Youth Evangelizi ng Youth Sr. Francine Guilmette, FMA

Youth Youth EvangeliEvangeli

zing zing YouthYouth

Sr. Francine Guilmette, FMASr. Francine Guilmette, FMA

What is evangelizing?What is evangelizing?

«The Church exists to evangelize.»«The Church exists to evangelize.»

Paul VIPaul VI

«…bringing the «…bringing the Good News of Jesus Good News of Jesus ChristChrist into into every human situationevery human situation and and seeking to convert seeking to convert individuals and individuals and societysociety by the divine power of the by the divine power of the Gospel itself.» Paul VIGospel itself.» Paul VI

… … Disciples.Disciples.Who is a young disciple?Who is a young disciple?

« The Personality of a disciple »

F. Carlos Palmis, s.j.The young disciple is…

•Not below the Master (Mt. 10, 24)

•Like his Master (Mt. 10, 25)

•Taught by the Master (Mt. 11, 1)

•A member of Jesus’ family (Mt. 12, 49)

•A fisher of people (Mt. 4, 19)

… Disciples.What does a disciple do?

« Activities of a disciple » F. Carlos Palmis, s.j.

The disciple …

•Follows the Master (Mt. 8, 23)

•Does what it is asked to do (Jn. 15, 14)

•Makes other disciples (Mt. 28, 19)

•Takes his cross and follows Jesus (Lc. 14, 27)

•Gives up his/her belongings (Lc. 14, 33)

Why Youth Leadership / Why Youth Leadership / discipleship?discipleship?

Your reason(s) Your reason(s) to believe in youth to believe in youth as disciples as disciples and evangelizers and evangelizers of young people…of young people…


You are the young Church of today and our hope for the future...You are truly a gift, and we praise and thank God for you. You are a special gift to the Church and to the World! … We have great confidence in you because of who you are today and what you can become tomorrow.

(Message to Youth).


We are confident that young people will commit We are confident that young people will commit themselves totally to Jesus Christ, who will ask themselves totally to Jesus Christ, who will ask everything from them and give everything in everything from them and give everything in return. We need to provide concrete ways by which return. We need to provide concrete ways by which the demands, excitement, and adventure of being a the demands, excitement, and adventure of being a disciple of Jesus Christ can be personally disciple of Jesus Christ can be personally experienced by adolescents (and young adults) – experienced by adolescents (and young adults) – where they tax and test their resources and where where they tax and test their resources and where they stretch their present capacities and skills to they stretch their present capacities and skills to the limits.the limits.

(Renewing the Vision 11)(Renewing the Vision 11)


You bring to the parish community youthfulness, energy, vitality, hopefulness and vision. As a baptized member of the Church, Jesus Christ calls you to follow in his footsteps and make a difference in the world today. You can make a difference now and some of you already do — at home, in school, with your friends, and at after-school jobs. Christ and the Christian community walk with you.” (Message to Youth)


The Church and world need the faith, gifts, energy, and fresh ideas of young people. The entire Church must empower young people for their mission in the world.

(Renewing the Vision 50)

Why Youth Leadership / Why Youth Leadership / discipleship?discipleship?«I assure you that the Spirit of Jesus today

is inviting you young people to be bearers of the good news of Jesus to your contemporaries. The difficulty that adults undoubtedly find in approaching the sphere of youth in a comprehensible and convincing way could be a sign with which the Spirit is urging you young people to take this task upon yourselves. You know the ideals, the language, and also the wounds, the expectations, and at the same time the desire for goodness felt by your contemporaries.» Benedict XVI, message for WYD 2008

«In order to achieve this goal, «In order to achieve this goal, my dear friends, my dear friends, you must be holy you must be holy and you must be missionaries and you must be missionaries since we can never separate since we can never separate holinessholiness from from missionmission.».» (cf. (cf. RedemptorisRedemptoris Missio Missio, ,

90). 90).

«Do not be afraid «Do not be afraid to become holy missionaries to become holy missionaries like Saint Francis Xavier like Saint Francis Xavier who travelled through the Far East who travelled through the Far East proclaiming the Good News proclaiming the Good News until every ounce of his strength was used until every ounce of his strength was used

up, up, or like Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus or like Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus who was a missionary who was a missionary even though she never left the Carmelite even though she never left the Carmelite

convent. convent. Both of these are “Patrons of the Missions”.» Both of these are “Patrons of the Missions”.»

«Be prepared to put your life on the line «Be prepared to put your life on the line

in order to enlighten the world in order to enlighten the world

with the truth of Christ; with the truth of Christ;

to respond with love to hatred to respond with love to hatred

and disregard for life; and disregard for life;

to proclaim the hope of the risen Christ to proclaim the hope of the risen Christ

in every corner of the earth.»in every corner of the earth.»WYD 2008WYD 2008

Who is your model Who is your model

as an evangelizer?as an evangelizer?

How do he/she inspire you?How do he/she inspire you?

Basic Principles Basic Principles

Leadership is making a difference Leadership is making a difference for good – for good –

Discipleship is being Discipleship is being a follower of Christ a follower of Christ and transforming the world and transforming the world one heart at a timeone heart at a time

Challenges for our parishes

Option for youth: «the most precious Option for youth: «the most precious portion of humanity.»portion of humanity.»

