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TrueLight
Guest
A good way to introduce Saints could be through movie nights. There are a lot of Saint movies that could be watched while having popcorn and drinks and discussion afterwards.
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AB_Juney
Guest
I would have loved that back in my CCD days!
I think it helps to make them seem approachable, like they were REAL people. Because “saint” is now used as a euphemism for perfect, spotless human “My little maggie is a perfect SAINT!”, for example, it makes it seem like the saints were sinless, perfect, and unearthly
I think it helps to make them seem approachable, like they were REAL people. Because “saint” is now used as a euphemism for perfect, spotless human “My little maggie is a perfect SAINT!”, for example, it makes it seem like the saints were sinless, perfect, and unearthly
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jeannetherese
Guest
The older kids I know want to take on serious questions. The want teaching/discussion in bioethics, they can dig into an encyclical-given the opportunity and a bit of support. Then, as i think about the threads i see in this forum, there are fairly frequent threads in which people discuss the problem of maintaining community and growing together after high school.
I wonder if your parish would be interested increating opportunities for that age group. perhaps a post-youth group that might especially support Catholic singles. Among the offerings we might envision: opportunities to meet and learn and pray, job mentoring support from older parishioners which could vary from job shadowing opportunities (a database would be helpful0 to helping with resumes/interview techniques, keeping kids appraised of positions that parishioners knew were open. There could be service opportunities, even mentoring/tutoring support for students continuing their education.
We could also have arrangements for these young adults to accompany the high school groups on their retreats, provide assistance to the elderly on a weekend or two each month -yard work shopping, adopt-an-old-one.
This would build community and not leave recently confirmed adult Catholics hanging out to dry.
Conversely, I bet a stack and a half of these kids can run circles around many with their networking and tech savvy skills.
Could they create a list of skills they could help others with? Provide support from time to time in a computer skills class at the local Catholic school?
And then there is the need for rigorous ongoing Catechesis at all age levels. What do we have for them?
What a great thread to start. Thanks so much True light!!!
I wonder if your parish would be interested increating opportunities for that age group. perhaps a post-youth group that might especially support Catholic singles. Among the offerings we might envision: opportunities to meet and learn and pray, job mentoring support from older parishioners which could vary from job shadowing opportunities (a database would be helpful0 to helping with resumes/interview techniques, keeping kids appraised of positions that parishioners knew were open. There could be service opportunities, even mentoring/tutoring support for students continuing their education.
We could also have arrangements for these young adults to accompany the high school groups on their retreats, provide assistance to the elderly on a weekend or two each month -yard work shopping, adopt-an-old-one.
This would build community and not leave recently confirmed adult Catholics hanging out to dry.
Conversely, I bet a stack and a half of these kids can run circles around many with their networking and tech savvy skills.
Could they create a list of skills they could help others with? Provide support from time to time in a computer skills class at the local Catholic school?
And then there is the need for rigorous ongoing Catechesis at all age levels. What do we have for them?
What a great thread to start. Thanks so much True light!!!
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TrueLight
Guest
No, it is I who should thank you for these awesome ideas. The wheels are churning!
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MaryandJoseph
Guest
My 14 year old Altar serving son has been going every Wednesday night to his friends baptist church and another friends independent church and loves it. Playing while learning about our Saviour.
At my parish?..NOTHING planned for the youth during summer break.
At my parish, I keep telling our DRE that we need to hire a former baptist youth minister to head up our or rather START up a youth ministry
Here is a thought (great for adults too),gather all the youth one Saturday and go step-by-step through the Mass, explaining the why’s of every part and where in scripture it can be found. I wish my RCIA class would have done this for us, and now as a 5th grade CCD teacher, I try to do this for my kids.
At my parish?..NOTHING planned for the youth during summer break.
At my parish, I keep telling our DRE that we need to hire a former baptist youth minister to head up our or rather START up a youth ministry
Here is a thought (great for adults too),gather all the youth one Saturday and go step-by-step through the Mass, explaining the why’s of every part and where in scripture it can be found. I wish my RCIA class would have done this for us, and now as a 5th grade CCD teacher, I try to do this for my kids.
