tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8560483615460834385.post7661292964307464800..comments2024-03-22T05:53:17.342-04:00Comments on On This Rock: Re-envisioning Youth MinistryFather John Hollowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12850864104003705536noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8560483615460834385.post-3116440661470240812013-08-25T16:08:42.010-04:002013-08-25T16:08:42.010-04:00Hi Fr
Interesting idea. I like how you are using t...Hi Fr<br />Interesting idea. I like how you are using their gifts to bring Jesus to the world. If you have done any work with Sherry Weddell's Called and Gifted program (Siena.org) this could be a precurser to the idea of identifying and evangelizing in their charism. She doesn't recommend this for people til they are adults, but getting them to think about giving and using their gifts to do it is a great start. Makes them others focused. <br /><br />The problem I see with it, however, is that it only attracts or makes use of those whose gifts are artistic. Not everyone is. When I was doing youth ministry (15+ years, I'm now doing Evangelization and Discipleship for adults in a parish) I liked the 8 Components of youth ministry because I had kids who came in from every angle and in doing catechesis I worked to display the Gospel message to all kinds of learners. <br /><br />That being said, if you are working from a "gifts" angle, I think you might want to look at a broader list of charisms and gifts. Again, MS and HS is too young to adequetely discern their charism, but I think you could do it in a light way, promote many different gifts which gives them a chance to sample different ones and maybe discover that they are gifted in areas they hadn't thought of. The creative arts are just one area, I'd encourage you to expand. <br /><br />But again, I really like that you are using and forming their gifts to GIVE, because often, then, they'll be learning too!JenBnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8560483615460834385.post-25048005129677348272013-08-22T07:39:49.725-04:002013-08-22T07:39:49.725-04:00Actually, when I was a catechist, I helped impleme...Actually, when I was a catechist, I helped implement LifeTeen in my former parish. While there were many good elements to LifeTeen, if I had to do it all over again, I would urged my pastor and co-workers to find something else.<br /><br />You are correct that the materials LifeTeen offers are solidly Catholic, and that there is an emphasis on the Eucharist. However, in my experience, this was the salesman's "foot in the door" so to speak. Once it's in however, it takes over like kudzu. Most disturbing was the pressure to transform the liturgy. Yes, LT advocates will insist that LT Masses are not obligatory and nothing can happen without the pastor's permission, but the fact is that there is a full-court press to implement a Life Teen Mass so to speak, and while LT doesn't mandate the flavor of this liturgy, the default is a very P&W, CCM, multi-media concert-style liturgy. To wit: Only a very stalwart parishioner or pastor with his head screwed on right could resist. In the end, the only people that participated were kids already hooked on that stuff and the kids we really needed to reach (anyone over 13 with a Y chromosome) stood together in a corner repulsed by all the youth pandering. Scott W.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8560483615460834385.post-54550391679500102222013-08-21T22:55:11.891-04:002013-08-21T22:55:11.891-04:00Have you heard of life teen? It's solidly Cath...Have you heard of life teen? It's solidly Catholic and Eucharist-centered. There is room for various types of "life nights" as they are called. There can be a pizza social one night and a night explaining the sacraments the next. It's all about getting to know the kids so they be better ministered to. This project sounds great but consider looking into life teen.<br />Michelle Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05216617029645449039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8560483615460834385.post-77191003872216320662013-08-21T17:40:33.933-04:002013-08-21T17:40:33.933-04:00b) when kids are done, they want to run as far awa...<i>b) when kids are done, they want to run as far away from Church as possible.</i> <br /><br />When I was a catechist, I met with all the parents and opened with a joke:<br /><br />A priest, a rabbi, and a minister walk into a bar, order drinks, sit down and commiserate about each of their church's/temple's rat problems. The minister said they laid out traps, but they still have rats. The rabbi said they called an exterminator, but they still have rats. The priest said he solved the rat problem and has no more rats. When asked how he did it, he replied that they just confirmed all the rats, and they <i>never saw them again.</i>Scott W.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8560483615460834385.post-11266314712884447732013-08-21T14:03:26.090-04:002013-08-21T14:03:26.090-04:00Oh wow. I so wish there was something like that ar...Oh wow. I so wish there was something like that around here (Connecticut) for my 8th grade son. My prayers are with you. Brazil's teens certainly need some hope. Jamienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8560483615460834385.post-35317182489488291692013-08-21T09:18:20.298-04:002013-08-21T09:18:20.298-04:00My teens like the sound of it! Unfortunately, we&#...My teens like the sound of it! Unfortunately, we're in Ohio.... :-(MarieChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17458004521580842197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8560483615460834385.post-55174226402489903002013-08-20T23:47:15.414-04:002013-08-20T23:47:15.414-04:00Love it! I would be very interested to know how we...Love it! I would be very interested to know how well this does in your parish. Prayers. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12064496789622053474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8560483615460834385.post-24914308399400092082013-08-20T22:15:11.940-04:002013-08-20T22:15:11.940-04:00There is a group that founded a new, traditional C...There is a group that founded a new, traditional Catholic school, and as part of that founded a youth group. Hopefully, it will become its own canonical association; the archbishop doesn't seem to mind, but our pastor might...anyways, the parish system wasn't getting it done. <br />7th grade is the minimum, and college-aged siblings are welcome to hang out too. Typically we meet 2x per month, on Sundays from 2-6. We play sports and socialize til 3:30, then we get together for the main activity. The last half-hour to forty-five minutes are spent on games again. We met every week throughout July and August to do the Total Consecration, using 33 Days to Morning Glory which culminated in a pilgrimage to the Fathers of Mercy on the Assumption for the Mass of final profession of vows and making the consecration. Then we played, hung out, and ate. They also went to the Ignite Your Torch conference as well as a Steubenville conference. <br />Normally we bring snacks, and the dad who started the group keeps the sodas and drinks stocked. Once a month or so he gets pizzas. He is blessed as he owns the local Little Caesars franchises, and so he has the ability to help pull this off, but I think it could-and should-be done elsewhere. Matthew Rothhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00958673318312786618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8560483615460834385.post-60718226105649625052013-08-20T20:59:59.414-04:002013-08-20T20:59:59.414-04:00Go for it, Padre! :) You have my vote, for what i...Go for it, Padre! :) You have my vote, for what its worth! Prayers of support for all! Suzanne McConnellAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com