8 Components of a Comprehensive Youth Ministry program outlined by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
1. Community Life/Social
2. Justice & Service
3. Evangelization
4. Leadership Development
5. Pastoral Care
6. Prayer & Worship
7. Advocacy
8. Education/ Catechesis
¨ The ministry of Community Life builds an environment of love, support, appreciation for diversity, and acceptance that models Catholic principals. It develops meaningful relationships; and nurtures Catholic faith.
¨ Promotes and engages young people in the life, activities, and ministries of the parish in meaningful and age-appropriate ways.
¨ Provides avenues for young people to participate as members of their faith community.
¨ Guide’s young people in developing healthy perspective of joys & pains of relationships and skills that promotes positive and healthy interaction.
¨ Our faith calls us to work for justice and serve those in need.
¨ The ministry of Justice & Service empowers young people to work for justice by concrete efforts to address the causes of human suffering; and infuses the concepts of justice, peace, and human dignity into all areas of our youth ministry efforts.
¨ The ministry of Evangelization is the energizing core of all ministry with young people. All of the relationships, ministry components, and programs must proclaim their faith. They must invite young people into a deeper relationship with our Lord and empower them to live as disciples.
¨ Evangelization of our young people includes:
¨ Witnessing our faith in all aspects of OUR lives – offering ourselves & our parish community as living models of the Christian faith in practice
¨ Reaching out to young people by meeting them in their various life situations, building relationships, providing healing care and concern, offering genuine responses to their needs and inviting them into a deeper relationship with our community and our Lord
¨ Invites young people personally into the life and mission of our faith community so that they may experience the support, nurture & care necessary to live as Christians.
¨ Challenges young people to follow Jesus in a life of discipleship, shaping their lives in the vision, values and teachings of Jesus and living His mission throughout their daily lives
¨ Calls young people to evangelize to other young people, their families and communities.
¨ The ministry of Leadership Development calls forth, affirms, and empowers the diverse gifts, talents, and abilities of adults and young people in our faith community. Leaders must be trained and encouraged. To do this we must have a wide diversity of ADULT AND YOUTH leaders in a variety of roles.
¨ The ministry of Leadership Development empowers all young people for leadership and ministry with their peers-in schools, parishes, and civic communities.
¨ We affirm and support them by giving youth opportunities where they can contribute.
¨ The ministry of Pastoral Care is a compassionate presence in imitation of Jesus’ care of people, especially those who are hurting and in need.
¨ Collaborates with the wider community in providing direct support or aid to the community and especially to youth at risk in the form of programs, services, service projects, and counseling.
¨ The ministry of Pastoral Care develops life skills of adolescents, such as relationship building, assertiveness’, nonviolent conflict resolution, decision-making, and planning.
¨ Guide’s young people in making important life decisions.
¨ Fosters spiritual development of young people.
¨ Creates network of care and support for young people.
¨ Strengthens family life by assisting families to improve family skills such as communication, decision making, problem solving, and reconciliation.
¨ Provides and connects adolescents and families to support services, referral resources, and self help groups to promote healing during times of loss, sudden change, unexpected crisis, and problems, personal or family transitions.
¨ The ministry of Prayer & Worship celebrates and deepens young people’s faith. Mass, prayer services, praying and more awakens their awareness of the spirit at work in their lives; incorporates young people more fully into the sacramental life of the church.
¨ The ministry of Prayer & Worship
¨ Promotes participation of youth in liturgy.
¨ Provides opportunities for creative prayer with young people in peer, family, and intergenerational settings.
¨ Allows music and song to express the vitality of young people.
¨ Provides young people with effective and intentional education and formation for liturgy worship and sacraments.
¨ Apprentices and trains young people in liturgical ministries (lector or Eucharistic training).
¨ Promoting and protecting the sanctity of human life as a Gift from God.
¨ Promoting and supporting each individual within our community of teens as well as the disadvantaged, the sick, the elderly, the unborn, and the poor.
¨ Empowering our young people by giving them a voice and calling them to responsibility and accountability around the issues that affect them and their future.
¨ The ministry of Education of young people helps them to develop a deeper relationship with Jesus and increase their knowledge of the core content of the Catholic faith. It helps to enrich and expand their understanding of the Scriptures and sacred traditions and understanding of faith.
¨ The ministry of Education recognizes that faith development is a lifelong process. Therefore provides developmentally and age appropriate content and processes around key themes, interests, and concerns of young people.
¨ Education integrates knowledge of practical skills for living our faith in the world today.
¨ Education promotes young people and family faith development through a variety of program approaches.
“Renewing the Vision: A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry”
Goal 1: Empowerment
To empower young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in our world today.
(RTV 9)
Goal 2: Participation
To draw young people to responsible participation in the life, mission, and work of the Catholic faith community. (RTV 11)
Goal 3: Growth
To foster the total personal and spiritual growth of each young person.
(RTV 15)