CALLED TOGETHER

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CALLED TOGETHER

• Making the Difference
• Framework for Youth Ministry in Ireland

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Booklet broken down into sections

• Foreword
• Introduction
• Section 1 The Context
• Section 2 The Framework
• Section 3 Action points
• Conclusion
• Appendices

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Definition

• The essential task of youth ministry is
• to unfold and to facilitate a life-giving and
  life-changing personal encounter between young
  people and Gods Love (Jesus Christ)
• and
• to help young people to explore and accept a life
  project based on this encounter.

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Foreword

• Seeks to give direction to ministry with young
  people in a number of key contexts including the
  need for the highest standards in safeguarding
  children and young people.
• Intended to support, not direct, to motivate
  rather than dictate. Not intended to be a dead
  document, but one that will need to be discussed,
  implemented and evaluated.
• Two official bodies sponsored the production of
  the publication / were heavily involved in its
  development
• - The Episcopal Commission for Pastoral Renewal
  and Adult Faith Development
• - The National Committee of Diocesan Youth
  Directors (NCDYD)

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Introduction

• A primary goal to thank, encourage and nurture
  those involved in youth ministry
• Written especially for young people, for those
  who work with them and for those who share
  community with them.
• Written after a process of consultation and
  listening.
• The document will always remain an invitation to
  further dialogue, a step along the way.

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Section 1

• SETTING THE CONTEXT
• THE CHANGING WORLDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN IRELAND
  TODAY
• Part One The Changing World of Adolescence
• Part Two Young People in a Changing Ireland
• Part Three Youth Ministry - The Task and the
  Challenges
• Part Four Youth Ministry in a Changing Ireland

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Section 2

• A FRAMEWORK
• Part One Some Goals and Settings
• Part Two Elements and Themes of a Well-Balanced
  Ministry with Young People

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Framework - Goals Goal 1 To help young people
grow, both in apersonal sense and a spiritual
sense. Goal 2 To give young people the
opportunityto experience and be disciples of
Jesus Christ intheir lives. Goal 3 To inspire
and facilitate youngpeople to take an active
role in the Catholiccommunity. Goal 4 To
encourage the Catholiccommunity to continually
put aside anyprejudices about young people and
to recognise and empower their talents and energy.
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Framework - Settings

• The Family Community
• The Faith Community in School and College
• The Parish Community
• Catholic Youth-Serving Organizations, Movements
  and Communities
• Other Settings in the Wider Community

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Framework - Elements ELEMENTS OF A WELL BALANCED
YOUTH MINISTRY 1 Advocacy Encouraging young
people tostand up for others in need. 2 Justice
and Service Encouraging them toprotect the life
and rights of others and to bepeople of service
in the world we live in. 3 Community Life
Welcoming young peopleand making them feel
valued and cared for. 4 Evangelization Inviting
and helping themto experience God in their
lives.
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ELEMENTS (CONTD.) 5 Catechesis Teaching young
people about thescriptures, Catholic traditions
and a life of faithin order to deepen their
relationship with Jesus. 6 Leadership
Development Inspiring themto recognise and use
their own gifts so thatthey can in turn help
others around them. 7 Pastoral Care Promoting
healthydevelopment but giving special attention
tothose young people who feel lost. 8 Prayer
and Worship Celebrating andstrengthening their
relationship with Jesus.
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Section 3

• SOME ACTION POINTS
• Part One Youth Ministry A Mission for the Entire
  Church
• Part Two A Youth Ministry Framework Some Common
  Guiding Principles across the settings

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APPENDIX 1Some aspects of a vision for Diocesan
youth ministry

• Some aspects of a vision for DIOCESAN youth
  ministry
• Strategic Planning
• Some Basic Responsibilities of a Diocesan Youth
  Team (Commission)

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APPENDIX 2

• Some aspects of a vision for PARISH youth
  ministry
• 10 Ways That a Parish Can Become Youth-Friendly
• Beginning to work with Young People as a Parish
• A sample job description for a Parish Youth
  Ministry Coordinator
• A Parish Youth Ministry Coordinator Job
  Description

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Appendix 3 Some Aspects of a vision for youth
ministry in 2nd and 3rd Level
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Appendix 4

• Some Aspects of a Vision for Youth Ministry in
  other organisations
• Appendix 5
• Some Strategic Questions for Further Conversations

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Appendix 6 Some Young Voices

• What gifts do young people contribute to the
  church today?
• What is Good News for you today?

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What is it like to be a young person today?
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• They are hungry
• for Meaning and Purpose
• for Connection
• for Recognition
• for Justice
• for the Holy/Spiritual

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The Changing World

• Faith can no longer be taken for granted
• We need to present our faith as something alive
  and active, giving both a sense of belonging and
  mission to everyone

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Beginning to work with Young People as a Parish
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• Research- listen to concerns of young people-
• Organise- provide a well trained parish youth
  ministry team and coordinator
• Respond- in a spirit of partnership

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10 WAYS THAT A PARISH CAN BECOME YOUTH FRIENDLY

1. Greet and be pleasant to young people
2. Pray for young people and let them know it!
3. Find opportunities to affirm themshow they are
   valued / cared about. Thank them.
4. Take time to get to know them and show interest
   in what interests them
5. Volunteer with young peoples activities
6. Become and advocate for young people
7. Praise them when they do good
8. Encourage mutual support
9. Network with business and other opportunities
10. Support leaders working with young people

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How Can You Make the Difference..

• Affirm our young people
• Encourage them to
• Be active members of your Parish community
• Experience a living Church-WYD
• Become an Advocate for young people
• Share Your Wisdom
• Pray for them

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• In working with young people ... do not call
  them to where they were, and do not try to call
  them to where you are, as beautiful as that place
  may seem to you. You must have the courage to
  call them to a place where neither you nor they
  have ever been before.
• Vincent J. Donovan, Christianity Rediscovered

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Faith is risking what is for what is yet to
be. It is taking small steps knowing they lead
to bigger ones. Faith is holding on when you
want to let go. It is letting go when you want
to hold on. Faith is saying yes when everything
else says no. It is believing all things are
possible in the midst of impossibilities Faith
is looking beyond what is and trusting for what
will be. It is the presence of light in
darkness, the presence of God
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Called together

• Making the Difference