How to go about planning devotions for youth?

[rosaelima]

Hello,

I am the Faith Minister on the Student Council at my Catholic High School and I am looking into ways to increase certain devotions that are offered at my school. The Chaplain wants me to do creative and “themed” devotions in accord with the church year. I was already thinking of the following:

Advent - Not sure what to do here? Does anyone have any ideas they can offer me?

Lent - Stations of the Cross, with relatable meditations.

Easter - Prayer services? Not sure what to do here either.

And throughout the year, I will be praying the Rosary each Monday with classes of Grades 9 and 10 students, does anyone here now any creative ways to pray the rosary that are engaging? Like video mediations? Maybe praying it “for Peace or for the Environment”?

I am also looking for good resources for this kind of thing too (prayer services, special prayers etc). Anyone know of any good resources?

If anyone else is involved in Youth Ministry and can offer me any kind of assistance in regards to this it would be very helpful! My parish doesn’t have a Youth Group.

 

[pianistclare]

First. Don’t make the mistake of thinking kids have to have things dumbed down for them.

Advent: I would suggest a Jesse Tree. Have the children in each grade create one of the symbols on the Jesse tree. The older kids can narrate a presentation for the entire school.

In each week of advent you can have daily reflections based on the weekly themes of Hope, Peace, Joy, Love.

Pray the rosary as it. Don’t mess with it. If the small children can’t manage a whole rosary, do a decade a day over the intercom. At the end of the week, you will have prayed an entire rosary. Or, ask the homeroom teachers to do this during the day.

Each year, our 5th graders do a living Stations presentation. it is very moving. Use the Stations of the Cross for children as the script. Again, have a couple of narrators, and the children act out the scenes.

You can also, during lent, have presentations by s single class at a time of the various Lenten readings. Like calming the seas, healing the paralytic, etc.

Easter is a chance for your school choir to bust out with their best pieces and joyful readings.

PM me anytime you wish.
Clare

 

[myway]

You could have someone tell the bible stories to the children. These stories can probably be adjusted to what every you want for the school. I recommend Eyes to See & Ears to Hear Ministries and there website is listed below.

eyes2seeministries.com/services

Ask the children how they would like to pray the rosary and have them wright it down. You could give the teachers a paper on this and then put a box in the office where they can put there answers.

 

[omegapd]

I teach a Middle School Youth Group in our Parish with the EDGE program. That would be a little too young for your age group- but our Pastor and Deacon do a high school group and use a program called Lifeteen. That could be something you look into for ideas. I’m assuming the info would be on-line.

Good luck and God bless!