Youth Ministers Gathering November 12, 2020 via Zoom A. Opening Prayer – We offered up petitions and asked Saints around the world to pray for us. (See below) B. Game – “Drawer Dash” – since the Drawer Memory game went so well last time… (doesn’t have to be from a drawer though) - Basically, a scavenger hunt, mixed with introductions and getting to know you. You have ten seconds to go find and bring back the following; when back – hit one of the “reactions” on the screen. (I had each of these typed large to show on the screen, see below): Something that keeps you busy Something that makes you smile Something of your favorite color Something that was given to you (skipped) Something you made (skipped) Something that reminds you of God’s presence (feel free to add your own, especially any that might connect to the theme or topic of the meeting/lesson/prayer) We then shared our name, parish/site and what we found and why. C. DYunC Feedback – anyone use elements? If so, which did you like? I was told that a parish is sending it out next week… others have used elements within other activities (and will be using it for weeks to come.) There is a LOT of good stuff; will take time to use it all. Played the playlist while the teens were doing an activity. Liked seeing the teens in videos (YES, thanks to the adults that recruited and worked with the teens, they were a great addition!) Forwarded to teens, but not heard any feedback. No one did Favorite Saint challenge… but people have viewed the website, Facebook page, and links to videos posted on other social media. Thanks, again, to all who contributed and to all who shared. We will leave the website up at least till the new year. D. Fundraisers during pandemic – We broke into small groups for just 5 minutes to brainstorm. We returned to the large group and everyone typed ideas into the chat box, while a few people explained some of the ideas. Cindee also has some ideas listed on an online spinning wheel that you can customize to use, https://pickerwheel.com/ Ideas (in random order): virtual trivia night virtual reverse raffle trunk sale virtual family game night virtual silent auction candy sale virtual basket raffle virtual cow chip BINGO popcorn sale pepperoni roll sale drive-thru pasta sale drive-thru soup sale drive-thru sausage sandwich sales general appeal sell seasonal items Food truck night at the parish (great if you have restaurant owners/truck owners at the parish!) Direct sales books – Ave Maria Press offering online order, direct ship Direct sales t-shirts – can be done with Custom Ink Virtual events – i.e. Have concert, speaker or party online – sell tickets Restaurant night – many do take-out option – Group Raise is one organizing company Walk/run/bike/dance or any a-thon – everyone gets sponsors - do from home (can also have virtual element, at least for a kick off or finish line, if not whole time) Virtual painting or craft night (decide ahead if you supply kits or send shopping list a week ahead and charge accordingly) Sell temporary yard decorations (used to be flamingo flocking, but be creative and see if someone at the parish can make easily movable Nativity or Advent wreath, or hearts for Valentine’s day – people pay to send to a yard… then you can also sell “Insurance” to the home-owners to donate if they don’t want them item/s in the yard!) “Boo Bags” of candy/toys purchased and dropped at someone’s house; painted pumpkins, too (whatever you decide to sell, make sure you have volunteers ready to make and deliver them – don’t do it all alone!) Sign up for "Amazon Smiles" (Note: remember to follow whatever the current safety protocols are in place for Ohio and your county... wear-masks, keep six-feet or more distance when possible... lots of hand and surface washing... and clean gloves when serving/preparing food/exchanging items!) E. Fr. Scott Kopp – Office of Vocations Posters and prayers cards just arrived in the office, so will be distributed to parishes, schools and institutions soon. Currently, there are 6 seminarians on internships. Fr. Kopp began at the diocese in February, and is available to talk with you or young people discerning/interested in exploring their call to holiness. Is a resource to support your local and on-going efforts. Do not think just of a “Vocations Event” but in terms of relationship building. Look to see which young people hang around more often or volunteers for everything. They are likely searching! The Facebook page has videos of seminarians – feel free to share with teens/families: https://www.facebook.com/doyvocations as well as encourage reading of the Exponent articles. You can contact the seminarians directly to invite them to be part of panel discussions, youth ministry events, etc. Most seminary visits (Come and Sees) are for high school and older, what about younger inquiries? Fr. Kopp offered the following suggestions: listen to them, affirm them, invite them to be connect to more opportunities at the parish/school. Ask them “What are you doing? What can you do more?” i.e. going to Mass every