults working with youth is to provide a “positive experience of church.” The wisdom of that vision is that it is still true 30 years later!