Goal 1: Youth Ministry ...
it’s about discipleship
The first goal of youth ministry is “to empower young people
to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in our world today.” (RTV
9). Young people are “searching for a noble adventure”, a
compelling and challenging vision of life, and a cause worth
their commitment. They hunger to hear the Good News that
finds response in discipleship. As their companions on this
spiritual journey, some of the ways the Church fulfills this
first goal of youth ministry is by ...
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Proclaiming the Good News of Jesus through witness and
word to young people.
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Enabling young people to live as disciples through their
involvement in service, ministry, and leadership
opportunities.
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Providing young people the faith skills for
discipleship.
Goal 2:
Youth Ministry ...
it’s about connection
The second goal is “to draw young people to responsible
participation in the life, mission, and work of the Catholic
faith community.” (RTV 11). Young people have a hunger for
connection, to be in relationship, and to belong. Family,
peers, school, youth serving organizations, and church are
primary connections for young people. Some of the ways the
church fulfills this second goal of youth ministry is by ...
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Being a ‘youth friendly’ community that welcomes young
people, values their participation, and calls forth
their gifts.
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Integrating young people into the liturgical, pastoral,
and ministerial life of the parish community.
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Creating opportunities for young people to enter into
healthy relationships of trust and respect with their
peers and with adults.
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Promoting Catholic identity and religious literacy
through programs of adolescent catechesis.
Goal 3:
Youth Ministry ...
it’s about gifts and growth
The third goal of youth ministry is “to foster the total
personal and spiritual growth of each young person.” (RTV
15). Adolescence is an important time for mental, spiritual,
social, and physical growth. Their experiences and
relationships greatly influence their healthy and positive
development. The Church strives to surround young people
with the best possible external scaffolds—networks of caring
relationships of family, school, peers, and other
adults—while young people are developing their internal
psychological and spiritual backbone—their values, life
skills, commitments, and moral compass. The Church fulfills
this third goal of youth ministry by ...
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Enabling young people to develop a personal relationship
with Jesus.
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Actively supporting positive youth development and
fostering healthy values and life skills.
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Supporting families of young people by providing
resources, programs, and services.
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Providing opportunities to experience and express
caring, service, and compassion for others.
Components of Youth Ministry
Renewing the Vision emphasizes eight components
that are vital for a comprehensive youth ministry. These
components are:
Advocacy: interpreting the needs of youth
and their families, especially the social problems facing
them and acting with or on behalf of youth and their
families for a change in the systems which create or
contribute to the social problems; giving young people a
voice and empowering them to address the social problems
they face.
Catechesis: sponsoring youth toward
maturity in Catholic Christian faith as a living reality
through the kind of teaching and learning that emphasizes
understanding, reflection, and transformation; fostering in
youth a communal identity as Catholic Christians within the
intergenerational community of faith and helping them to
develop their own personal faith identity.
Community Life: creating an environment
which nurtures meaningful relationships among youth and
between youth and adults characterized by Gospel values
(e.g. acceptance of all people, trust, respect, cooperation,
honesty, taking responsibility, willingness to serve);
helping young people feel like a valued part of the church
community,. providing opportunities for social interaction
and meaningful participation in the life of the church and
civic community.
Evangelization: proclaiming through word
and witness the Good News of the Gospel to youth who have
not yet heard or seen it and inviting them into a
relationship with Jesus Christ and the community of
believers; ongoing witness of the faith community as it
attempts to live out the Gospel with such authenticity that
the faith of all the members is sustained and nourished.
Evangelization is the energizing core of all the components
of youth ministry.
Justice, Peace, and Service: guiding young
people in the development of a social consciousness and a
commitment to a life of justice and service grounded in
their faith in Jesus Christ, in the scriptures and in
Catholic social teaching; empowering young people (and their
families) to work for justice by concrete efforts to address
the causes of human suffering, to serve those in need, to
pursue peace, and to defend the life, dignity, and rights of
all people; infusing the concepts of justice and peace into
all youth ministry efforts.
Leadership Development: recruiting,
training, and supporting youth and adult leaders in youth
ministry; empowering youth for leadership and ministry with
their peers, in their schools, and in the church and civic
community; developing a leadership team of youth and adults
to organize and coordinate a ministry with youth; partnering
with parents and families in promoting positive youth
development and faith growth.
Pastoral Care/Guidance: promoting positive
youth and family development through a variety of preventive
strategies (e.g., developing life skills and parenting
skills); caring for youth and families in crisis through
support, counseling, and referral to appropriate community
agencies; and providing guidance as youth face life
decisions and make moral choices.
Prayer and Worship: assisting young people
in deepening their relationship with Jesus through spiritual
development and a personal prayer life; providing a variety
of communal prayer and worship experiences with youth to
deepen and celebrate their relationship with Jesus in a
caring Christian community; involving young people in the
sacramental life of the Church.
Youth Ministry ... it takes
an entire Church
“This is what is needed: a Church for young people, which
will know how to speak to their heart and enkindle, comfort,
and inspire enthusiasm in it with the joy of the Gospel and
the strength of the Eucharist; a Church which will know how
to invite and welcome the person who seeks a purpose for
which to commit his whole existence; a Church which is not
afraid to require much, after having given much; which does
not fear asking from young people the effort of a noble and
authentic adventure, such as that of the following of the
Gospel.”
(Pope John Paul II. 1995 World Day of Prayer for Vocations)
IHM Youth Ministry