weekend and Holy Day? See if can add a daily Mass each week? Increase their prayer times each day. Thank God daily for 3-5 things. Create a culture of vocations at the parish (hang the posters, share the prayer cards, talk about calling.) Closed with a vocations prayer and blessing by Fr. Kopp. --------- Post meeting notes: 1. Several people staying online to discuss what changes might be coming for Ohio in regards to the COVID-19 protocols. As of today, nothing has changed. Gov. DeWine reinforced information in current health orders and implored everyone to be even more mindful of the safety steps. It is possible that some restrictions or shut-downs might come next week. Keep up with the information from the state and your county/area Department of Health. Know your local community. What is the spread level? What is the comfort level? What do parents/families want or need and how can we be of service while also being cautious and smart? Remind teens and their parents NOT to participate in-person for programs, services, or Mass if they have symptoms or have been in contact with someone positive in the past two weeks. The Diocesan Guidelines are the same since August, unless/until the Ohio Bishops and/or the Ohio Health Department changes mandates and orders. 2. We did not have time to discuss alternatives to the March for Life – which may have been the Holy Spirit urging us to be patient. However, in case your parish community is considering ideas for the January 29th March for Life Day (Friday) or the weekend before or after: a. Dave Schmidt shared many of the events that are going VIRTUAL on the 28th, 29th, 30th and 31st…. can invite folks to tap into those. (If you did not receive that email from the Office of Pro-Life, Marriage and Family, let me know and I will forward it along.) b. Plenty of online resources available, such as: US Bishops sites: https://www.usccb.org/prolife https://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catholic-social-teaching/life-and-dignity-of-the-human-person https://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catholic-social-teaching/upload/cst-101-life-and-dignity-human-person-discussion-guide.pdf (Prepared session by CRS) Blessed Thanksgiving, Advent and Christmas…. Next YM Gathering will be a virtual Epiphany Party: Wednesday, January 6 at 11:00 a.m.- 12:00 Noon Bring your own beverage and something that expresses what made your Christmas season special this year.
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Handout from:
Ministry Day 2019 Workshop B22: “Christ is Alive with (and for) our Teens and Young Adults” Cindee Case, MAPS, Director Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, Diocese of Youngstown [email protected] https://youngstownoyyam.weebly.com/ Find links to Christus Vivit, the Final Document of the Synod, the Preparatory document, and numerous articles from through the three-year process at: https://youngstownoyyam.weebly.com/synod-on-youth-2018.html The Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry also had a series of blog-posts about the process including findings of our diocesan surveys, find them posted at: https://youngstownoyyam.weebly.com/office-blog/category/synod-on-youth Christus Vivit Contents: Introductory page Chapter 1: What Does the Word of God Have to Say about Young People? Who are some of the young people you recall are mentioned in Scripture? (Exploring the young people Pope Francis highlighted....) Chapter 2: Jesus, Ever Young A Church always on the defensive, which loses her humility and stops listening to others, which leaves no room for questions, loses her youth and turns into a museum. How then will she be able to respond to the dreams of young people? (§ 41) Chapter 3: You are the “NOW” of God we cannot just say that young people are the future of our world. They are its present; even now, they are helping to enrich it. (#64) … Each young person’s heart should thus be considered “holy ground”, a bearer of seeds of divine life (§67) Chapter 4: A Great Message for all Young People The very first truth I would tell each of you is this: “God loves you”. It makes no difference whether you have already heard it or not. I want to remind you of it. God loves you. Never doubt this, whatever may happen to you in life. At every moment, you are infinitely loved. (§112) For him, you have worth; you are not insignificant. You are important to him, for you are the work of his hands. (§115) Christ, out of love, sacrificed himself completely in order to save you. His outstretched arms on the cross are the most telling sign that he is a friend who is willing to stop at nothing (§ 118) Finally, there is a third truth, inseparable from the second: Christ is alive! We need to keep reminding ourselves of this, because we can risk seeing Jesus Christ simply as a fine model from the distant past, as a memory, as someone who saved us two thousand years ago. (§ 124) In these three truths – God loves you; Christ is your Savior; he is alive – we see God the Father and Jesus. Wherever the Father and the Son are, there