Parish Youth Ministry: Renewing Our Vision

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Parish Youth Ministry Renewing Our Vision

• Bob McCarty
• National Federation for
• Catholic Youth Ministry

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Reflection

• Something I believe about young people is
• One of the social/national/global changes
  affecting young people is
• What young people most need today from the Church
  is

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Key events
Conflict in Iraq (April 2003) q
Day of Terrorism (Sept. 11, 2001) q
Columbine HS Massacre (1999) q
Oklahoma City Bombing (1995) q
Free Elections in South Africa (1993) q
Persian Gulf War (1991) q

• Soviet Union Dissolved (1991)

• Fall of the Berlin Wall (1989)

• Challenger Disaster (1986)

• Discovery of Aids (1981)

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New Inventions

• Video Games Nintendo
• Microsoft Windows
• VCR and DVD
• Cam Recorder
• CDs, I-Pods, and MP3 players
• Explosion of Cable TV
• Cellular Phones, blackberries
• Fax Machine
• Internet
• E-Mail
• Satellite Dishes
• Palm Pilots
• 2001 Worldwide Satellite Network

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The class of 2005
Has no meaningful recollection of the Reagan era.
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The class of 2005

Was 8 when the Soviet Union fell apart


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The class of 2005
Is too young to remember the Challenger explosion
.
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The class of 2005
Tiananmen Square means nothing to them.
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The class of 2005
Their lifetime has always included AIDS.
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The class of 2005
Most have never seen a TV set with only 13
channels
Speaking of the Korean War.
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The class of 2005
The Vietnam War is as ancient history to them as
WWI, WWII, and the Civil War.
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One Day in the Life
2,795 Teenagers get pregnant 1,115
Teenagers have abortions 1,403 Teenagers give
birth 27 Children die from poverty
3 Children die from abuse or neglect
3 Children under the age of 25 die
from HIV infections 14 Children die
from firearms 135,000 Children bring guns to
school 18 Youth and young adults
commit suicide 8,400 Teens are sexually
active 5,753 Children are arrested 2,756 Childr
en drop out of school 8,470 Children are
reported abused or neglected 11.3 million
Children are without health insurance 14.5
million Children live in poverty
Annual statistics released from the Childrens
Defense Fund, Washington DC
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Good News aboutTodays Young People

• Teens contributed 2.1 billion hours of service to
  their communities in 2003 and 2004.

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Good News aboutTodays Young People

• 3 million youth and young adults participated
  in National Service Day in April 2005.

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Good News aboutTodays Young People

• 18,000 young people participated in NCYC 2005.

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Good News aboutTodays Young People

• Violent juvenile crime has dropped by 30 since
  1995.
• Drug use and drinking rates have declined.
• Teen pregnancy rates have dropped 21 since
  1991 - lowest rates in 40 years.

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The class of 2005 young Catholic
They have had only one Pope (until this year!)
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The class of 2005 young Catholic
The Second Vatican Council is as ancient history
as the Council of Trent.
Therefore
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The class of 2005 young Catholic
They have no memory of the Latin Mass.
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The class of 2005 young Catholic
Women have always been readers and Eucharistic min
isters at Mass.
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The class of 2005 young Catholic
They have no idea what a biretta is.
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Spirituality of Millennial Generation

• Believers AND belongers but where?

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Spirituality of Millennial Generation

• Believers AND belongers but where?
• Emphasis on spiritual journey versus organized
  religion

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Spirituality of Millennial Generation

• Emphasis on spiritual journey versus organized
  religion
• Their experience of Church is critical meaning
  of the moment How is Jesus alive and meaningful
  today?

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Spirituality of Millennial Generation

• Their experience of Church is critical meaning
  of the moment How is Jesus alive and meaningful
  today?
• See Jesus as one who understands my suffering

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Spirituality of Millennial Generation

• See Jesus as one who understands my suffering
• Focus on individual relationship with Jesus

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Spirituality of Millennial Generation

• Focus on individual relationship with Jesus
• Focus on discipleship vs. membership

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Spirituality of Millennial Generation

• Focus on discipleship vs. membership
• Desire to know the transcendence / power of God

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Spirituality of Millennial Generation

• Focus on discipleship vs. membership
• Desire to know the transcendence / power of God
• Desire for a real and personal experience of faith

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Spirituality of Millennial Generation

• Desire to know the transcendence / power of God
• Desire for a real and personal experience of
  faith
• Use of traditional practices, the arts and nature
  to discover God

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Spirituality of Millennial Generation

• Desire for a real and personal experience of
  faith
• Use of all of the arts and nature to discover God
• Want to grow together in faith

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Spirituality of Millennial Generation

• Use of all of the arts and nature to discover God
• Want to grow together in faith
• Find God in meaningful service

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Entering New Territory
is
The question is not Whether our children will
have faith.
faith
children!
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Reflection

• How does this description of the Millennial
  Generation match your experience? What would you
  add?
• What are some implications for effective youth
  ministry?