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Deo_Gratias42
Guest
Diocesan-wide young single adult events that don’t cost an arm an a leg, and aren’t corny and lame.
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hazcompat
Guest
Our parish does well with the dwindling number of young members. As WoundedIcon has aptly expressed it"s not about a “program”, but a REAL experience of the Indwelling Holy Spirit. If parents are not on fire, What can they share with their children? I am on fire, and I cannot give this fire to my children? I know if they get the slightest taste of The Spirit they will be transfigured. For now, with Our Mother I can only wonder “How can this be…”
Good luck on your journey.
peace
Good luck on your journey.
peace
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skeyes
Guest
If there is not a good youth group at your Parish, start one. Don’t expect someone else to do that. The reason you want to know about it is that the Holy Spirit is calling you. My experience tells me that the youth meetings and this would be for young adults also, have to be challenging, requiring involvement and centered on God and His Church.
Each evening should have social time, maybe a meal, a discussion of the Bible or a particular teaching of the Church, but an active discussion. We, as leaders must learn to be quiet and let the participants speak and merely lead the discussions unless there is a non truth being spread. Then finally and I beleive this is extremely important, exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. We are fortunate to have a Priest available to hear confessions during adoration.
Adoration is the last part of the evening.
I know there are great retreats for young people and in the Houma Thibodeaux Diocese there are retreats for young adults. I don’t think that it should be automatic that the youth group attend the same youth rallies each year. As a matter of fact i believe that a youth retreat once during high school should be enough. I would like to expand the scope of youth activities to include adoption of a poorer parish somewhere. Then during the summer instead of a youth retreat the youth and young adults could go on a trip tp serve that poorer Parish. This could be as simple as repairing the grounds, painting and many efforts in labor, but it could include planning and leading a “vacation Bible school”. I know that is sorta prostestant phrase for a week of good fun and catechesis.
We have to think out of the box, to challenge our young people and young adults to be wholly a part of the Parish. Young people and young adults are not our future, they are our now and should be treated as such.
Just a few thoughts.
Stan
Each evening should have social time, maybe a meal, a discussion of the Bible or a particular teaching of the Church, but an active discussion. We, as leaders must learn to be quiet and let the participants speak and merely lead the discussions unless there is a non truth being spread. Then finally and I beleive this is extremely important, exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. We are fortunate to have a Priest available to hear confessions during adoration.
Adoration is the last part of the evening.
I know there are great retreats for young people and in the Houma Thibodeaux Diocese there are retreats for young adults. I don’t think that it should be automatic that the youth group attend the same youth rallies each year. As a matter of fact i believe that a youth retreat once during high school should be enough. I would like to expand the scope of youth activities to include adoption of a poorer parish somewhere. Then during the summer instead of a youth retreat the youth and young adults could go on a trip tp serve that poorer Parish. This could be as simple as repairing the grounds, painting and many efforts in labor, but it could include planning and leading a “vacation Bible school”. I know that is sorta prostestant phrase for a week of good fun and catechesis.
We have to think out of the box, to challenge our young people and young adults to be wholly a part of the Parish. Young people and young adults are not our future, they are our now and should be treated as such.
Just a few thoughts.
Stan
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Angela77
Guest
As a high school student myself, I can totally speak to this. If it hadn’t been for God’s grace when I was confirmed, I would have given up the Church because it didn’t seem super attractive for my generation.
Ways the Catholic Church would be more attractive to my generation:
-Better religious ed classes-- don’t dumb down Catholic theology! It’s so rich and makes so much sense- once you understand, you can’t turn away. (It wasn’t till after my Confirmation that I realized I had never learned about the Real Presence!)
-Educate parents. Many of my peers at religion class had parents who were non-practicing Catholics (myself included- after my Confirmation, I decided to be different than my parents). Their parents just wanted them to get confirmed, so they were forced into going. As a result, very few were enthusiastic about coming to class.