too is the Holy Spirit. He is the one who quietly opens hearts to receive that message. He keeps alive our hope of salvation, and he will help you grow in joy if you are open to his working. The Holy Spirit fills the heart of the risen Christ and then flows over into your lives. When you receive the Spirit, he draws you ever more deeply into the heart of Christ, so that you can grow in his love, his life and his power. (§130) Chapter 5: Paths of Youth Keep following your hopes and dreams. But be careful about one temptation that can hold us back. It is anxiety. Anxiety can work against us by making us give up whenever we do not see instant results. Our best dreams are only attained through hope, patience and commitment, and not in haste. At the same time, we should not be hesitant, afraid to take chances or make mistakes. Avoid the paralysis of the living dead, who have no life because they are afraid to take risks, to make mistakes or to persevere in their commitments. Even if you make mistakes, you can always get up and start over, for no one has the right to rob you of hope. (§ 142) Friendship is one of life’s gifts and a grace from God. Through our friends, the Lord refines us and leads us to maturity. Faithful friends, who stand at our side in times of difficulty, are also a reflection of the Lord’s love, his gentle and consoling presence in our lives. The experience of friendship teaches us to be open, understanding and caring towards others, to come out of our own comfortable isolation and to share our lives with others. (§ 151) But I would also remind you that you won’t become holy and find fulfilment by copying others. Imitating the Saints does not mean copying their lifestyle and their way of living holiness… You have to discover who you are and develop your own way of being holy (§162) Don’t stand aloof, but immerse yourselves in the reality of life, as Jesus did”. Above all, in one way or another, fight for the common good, serve the poor, be protagonists of the revolution of charity and service, capable of resisting the pathologies of consumerism and superficial individualism. (§174) Wherever we are, we always have an opportunity to share the joy of the Gospel. That is how the Lord goes out to meet everyone. (§ 177) Chapter 6: Young People with Roots If we journey together, young and old, we can be firmly rooted in the present, and from here, revisit the past and look to the future. To revisit the past in order to learn from history and heal old wounds that at times still trouble us. To look to the future in order to nourish our enthusiasm, cause dreams to emerge, awaken prophecies and enable hope to blossom. Together, we can learn from one another, warm hearts, inspire minds with the light of the Gospel, and lend new strength to our hands. (§ 199) Chapter 7: Youth Ministry (reminder, ages 16 – 29 were surveyed, so he means teens and young adults) requires two courses of action: outreach and growth (§209). A mentor should therefore nurture the seeds of faith in young people, without expecting to immediately see the fruits of the work of the Holy Spirit. This role is not and cannot be limited to priests and consecrated life, but the laity should also be empowered to take on such a role. All such mentors should benefit from being well-formed, and engage in ongoing formation. (§ 246) Chapter 8: Vocation The word “vocation” can be understood in a broad sense as a calling from God…that everything in our lives can become a way of responding to the Lord, who has a wonderful plan for us. (§ 248) Chapter 9: Discernment I would remind you of the most important question of all. “So often in life, we waste time asking ourselves: ‘Who am I?’ You can keep asking ‘Who am I?’ for the rest of your lives. But the real question is: ‘For whom am I?’” Of course, you are for God. But he has decided that you should also be for others, and he has given you many qualities, inclinations, gifts, and charisms that are not for you, but to share with those around you. (§ 286) Conclusion: Dear young people, my joyful hope is to see you keep running the race before you, outstripping all those who are slow or fearful. Keep running, “attracted by the fact of Christ, whom we love so much, whom we adore in the Holy Eucharist and acknowledge in the flesh of our suffering brothers and sisters. May the Holy Spirit urge you on as you run this race. The Church needs your momentum, your intuitions, your faith. We need them! And when you arrive at where we have not yet reached, have the patience to wait for us”.( § 299) Learn more about the timeline of the Synod and process towards Christus Vivit at the Dinner and Presentation on November 4th and learn more about the practical implications of the document during the In-Service Day on November 5th. (See flier in your Ministry Day folder or contact the OY&YAM for more. It is also posted on the office Synod on Youth webpage.) If you read the previous blog post about the Diocese of Youngstown Synod Surveys, Part 10, you may have noticed this:
