10 Ways That Everyone Can Support Youth
Celebrate Youth – Renewing Our Vision for Catholic Youth Ministry
© 1998 Center for Ministry Development
1. Greet and be pleasant to young people whenever you meet them.
2. Consistently pray for youth and youth ministry efforts, and let them know you are praying for them.
3. Seeks and find opportunities to affirm youth and let them know they are valued and cared about. Thank youth for being present and participating in parish life. Acknowledge and affirm their efforts both within the parish and beyond.
4. Take time to get to know the youth and families who live near you and who you encounter on a regular basis. Ask them to tell and/or teach you about things that interest them (i.e. sports, music, hobbies, computers and the Internet.)
5. Get involved as a volunteer in programs for youth at Church or in the community as your schedule permits.
6. Become and “ambassador” for youth by encouraging the adults you encounter to view youth in positive ways.
7. When you see youth doing good work, let them know it, and let their supervisors and parents know as well.
8. Support families with youth by offering to help with transportation, childcare for younger children, homework, overnight supervision or as an emergency contact person.
9. Create opportunities for youth in the businesses and organizations to which you belong (youth part-time summer employment, service projects, learning opportunities, mentor programs, etc.)
10. Support the leaders who are working in ministry with youth. Help with support roles, such as keeping track of mailing lists, budgets or transportation coordination. Provide childcare or other assistance that helps the leaders provide programs for youth.
Youth Ministry is….
► Drawing youth into the adventure of discipleship.
► Helping youth to make the right connections.
► Growing young disciples.
► Responding to the needs and including the gifts of youth.
► Seeing youth as gifted and growing.
► Seeing parents as partners.
► Seeing our parish as ready and able to respond to youth.
► Seeing the wider community as collaborators and resources.
► A relationship, not just a program.
► Investing in youth with our time, attention and resources.
A Prayer for Youth
We offer to you, loving God, the gifts and needs of youth.
Bless them with your guiding grace
As thy face the challenges and opportunities in their lives.
Touch their hearts with the gentleness of your love,
That they may know they are valued and valuable beings.
Send your spirit of hope to their lives,
That they may believe in themselves
And know they are needed in this world.
Grace them with the gift of joy
That they may celebrate life through laughter and tears alike.
Guide us, as we continue to grow
In our appreciation of the many gifts of young people,
In the ministry opportunities we offer to them,
In the journey of faith we walk with them,
In our shared mission as a community
called to discipleship in the world.
We ask this in Jesus name.
Amen.
Celebrate Youth – Renewing Our Vision for Catholic Youth Ministry
© 1998 Center for Ministry Development
1. Greet and be pleasant to young people whenever you meet them.
2. Consistently pray for youth and youth ministry efforts, and let them know you are praying for them.
3. Seeks and find opportunities to affirm youth and let them know they are valued and cared about. Thank youth for being present and participating in parish life. Acknowledge and affirm their efforts both within the parish and beyond.
4. Take time to get to know the youth and families who live near you and who you encounter on a regular basis. Ask them to tell and/or teach you about things that interest them (i.e. sports, music, hobbies, computers and the Internet.)
5. Get involved as a volunteer in programs for youth at Church or in the community as your schedule permits.
6. Become and “ambassador” for youth by encouraging the adults you encounter to view youth in positive ways.
7. When you see youth doing good work, let them know it, and let their supervisors and parents know as well.
8. Support families with youth by offering to help with transportation, childcare for younger children, homework, overnight supervision or as an emergency contact person.
9. Create opportunities for youth in the businesses and organizations to which you belong (youth part-time summer employment, service projects, learning opportunities, mentor programs, etc.)
10. Support the leaders who are working in ministry with youth. Help with support roles, such as keeping track of mailing lists, budgets or transportation coordination. Provide childcare or other assistance that helps the leaders provide programs for youth.
Youth Ministry is….
► Drawing youth into the adventure of discipleship.
► Helping youth to make the right connections.
► Growing young disciples.
► Responding to the needs and including the gifts of youth.
► Seeing youth as gifted and growing.
► Seeing parents as partners.
► Seeing our parish as ready and able to respond to youth.
► Seeing the wider community as collaborators and resources.
► A relationship, not just a program.
► Investing in youth with our time, attention and resources.
A Prayer for Youth
We offer to you, loving God, the gifts and needs of youth.
Bless them with your guiding grace
As thy face the challenges and opportunities in their lives.
Touch their hearts with the gentleness of your love,
That they may know they are valued and valuable beings.
Send your spirit of hope to their lives,
That they may believe in themselves
And know they are needed in this world.
Grace them with the gift of joy
That they may celebrate life through laughter and tears alike.
Guide us, as we continue to grow
In our appreciation of the many gifts of young people,
In the ministry opportunities we offer to them,
In the journey of faith we walk with them,
In our shared mission as a community
called to discipleship in the world.
We ask this in Jesus name.
Amen.