-Facebook pages for parishes: it’d be a great place for asking questions, stating prayer intentions, feeling the sense of community…
-youth groups-- these would be good to have separately from religion classes. Perhaps they could be a place to go to more voluntarily (not required for Confirmation). They’d also be great for those who have already been confirmed but want to stay involved.
-get EWTN into HD- it just looks so old.
-education in how Catholicism differs from Protestantism-- when your Protestant friends challenge Catholicism and you don’t know how to respond, you start to wonder if they’re right.
Things the Church already has that are attractive to my generation:
-youth conferences / retreats
-Vigil Masses-- I hate getting up early.
-the sacraments and Mass are timeless if you’re well-educated in them.
-sense of belonging
-fancy stuff, like incense, Latin, art…
-The Pope’s Twitter account was a nice gesture.
-CAF is nice and modern
Hope this insight helps!
Ways the Catholic Church would be more attractive to my generation:
-Better religious ed classes-- don’t dumb down Catholic theology! It’s so rich and makes so much sense- once you understand, you can’t turn away. (It wasn’t till after my Confirmation that I realized I had never learned about the Real Presence!)
-Educate parents. Many of my peers at religion class had parents who were non-practicing Catholics (myself included- after my Confirmation, I decided to be different than my parents). Their parents just wanted them to get confirmed, so they were forced into going. As a result, very few were enthusiastic about coming to class.
-Facebook pages for parishes: it’d be a great place for asking questions, stating prayer intentions, feeling the sense of community…
-youth groups-- these would be good to have separately from religion classes. Perhaps they could be a place to go to more voluntarily (not required for Confirmation). They’d also be great for those who have already been confirmed but want to stay involved.
-get EWTN into HD- it just looks so old.
-education in how Catholicism differs from Protestantism-- when your Protestant friends challenge Catholicism and you don’t know how to respond, you start to wonder if they’re right.
Things the Church already has that are attractive to my generation:
-youth conferences / retreats
-Vigil Masses-- I hate getting up early.
-the sacraments and Mass are timeless if you’re well-educated in them.
-sense of belonging
-fancy stuff, like incense, Latin, art…
-The Pope’s Twitter account was a nice gesture.
-CAF is nice and modern
Hope this insight helps!
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Nils
Guest
I am actually surprised that there is not yet any religious order with the specific aim of supporting and evangelizing young unmarried westerners. In some protestant churches, they have special ministers to serve the young and support them in their spiritual growth. When I was still a protestant, this was my job…
The young are curious, emotional and very often searching for answers. They need quality time with each other, but also older people who can guide and support them. I wish we had more clergy with the vocation to be around these young Christians, to support them in their own environment such as campuses, youth cafés etc.
Last year I was visiting a friend who went to George Mason in the US. They seem to have a very nice student ministry there. The organization (CCM) went to different conferences and retreats, but they also had weekly meetings with Mass and talks, Bible studies etc. The older students were also mentoring the younger somehow, it was very beautiful! I also got the impression that most of the kids there had a very nice and warm relationship to the Priest of this chapel… Beautiful!
The young are curious, emotional and very often searching for answers. They need quality time with each other, but also older people who can guide and support them. I wish we had more clergy with the vocation to be around these young Christians, to support them in their own environment such as campuses, youth cafés etc.
Last year I was visiting a friend who went to George Mason in the US. They seem to have a very nice student ministry there. The organization (CCM) went to different conferences and retreats, but they also had weekly meetings with Mass and talks, Bible studies etc. The older students were also mentoring the younger somehow, it was very beautiful! I also got the impression that most of the kids there had a very nice and warm relationship to the Priest of this chapel… Beautiful!
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iloveangels
Guest
Not only that, but in many dioceses, there are very few TLM masses compared to all the OF masses. We don’t have a predominance of young people in either the OF or the EF masses here, BTW.
Lots of gray hair out there in the parishes. The Church is aging dramatically.
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Nabooru
Guest
No reason one can’t be started…I am actually surprised that there is not yet any religious order with the specific aim of supporting and evangelizing young unmarried westerners. In some protestant churches, they have special ministers to serve the young and support them in their spiritual growth. When I was still a protestant, this was my job…
The young are curious, emotional and very often searching for answers. They need quality time with each other, but also older people who can guide and support them. I wish we had more clergy with the vocation to be around these young Christians, to support them in their own environment such as campuses, youth cafés etc.