<<other initiatives which are highlighted at the end of the report are a summer mission and discernment trip to Cumberland, Kentucky and St. Andrew discernment dinners. >> Here is that additional information: House of Discernment at the Catholic University within our diocese (Walsh). The House of Discernment is under the charge of the Vocations Office and allows men to be fully engaged as an active student on campus while living in community in a setting that allows them to discern a possible calling to the priesthood. The men participate in communal prayer, formation conferences, service work in the community, and other formation elements. If the man feels called to the priesthood, he can move to a seminary setting before he completes college. If he determines he is not called to priesthood, he will move out of the discernment house into university housing. The second activity is a mission and discernment trip to Cumberland, Kentucky. Each summer in June, men ages 16 to 35 are invited to attend a mission and discernment trip. The Vocations office and seminarians organize the week for those who participate. During the day, the men work around the community helping repair homes for people in need. In the evening, the men work with the seminarians to discuss what they experienced in the day and its theological implications. In addition, they discuss various aspects of discernment and where God is present and working in their lives. (Note: This trip was not offered in 2018 as the program is under review, however, there had been success in previous years, and it may return for 2019.) The third activity is a St. Andrew Discernment dinner. Two times per year, the Vocation Office offers a dinner for high school men and older. The evening runs two hours long. It includes Evening Prayer, dinner, a discussion on discernment and priesthood. The Bishop is present at these dinners along with members of the Vocation team and any seminarians that can attend. Priests in each parish are encouraged to invite young men to the dinners and to attend with them. The combination of the dinner discussion and the discussion following is very fruitful as it gives participants the opportunity to ask personal questions and to understand vocations and discernment in a communal setting. Each dinner is hosted by a parish in the diocese. (I feel like I should now flash that "The More You Know" logo from a certain TV station....since you may have learned something new about a couple of the initiatives in the diocese!) Thank you for your continued interest in the 2018 Synod on Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment. I hope that by breaking up the overall Diocese of Youngstown survey results and summary report, you have been able to take time to pause and reflect on many aspects of the theme. As this process continues to move towards the October gathering of hundreds of bishops and cardinals, and we await the outcomes from the actual Synod, we can take small steps each day towards helping our youth and young adults to see their importance in our Church and our world! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A question in the Preparatory Document asked about ways we plan experiences for the pastoral vocational program for young people? Our response: In the Diocese of Youngstown, the Office of Vocations reported several initiatives to help young people discern their vocation. There is a discernment retreat every December for men that includes personal and communal prayer, discussion with other young men who are discerning, informational sessions, and the opportunity to talk with current seminarians. The Office of Vocations also encourages participation of junior high to college age men in the “live-in” weekends at the seminaries the diocese is connected to. The weekends offer the experience of what seminary is like, including attending classes, experiencing the prayer life, participating in community recreation, and learning how to discern their vocation. The Office of Vowed Religious invites young people to participate in the annual “World Day for Consecrated Life” liturgy. Along with the other five dioceses of Ohio, the Office of Vocations supports a YouTube channel (Buckeye Vocations) that highlights videos, such as highlights of ordinations, testimonials of seminarians, highlights from mission trips, and more. Two other initiatives which are highlighted at the end of the report are a summer mission and discernment trip to Cumberland, Kentucky and St. Andrew discernment dinners. The diocese also shares announcements from the women’s religious communities in the diocese about discernment events, retreats, and other experiences. Discernment and vocations are topics of workshops and hands-on-learning experiences at the biennial Diocesan Youth Convention and at the National Catholic Youth Conference. Regarding spiritual guidance: As reported by the Office of Vocations, clergy are selected to serve as spiritual mentors for men who are discerning a call to the priesthood. The priests use the book To Save a Thousand Souls to guide their monthly meetings, though