«Every person, no matter what their «Every person, no matter what their situation in life, there exists a point situation in life, there exists a point that can be reached by goodness.» that can be reached by goodness.» (GEM, 145)(GEM, 145)

«The fundamental criterion for people, «The fundamental criterion for people, communities and environments (…) communities and environments (…) is belief in young people.» is belief in young people.» (GEM, 145)(GEM, 145)

Basic PrinciplesBasic Principles

We call and form youth to be disciples We call and form youth to be disciples

in the Church and in the worldin the Church and in the world

«Young people not only receive, but give their own contribution and become proactive in their own formation and in that of their peers, in the context of an ever more intercultural society.» (GEM, 152


Young Disciples growYoung Disciples grow Need for loving accompaniment: seeking with Need for loving accompaniment: seeking with

young people the presence of God in young people the presence of God in everyday events. (GEM, 111)everyday events. (GEM, 111)

Relationship of accompaniment: «helps to Relationship of accompaniment: «helps to interpret, in a positive way, the situation of interpret, in a positive way, the situation of one’s environment, the events of one’s life one’s environment, the events of one’s life and society, and teachers to receive them and society, and teachers to receive them critically and to live them with trust and with critically and to live them with trust and with love for life.» (GEM, 111)love for life.» (GEM, 111)


Young Disciples growYoung Disciples grow

«Effective accompaniment cannot «Effective accompaniment cannot work without a Christian community work without a Christian community of reference that is an icon of the of reference that is an icon of the different vocations in the Church. different vocations in the Church. (Gem, 112)(Gem, 112)


Young Disciples growYoung Disciples grow

«God is ever at work in the younger «God is ever at work in the younger generations and in those who generations and in those who choose to accompany them on their choose to accompany them on their journey.» (Gem, 113)journey.» (Gem, 113)


Young Disciples serve others Young Disciples serve others

according to Gospel valuesaccording to Gospel values

«Communities must be capable of «Communities must be capable of providing an environment and an providing an environment and an atmosphere rich in human and atmosphere rich in human and Gospel values.» (GEM, 159)Gospel values.» (GEM, 159)

WitnessWitness

and and

success storiessuccess stories

Connecting…Connecting…

With Jesus Christ


With Jesus ChristWith the Church by inviting, and welcoming in the Christian community


With Jesus ChristWith the Church by inviting, and welcoming in the Christian communityConnecting with the mission of the Church in the world


With Jesus ChristWith the Church by inviting, and welcoming in the Christian communityConnecting with the mission of the Church in the worldConnecting with a peer community in which their faith is nurtured and strengthened

Life-giving climateLife-giving climateA climate of participationA climate of participationSharing of valuesSharing of valuesPatient waiting for the rhythms of each Patient waiting for the rhythms of each one’s personal growth,one’s personal growth,Respectful dialogueRespectful dialogue«family spirit»: «family spirit»: Overcomes barriers,Overcomes barriers, Encourage confidence, Encourage confidence, Brings generations closer Brings generations closer Creates an atmosphere of trust where young Creates an atmosphere of trust where young

people grow in freedom and collaborate to the people grow in freedom and collaborate to the mission of the Church. (GEM, 149)mission of the Church. (GEM, 149)

The role of the adult The role of the adult leader:leader:

Affirm the gifts of youth individuallyAffirm the gifts of youth individually



Equip youth with knowledge and Equip youth with knowledge and skillsskills




Place youth in leadership positionsPlace youth in leadership positions





Support youthSupport youth





Support youthSupport youth

Share the storyShare the story

Your turn…Your turn…

With young people, I am best atWith young people, I am best at___Calling them forth___Calling them forth___Protecting them___Protecting them___Supporting them___Supporting them___Empowering them___Empowering them___Mentoring them___Mentoring themBecause…Because…

Formation of a youth evangelizer:

« The primary goal of youth ministry

is to lead young people to meet the person

of Jesus of Nazareth.»

Guidelines for the Educational mission of the FMA, p. 52

Components of a training Components of a training program:program:

Personal and spiritual developmentPersonal and spiritual developmentIdentity and confidenceIdentity and confidenceValues clarification and beliefsValues clarification and beliefsSense of community and supportSense of community and supportCritical thinkingCritical thinkingReflecting skillsReflecting skillsExploring commitmentsExploring commitmentsAutonomyAutonomyMaking friends and developing patters of intimacyMaking friends and developing patters of intimacySignificant career and vocational choicesSignificant career and vocational choicesHealthy use of leisure timeHealthy use of leisure timeActive community and citizen involvementActive community and citizen involvement

Components of a training Components of a training program:program:

Leadership skills: Planning Problem solving Decision making Goal setting Running meetings Active listening Conflict management

Self-Self-testtest

Growing spiritually as a leader

Spiritual director / mentorIndividual prayerReflectionRetreatScriptureSpiritual readingFaith-sharing groups

«Remember: the Church has confidence in «Remember: the Church has confidence in you! you!

We Pastors, especially, We Pastors, especially,

pray that you may love pray that you may love

and lead others to love Jesus more and and lead others to love Jesus more and more more

and that you may follow Him faithfully.»and that you may follow Him faithfully.»

WYD 2008WYD 2008

How did God wink How did God wink

at you lately or todayat you lately or today

about your call about your call

to be a young evangelizer to be a young evangelizer

or an adult supportive or an adult supportive

of youth evangelizing of youth evangelizing youth?youth?

Camp Leadership Camp Leadership JeunesseJeunesse

Youth Leadership Youth Leadership

CampCamp

Formation program for young adults Formation program for young adults

(14 à 18 ans/(14 à 18 ans/yrs old)yrs old) français

25 - 27 janvier, 2008

EnglishFebruary 1- 3,

2008

The Gospel:A gift to be sharedA fire to be nourishedA light for life!

Let us prayLet us pray……

Mission possible!Mission possible!

“Like Jesus with the disciples of Emmaus, the Church must become

a travelling companion to young people.” John Paul II

Documents

Youth Evangelizi ng Youth Sr. Francine Guilmette, FMA