Last year I was visiting a friend who went to George Mason in the US. They seem to have a very nice student ministry there. The organization (CCM) went to different conferences and retreats, but they also had weekly meetings with Mass and talks, Bible studies etc. The older students were also mentoring the younger somehow, it was very beautiful! I also got the impression that most of the kids there had a very nice and warm relationship to the Priest of this chapel… Beautiful!
At my American Anglican parish a great deal of the parishioners are young people around my age (20s). We’re there because we want an actual liturgy and reverence for God, instead of pretending that just sitting around talking about Jesus, punctuated by clappy songs with our hands waving in the air, is how the Apostles did it. Seriously, if i wanted to have a fun group of people to talk with and go out for activities together, I’d join the YMCA.
Early on in my last job, the other employees talked about the local nondenominational evangelical/charismatic churches. None had one they went to regularly, they just skipped around here and there looking for an entertaining time. The ones that preferred a particular church over another were because the pastor was so funny or they served brunch after the service. And then after a few months or years of that, they got bored and left altogether.
Liturgical churches have a lot to offer young people - a complete transformation of the soul and ancient and holy reverence for the LORD - if only young people were aware of them. Most liturgical churches have either gone liberal and could care less if they have attendees ('cause hey, all religions are the same, right?) or aren’t willing to make the effort to evangelize in their own communities, being satisfied with what members they have left and just shrugging helplessly at their dwindling numbers. In my town of St. Louis, plenty of evangelical churches have billboards and fliers, commercials and outreach programs. What mainline or Catholic church does that? They hold a bake sale that’s announced nowhere outside the church bulletin and consider that their evangelism, and leave it at that. We youth want churches that are sacred and reverent and ancient in their theology and practice, but it seems like those churches just aren’t interested in us for all the advertising they do.
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Nils
Guest
I completely agree with you about the liturgy. I serve the altar in the Tridentine Mass my self and the Priest of my parish is very particular about the ordinary Mass as well. We try to make it beautiful, but even so, we hardly have any youth…
I am still in my twenties and I really feel like there is a great lack of community in Church. The parish needs to be like a family. Most importantly a family that prays together, but also one that talks, supports and takes care of one and other. I pray for vocations that sees this group of young people and wants to help them grow in love for the Sacraments but also to grow into the living community…
Pizza nights with saint movies, bible studies, music events, outreach… I think anything is good for as long as it brings people together!
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garn9173
Guest
In my Diocese, the Bishop has made an effort in college towns for the Priest in said town to make a special effort to reach out to college kids and to keep them invovled with the Church while they are in college, here’s an example of what’s done at Drake University:
stcatherinedrake.org/
stcatherinedrake.org/
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TrueLight
Guest
I hadn’t checked this thread in a while. Thanks so much for everyone’s (name removed by moderator)ut.
Keep the ideas coming.
Keep the ideas coming.
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iloveangels
Guest
I agree with you. And they should take care that whatever they decide to do isn’t founded on stereotypes that no longer fit, which has been a problem. Rather plain events with the chance to really visit with people work very well, if you give people the initiative and a chance to bring food, and spend some time on the property.
There is a Methodist church on my way home from work that has these great events right out in their yard in the summer. The food is good, the conversation is good, they’re not pushy, the Church is on the corner. They make great peach BBQ. And they all sit there and talk the whole time, enjoying participation in their church events. I’m not a Methodist and never will be, and I’m not going in the building, but I’ll tell you, I stop by for a peach BBQ and a few friendly smiles when they have it out in the yard. They’re a bunch of nice people and there are kids playing everywhere because all the neighbor kids show up for Kool-Aid and volleyball. It’s a nice time.
How hard would it be for us to get over ourselves for an afternoon, set up a volleyball net, and make some Kool-Aid and BBQ in the yard???