the exact amount of time spent varies in each case. In addition, women’s religious communities have vocations directors and spiritual directors who spend many hours with young people to assist their discernment. Parishes reported a wide range of hours spent on personal spiritual guidance (from 0 to 450) with an average of about 18 hours per parish. It was noted that guidance was also offered within catechetical classes, confirmation preparation, and scouting. The Office of Vocations reported a variety of print resources for those who provide pastoral vocational guidance. Priests who serve as spiritual mentors for men discerning a call to the priesthood receive the book To Save a Thousand Souls. All priest and deacons received the book Lend Your Own Voice to Christ to help them share their personal vocation story in order to assist young men and women in their vocational discernment. In addition, there is a wealth of printed resources for those discerning, their parents, and those who are spiritually guiding the discerner. Parish staff reported a variety of ways that they provide vocational guidance, including mentoring, spiritual counseling, encouraging and affirming young people, living as an example, and casual conversations. In addition, many parishes and Catholic schools invite clergy and religious to give talks to students or participate in programs such as the Serra Club “Vocations Cross” wherein families are invited to take the cross into their homes for a week of prayer for vocations. Reflect: 1. What above affirms or challenges you? 2. Are there opportunities that we missed mentioning in this report? 3. What tools/formation opportunities might be helpful for you to as you spiritually guide young people? Pray that young people open their minds and hearts to God's calling in their lives, and that when opportunities come around to assist them in this endeavor, they are open to those as well! The next question posed in the Preparatory Document for the 2018 Synod on Youth, Faith and Vocational Discernment was: How do schools and universities or other educational institutions (civil or ecclesial) contribute to young people’s formation in vocational discernment? Our summary of responses was: The major topics of response from parents/families and staff of parishes and schools as to how educational institutions contribute to young people’s formation in vocational discernment centered on positive interactions of adults with young people. The most cited answers were:
Specific people were mentioned as important in addressing vocational discernment, including guest speakers (11), and school staff (7). The importance of young people having contact with priests and religious was also highlighted (11). Prayer (8) and retreats (8) were leading suggestions for faithful discernment, and the importance of God was mentioned by 6 people. Six people also brought up the issue of faith and morals being excluded from public schools. Three people mentioned the importance of volunteering and serving in discerning a vocation. The Office of Vocations provides professionally developed lesson plans and activities available for Catholic grade schools, junior high schools, high schools, CCD programs and youth ministry programs. The curriculum for catechesis includes elements of discernment and this is realized though parish youth ministries, Kairos retreat, and young adult retreats in addition to Catholic School and Parish CCD programs. The Office of Vocations encourages field trips for junior high and high school students to seminaries in order to experience the life of the seminary. In addition the Office of Vocations also offer vocation talks by priests, seminarians, and religious for school classroom sessions, CCD programs, and youth ministry meetings. On the university level, campus ministry programs offer vocation talks, discernment groups, and mission trips that include discernment. At our Catholic University (Walsh), a house of discernment has been established to help young men discern while at college (more information is in the final section of this report). Reflect: 1. Did anything above affirm or challenge you? 2. As an adult, looking back, how were schools and educational institutions instrumental in your own vocational discernment? 3. As a parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle, how have your observed schools and educational institutions supporting the vocational discernment of young people today? 4. What might you suggest to your local campus minister, department director, PTA/H&SA, or school administration to increase opportunities? Take a moment to pray for those who journey with our young people during this middle school, high school and college years. May God give them the strength and courage to guide our young people along the paths to which God has called them! On March 1st, Tom East, Director of the Center for Ministry Development facilitated a one day training in Ravenna for about 25 parish and campus ministry leaders on Accompanying Youth on their Journey of Faith and Discernment.
