Military Analogies and Youth Ministry to Boys

  • Thread starter Thread starter runnerryan
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
R

runnerryan

Guest
OK heres the situation. I am a seminarian on a parish internship as part of my seminary education. Since I ran cross country and track in HS and college, and as my username indicates am still a serious runner, I am helping to coach the parish grade school’s track team. Tonight was the first practice I could help with. I am doing Army chaplain training this summer so I have a sweatshirt that says “ARMY” on the front that I wore to the practice tonight. I could not believe how many of the boys asked me if I was in the Army and were impressed when I said yes and told them about the training I will do this summer. It was like a military fan club.

So heres the question. There are a lot of challenges with actually getting jr high/high school kids to care about God and not be bored with church stuff. Has anyway with youth ministry involvement seen a postive reaction from boys when using military analogies as a way to explain the Catholic faith? This question would also apply to parents who have tried to bring their sons up as faithful Catholics. I wouldn’t want to over do things or use cliches of course but it seems like a way to translate things out of “Catholicese” into terms that boys might be more open to. The reaction I got tonight seems to indicate this would be an effective way to reach boys.
 
From the reaction that you got, it sounds like it will be enough just to share with them about the Army and your experiences and training. Certainly, you could emphasize the virtues that are common to both soldiers and faithful Catholics–self-discipline, commitment, strong belief, subordination to hierarchy, and similar. Maybe you could find soldiers or veterans who are also strong Catholics and have them speak to the boys about their faith and their military careers. I will keep you in my prayers–for your seminary studies, for your work with the Army, and for your work with Catholic youth. May God bless you always!
 
Runnerryan:

You have stumbled upon one of the greatest ways to evangelize young men. Recently, as many books have attested (there is one in particular, but I can’t seem to find it on my shelf right now), religion has become fairly feminized. This is not a bad thing, and is to be expected. Most mass attendees these days are female. Women religious orders are increasing in size. Women are becomming very active in the church society (most CCD teachers are female, etc).

Now, while this is a natural occurence based upon the information above, it is not all together comfortable for males. There is a secret to men that we are “relearning”. That is the need for a battle. Not direct war…etc. But action, military, honor, protection, work. Boys are not drawn to “prayer” and “eucharistic adoration” as much as females. I have seen how male attendance at CCD classes drops significantly if these are the focus of the classes. Boys want adventure, and something to battle for.

I have found that, when teaching to boys and young men, this type of approach (like the one you have mentioned) works well. I spen a LOT of time talking about the brave saintly knights. About men giving their lives solely for the church (Thomas Moore’s conflict with the King seems to be a hot story for some reason…don’t know why). Military, training. THESE speak to boys. They want something to fight FOR. I present priests as “soldiers for christ” (OK, stole that from the Jesuits…sue me…LOL). Battling the forces of society that teach against the faith. Be willing to “Give your life” for causes.

Yes, it is very bravado. And I know that some may think this a bit “bruttle” or harsh. But it sparks a HUGE interest. Just remember, when you where a boy, did you ever want to sit quietly…or would you have rather played GI JOE and war games?

Just my thoughts. For those of you who disagree, feel free to flame away. These days I have become more and more fire retardant!! 😃
 
I’m liking this idea…

The problem with a lot of youth ministry programs is that they are too “touchy feely” and don’t appeal to most males. The military, on the other hand, has always appealed to males. Look at what boys do in their free time. I used to play war-related video games. I had little green army men. I had toy guns.

Why do you think the Muslims are so good at recruiting young men?

Oh, and to all of you nutjobs who thinks that kids shouldn’t be allowed to play with toy guns and little green army men, grow up. It’s natural for boys to be interested in things like that, and there’s nothing wrong with it. It won’t turn them into violent criminals.
 
I’m a junior in high school, and I think the military analogy is a cool idea. 👍
 
Boys will be boys…we always play the warrior. Cops & Robbers, Cowboys & Indians etc. I’m sure during the Middle Ages it was ‘Crusaders & Muslims’. Rough-housing, play fighting, wrestling. Boys are meant to fight. Its just a matter of focusing the instinct into the right direction.

The earlier suggestion about Catholic vet’s is a great idea! I would also suggest Catholic cops & firemen. Always good rolemodels. Just watch out for the peaceniks…always a problem.
 
for some reason I can’t get the site, but last year’s steubenville youth conferance was “Rise Up” which appealed to both genders in a militaristic way…

steubenvilleeast.org/history.html

this is a link from steubenville east…you can read a bit about the conferances and see the different ideas for youth ministry
 
In the early '90’s, the church I attended was on a Marine base. The priest, who was in the Navy, gave the best homilies I have ever heard. Every homily was based on either military priests risking their lives, saints risking their lives, or other type of heroic/romantic theme. He must have increased mass attendance among young Marines by 200%.
In a book about Chesty Puller, during the Island Hopping campaigns of WWII and during the Korean war, the Protestant Chaplains would complain to General Puller that the Catholic priests (Navy chaplains) were evangelizing the protestant boys away from them. Chesty told them that it was because the Catholic priests were up at the front lines dodging bullets and putting themselves in extreme personal danger in order to administer to their flock, while the protestant chaplains were in the rear with the gear.
 
I hope in a few years I can do the same in the Army!

A friend of mine in the Corps told me some of the same type of things about mixed experiences with chaplains. Some chaplains hide out in the back the whole time, and some you don’t know how they survive.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top