Movies & popcorn? Card games? Pizza parties? Bake sales? Sledding? Canoeing? Catholic trivia nights? Book clubs? Could even be paired with prayers, novenas, rosaries, etc. What a deal!
No, most Catholic parishes look like the auxiliary annex of the funeral home. Why?
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Wigglez
Guest
The thing that really gets me is both the lack of activities and some of the absolutely insane politics that go on after Mass. I came to learn about Jesus, not listen to whacked-out theories on how all Muslims are secretly conspiring to destroy the United States.
That and as mentioned previously, nobody seems to really want to get to know each other or deal with real issues in the community. it’s fine if it’s something sanitary like a food drive or selling script, but what about a support group for single/divorced parents? A networking group for the young and unemployed? Child care for teen parents while they work to get a GED or complete high school? See, the impression I get is that it’s fine to hold prayer meetings and wave signs at rallies and burn candles, but actually getting your hands dirty by directly ministering to the suffering is off limits unless you’re part of a religious order. It should not be that way.
That and as mentioned previously, nobody seems to really want to get to know each other or deal with real issues in the community. it’s fine if it’s something sanitary like a food drive or selling script, but what about a support group for single/divorced parents? A networking group for the young and unemployed? Child care for teen parents while they work to get a GED or complete high school? See, the impression I get is that it’s fine to hold prayer meetings and wave signs at rallies and burn candles, but actually getting your hands dirty by directly ministering to the suffering is off limits unless you’re part of a religious order. It should not be that way.
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iloveangels
Guest
The Church is not primarily a social service organization, but I think that groups of laypeople should certainly be offering these types of services to each other, and more, as a matter of living out their Christian commitment, yes. Catholics ought to “hang” with each other like neighbors and help each other out some, yes.
And insane politics centered on calling other people out is goofy, I agree. LOL. Your description is funny. Paranoia is always a bad idea.
[And to be honest, if these people after Mass are really serious about their fears, the best possible way for them to make sure that their bad dreams don’t ever really happen is to work to make the Church a great place people wouldn’t want to walk away from. Pretty simple.]
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benjammin
Guest
Honestly, I think just a young persons group in any parish would be very good. This is especially a concern in my area. I live in a rural area in Eastern Nebraska about an hour from Omaha and Lincoln. My area is very catholic since it was settled mostly by czechs, and we are fortunate to have a great catholic school. Unfortunately, a lot of people think “oh we have a high school are kids will be fine” and as a result the kids don’t see church as anything special or counter cultural since it is the culture and find it boring. Out of my 30 classmates at said Catholic High School I would say only about 6 or 7 of us attend mass regularly. Honestly, I think a good youth group or young person’s group would help with this. Anything to provide community. Too often those of us who do have faith have a tough time finding a community, and I think if those who are lost see that a community exists they will be attracted to it.
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Gordon_Sims
Guest
I’ve talked to my son about this several times. He’s dissatisfied with the sort of people he meets at school and work (male & female alike) and is constantly saying he wishes he could meet someone decent with values similar to ours (or any values at all). At the same time, while he’ll listen to me talk about our faith and join in from time to time, he wants someone other than his dad telling him this stuff. Not that he’s upset with the message, but since it’s coming from me it can’t be completely true, so he’s looking for validation from someone else. Like some of the others have stated here, he wants something meatier than the pablum they spoon-fed him in high school. He wants some definite direction about topics that are relevant to him.
I’ve looked around and can’t find any Catholic youth groups in our area. He’s shown a good deal of interest in attending the various adult eduction programs our parish offers, but they’re typically attended by the same dozen or so people, most of whom are old enough to be my parents. He’s made it clear that he wouldn’t feel comfortable in a group like that. If we had something with a younger presenter and people his age, he’d be thrilled.
I’ve looked around and can’t find any Catholic youth groups in our area. He’s shown a good deal of interest in attending the various adult eduction programs our parish offers, but they’re typically attended by the same dozen or so people, most of whom are old enough to be my parents. He’s made it clear that he wouldn’t feel comfortable in a group like that. If we had something with a younger presenter and people his age, he’d be thrilled.
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