After an opening prayer, we discussed the concept of accompaniment. We have to let go of preconceived frameworks for our ministries with young people, including our tendency to wait for the teens to come to our programs... we have to change our perspective. When we read the Emmaus story (Luke 24: 13 - 35), notice that Christ LISTENED first to the travelers and allowed them to share their disappointments and hopes. He walked along side them and listened. How can we better listen without judgement and walk along side the young people of our community? (We can also notice that Jesus was not waiting in a temple... he joined the travelers on the road...) Mr. East reminded us that we are to reach out to all the young people of the parish community (and geography), not just those who show up at Mass and programs, and not even only those that have been Baptized. One key to this ministry of accompaniment is to recognize that God is already part of each young people's life, since conception. We need to talk with them about the conversation God has been having in his/her life... they may need help recognizing it in themselves, and to see how God is at work in their daily lives, but we seldom "bring them to Christ" as Christ is and has been with them! Tom shared many tools for accompanying, transforming our programs, and becoming a faith companion. It is important for parents, grandparents, godparents, catechists, teachers, youth ministers, coaches, group leaders, Confirmation sponsors, and even peers to take time to pray, connect, listen, empathize, care, and witness with young people. The second session of the workshop was regarding ways to guide youth in discernment. One of the many resources shared on this topic was a "Simple Three-Minute Ignation Method" that can be used every day: 1. Spend the first minute thanking God the Father for all the blessings received that day. 2. Spend the second minute reviewing your failings and ask Jesus the Son for forgiveness. 3. In the final minute, ask the Holy Spirit for the strength and courage to live a better tomorrow. One of the biggest differences we can make in the lives of young people is to foster a habit of daily prayer. Workshop participants were challenged to brainstorm ways to help youth pray. We also shared resources that can help. A great example that was shared was of a young man who set 4 alarms on his cell phone to remind him when the phone vibrated to pray. Tom also shared ideas on breaking open the Synod Preparatory document, which can be found online at: www.vatican.va/roman_curia/synod/documents/rc_synod_doc_20170113_documento-preparatorio-xv_en.html The key questions include: > What should we do to transform our ministries using accompaniment as a model? > What should we stop doing? > What are some ways to encourage the faith community in walking with youth? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To learn more about the Center for Ministry Development, visit their website at: www.cmdnet.org/ To read a blog post by Tom East on this topic, visit: www.cmdnet.org/cmd-blogs-ministry/entry/walking-with-youth-preparing-for-the-synod-on-young-people-the-faith-and-vocational-discernment ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you participated in the workshop, please comment below with any additional insights, ideas or strategies that you noted during the day! The Synod Questionaire asks: How are families and communities involved in the vocational discernment of young people? Parents/family and staff of parishes and schools overwhelmingly responded with the importance of communication in fostering vocation discernment of young people, including:
The importance of family and parents in the process was often cited (27). Similarly, the importance of leading by example (14), positive role models (6), and mentors (5) were listed as necessary support for youth. Other responses included:
Only seven people mentioned discernment, indicating that a better jobs need to be done to educate parents and families about the importance of discerning in everyday life. When asked, "Has your family discussed religious vocations to the priesthood or religious life?" The Teens Said: The young adults said: Parents/family members said: > What implications might these findings have for your ministry efforts?
> What resources are already provided to parents in the area of vocational discernment and discussion? > What encouragement does your parish provide to parents in this regard? |
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*** Note: The Office Blog is now inactive, but posted for continued reference as needed (6/30/21) ***Cindee Case, MPSFormer Director of the Diocese of Youngstown Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry (2/2002 - 6/2021) Archives
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