comprehensive youth ministry
The US Conference of Catholic Bishops identifies comprehensive youth ministry as meeting the needs of teens in eight key areas. This is a summary of the elements found in “Renewing the Vision.”
• Advocacy: Standing with and speaking on behalf of teens. Engage the church to examine its priorities and practices to place teens and family first. Help the church to integrate teens into the life, mission and work of each Catholic parish community. Empower teens.
• Catechesis: Teaching the faith. Help teens to develop a deeper relationship with Jesus, by increasing their knowledge of the core content of the Catholic faith. Foster growth in the mind, heart and will.
• Community Life: Creating a welcome environment rooted in Gospel values where every teen receives respect and acceptance. The community supports the individual teen and fosters meaningful relationships among the teens and between teens with adults. Develop skills in creating and maintaining friendships through relationships centered in Christian values.
• Evangelization: Sharing the good news and helping teens to experience a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and His church. Key elements include outreach, witness, affirmation, invitation, conversion, and discipleship.
• Justice & Service: Nurturing teens in a social consciousness rooted in faith through Jesus. Empower teens to alleviate human suffering, to defend life, and to establish dignity and rights of all people, as exemplified by Jesus in the scriptures.
• Leadership Development: Developing skills in teens that lead to leadership in church and communities. Guidance through invitation, training, support, and nourishment. Empower teens to make a difference in the world.
• Pastoral Care: Providing a compassionate presence of the church to those who are hurting. Care for teens and their families in crisis through support, guidance and referral to appropriate professional services. Use of preventive strategies by building skills and morals, which allow teens to make better life choices.
• Prayer & Worship: Cultivating the prayer life of teens. Deepen teen’s relationship with Christ through daily prayer and liturgy. Involve teens more fully in the sacramental life of the church, especially Eucharist.
