Catholic Youth Ministry: A New Map for the New Millennium

Catholic Youth Ministry: A New Map for the New Millennium

Youth Ministry Leadership PresentationSponsored by the

National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry

Youth Ministry Successes:Context – Vision - Structure

Mapping the Territory: Old Maps

• CYO

• CCS

• YCS

• SEARCH

• TEC

Mapping the Territory: Old Maps

• Entertainment centered

• Information centered

• Youth ministry leader centered

• Youth centered

Youth Group Model

Parish Community

Youth GroupOne-eared MickeyModel

Starts with a group and asks others to join

Assumes:-that youth needs are similar-that youth like to join groups-that youth are available at thesame time-that one or a few adults canmeet the needs of the group

Mapping the Territory

Today’s territory = The Millennial Generation

1) How do you know that our ministry with young people is effective?

2) When youth ministry is at its best, when it’s really working, what are young people doing?

Mapping the Territory

When youth ministry is at its best,

when it’s really working,

what are young people doing?

Small group insight…

Comprehensive Youth Ministry

A New Map:Renewing the Vision: A Framework for Catholic Youth

Ministry, USCCB, 1997

Comprehensive Youth Ministry

A New Map:Link between parish life and young people.

Comprehensive Youth Ministry

A New Map:Link between parish life and young people.

Everyone is responsible.

Comprehensive Youth Ministry

A New Map:Link between parish life and young people.

Everyone is responsible.

Parish life is the curriculum.

Comprehensive Youth Ministry

A New Map:Link between parish life and young people.

Everyone is responsible.

Parish life is the curriculum.

Youth groupINGS.

Comprehensive Youth Ministry

A New Map:Link between parish life and young people.

Everyone is responsible.

Parish life is the curriculum.

Youth groupINGS.

TARGET: All young people.

Renewing the Vision

GOAL #1

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

Renewing the Vision

It’s about discipleship:

• 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.

Renewing the Vision

GOAL #2

To draw young people to responsible participation

in the life, mission, and work of the faith

community.

Renewing the Vision

The youth-friendly parishAssumes:

-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

Comprehensive Youth Ministry

Assumes:

-a “youth-friendly” parish, with young people welcomed and engaged in the life of the broader faith community

-a wide variety of opportunities for youth involvement in the parish and beyond

-a team of visionary adult and youth leaders who plan and lead a parish’s ministry to, with, by and for youth

Renewing the Vision

GOAL #3

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

Catholic Youth Ministry

A New Map: ComprehensiveDevelopmentally appropriate

Catholic Youth Ministry

A New Map: ComprehensiveDevelopmentally appropriate

Family friendly

Catholic Youth Ministry

A New Map: ComprehensiveDevelopmentally appropriate

Family friendly

Intergenerational

Catholic Youth Ministry

A New Map: ComprehensiveDevelopmentally appropriate

Family friendly

Intergenerational

Multicultural

Catholic Youth Ministry

A New Map: ComprehensiveDevelopmentally appropriate

Family friendly

Intergenerational

Multicultural

Community-wide collaboration

Catholic Youth Ministry

A New Map: ComprehensiveDevelopmentally appropriate

Family friendly

Intergenerational

Multicultural

Community-wide collaboration

Leadership

Catholic Youth Ministry

A New Map: ComprehensiveDevelopmentally appropriate

Family friendly

Intergenerational

Multicultural

Community-wide collaboration

Leadership

Flexible, adaptable programming

Renewing the Vision Components

Advocacy

Renewing the Vision Components

Advocacy

Catechesis

Renewing the Vision Components

Advocacy

Catechesis

Community Life

Renewing the Vision Components

Advocacy

Catechesis

Community Life

Evangelization

Renewing the Vision Components

Advocacy

Catechesis

Community Life

Evangelization

Justice and Service

Renewing the Vision Components

Advocacy

Catechesis

Community Life

Evangelization

Justice and Service

Leadership Development

Renewing the Vision Components

Advocacy

Catechesis

Community Life

Evangelization

Justice and Service

Leadership Development

Pastoral Care

Renewing the Vision Components

AdvocacyCatechesisCommunity LifeEvangelizationJustice and ServiceLeadership DevelopmentPastoral CarePrayer and Worship

Comprehensive Youth Ministry Model

Youth and AdultLeadership Team

AdvocacyCommunityLife

Justice andService

LeadershipDevelopment

Prayer andWorship

Pastoral Care

Evangelization

Catechesis

Innermost ring: Youth and Adult Leadership Team Second ring: Parish CommunityThird ring: Neighborhood and Civic Community Outside: Global Community

Assumes:-that youth havedifferent needs

-that youth like to choose how to beinvolved

-that youth havehectic schedules

-that many young people benefit byhaving a variety ofadults to relate to

Comprehensive Approach

Discipleship

Faith Religious

Formation Education

Catholic Youth Ministry

A New Map:

Questions?

Best Practices

• Regular gatherings

• Special events

• Intentional catechesis

• Youth in leadership and service

• Youth involved in parish life

• Connects with/supports families

Effective Youth Ministry

Vision

Structure

Leadership

Cafeteria or Contact Model

Key Sections:• Youth Programming

• Family Programming

• Parish Life

• Civic/Ecumenical Community

How to Order?

Eat –in

Gathered group activities

Take – out

Individual activities

What does this provide?

• Variety of formats and times

• Variety of settings

• Variety of interests and needs

• Freedom of choice

What are the advantages?

• Youth groupings

• Expanded youth leadership

• More involvement with adult role models

• Recruiting leaders: more doing less

What does this approach require?

• Time

• Communication

• Team

• Vision

Key players in this approach

• The community is the context.

• How do we:– Invite– Welcome– Provide hospitality– Foster youth participation and belonging– Support discipleship – doing faith

Youth Ministry Team and Youth

Leadership Team

Young People

Activity and

Program Leaders

Youth Ministry Commission

The Youth Ministry Team

• The Youth Ministry Leader (Coordinator)

• The Youth Ministry Commission

• The Leadership Team

• The Activity/Program Leaders

• The Chaperones (CAPs)

Youth Ministry Commission

• Program overview

• Keeper of the vision

• Volunteer recruitment

• Budget and financeYouth Ministry Commission

Leadership Team

• Comprised of young people and adults

• Seasonal planning

• Program implementation

Leadership Team

Activity and Program Leaders

• Youth and adult leaders

• Plan activities

• Assist with activities

• Evaluate activities Activity and Program Leaders

Young People

• Youth from the team

• Youth from the parish

• Youth in the community

• All youth are welcomeYoungPeople

What does a Youth Ministry Leader do?• Direct programming

• Seasonal programming

• Leadership development

• Sacramental and/or catechetical programs

• Administration

Pastor and Parish Leadership Role

• Provide the vision

• Enable the team

• Support the ministry

• Be an advocate

Challenges

• Proclaim the Good News – and proclaim it again

• Connect young people to the life of the faith community

• Give young people the opportunity to serve

• Create a community where the Jesus dream is realized

Tools for the new map in Catholic Youth Ministry

• Training and certification

• Beyond a ministry by preference

• Stable adult base

• Creating a safe environment

Catholic Youth Ministry: A New Map for the New Millennium

Youth Ministry Leadership PresentationSponsored by the

National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry

http://www.nfcym.org

NFCYM National Conferences

National Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry

(for adult leaders)

Las Vegas, NV – November 30-December 3, 2006

National Catholic Youth Conference

(for high school youth and adult leaders)

Columbus, OH – November 8-11, 2007