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Mapping Out theTerritory
A NEW MAP
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Mapping Out theTerritory
A NEW MAP

• Link between parish life and young people.

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Mapping Out theTerritory
A NEW MAP

• Link between parish life and young people.
• Everyone is responsible.

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Mapping Out theTerritory
A NEW MAP

• Link between parish life and young people.
• Everyone is responsible
• Parish Life is the curriculum

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Mapping Out theTerritory
A NEW MAP

• Link between parish life and young people.
• Everyone is responsible
• Parish Life is the curriculum
• Youth groupINGs

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Mapping Out theTerritory
A NEW MAP

• Link between parish life and young people.
• Everyone is responsible
• Parish Life is the curriculum
• Youth groupINGs
• TARGET All young people

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Mapping Out theTerritory

• GOAL 1
• To empower young people to live as disciples of
  Jesus Christ in our world today.

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Discipleship is Job 1

• Everything that we do with young people in the
  Church today should be assessed through the
  lenses of evangelization and discipleship.
• We need to adopt approaches that are proven to
  impact faith and discipleship.

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Mapping Out theTerritory

• GOAL 2
• To draw young people to responsible participation
  in the life, mission, and work of the faith
  community.

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Context youth-friendly parish

• Assumes
• young people are valued
• youth are seen as a gift to be shared, rather
  than as a problem to be solved
• intentional intergenerational
  opportunities, connecting young people with
  caring adults

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Comprehensive YouthMinistry

• Assumes
• a youth-friendly parish, with young people
  welcomed and engaged in the life and ministries
  of the broader faith community
• a wide variety of opportunities for youth
  involvement in the parish beyond
• a team of visionary adult and youth leaders who
  plan and lead a parishs ministry to, with, by
  and for youth.

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Mapping Out theTerritory

• GOAL 3
• To foster the total personal and spiritual growth
  of each young person.

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Comprehensive Approach
Discipleship
Religious Education
Faith Formation
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Mapping Out theTerritory
A NEW MAP Questions?
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Best Practices Regular gatherings Special
events Intentional catechesis Youth in
leadership and service Youth involved in parish
life Connects with/ supports families
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Effective Youth MinistryVision
StructureLeadership
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Cafeteria or Contact Model

• Key Sections
• Youth Programming
• Family Programming
• Parish Life
• Civic/Ecumenical Community

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How to Order?
Eat ingathered group activities Take
out individual activities
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What does this provide?
Variety of formats and times Variety of
settings Variety of interests and needs
Freedom of choice
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What are the advantages?

• Youth groupings
• Expanded youth leadership
• More involvement with adult role models
• Recruiting leaders more doing less

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What does thisapproach require?
Time Communication Team Vision
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Key players in this approach
The community is the context. How do we
invite welcome provide hospitality build
relationships foster youth
participation and belonging support
discipleship - doing faith
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Youth Ministry Commission
Activity and Program Leaders
Leadership Team
Young People
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The Youth Ministry Team The Coordinator
The YM Commission The Leadership Team The
Activity/Program leaders The Chaperons (CAPs)
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The Youth Ministry Commission Program
Overview Keeper of the Vision Volunteer
Recruitment Budget and finance
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The Leadership Team Young people and adults
Seasonal Planning Program implementation
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What does a Coordinator of Youth Ministry do?

• 1. Direct programming
• 2. Seasonal programming
• 3. Leadership development
• 4. Sacramental and/or catechetical programs
• 5. Administration

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Pastor Parish Leadership Role

• Provide the Vision
• Enable the Team
• Support the Ministry
• Be an Advocate

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Key Roles/Images for Leaders

• Keeper of the Vision
• 2. Orchestrator of Gifts
• 3. Mobilizes the Village

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Challenges

• Proclaim the Good News - and proclaim it again.

• Connect young people to the life of the faith
  community

• Challenge our young people to be disciples of
  Jesus

• Give young people the opportunity to serve

• Create a community where the Jesus Dream is
  realized

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Serving those who serve the young Catholic Church