6/30/2017 "Synod Surveys" are being completed and the Input is interesting! (Still time to participate until August 15th)Read NowWhile it is still early in the process,
I could not help but take a quick peek at how they are coming. So far, Stark County has the most Catholic Youth Surveys in as St. Thomas Aquinas High School was able to fit in some time before the end of the school year, but about half of the young adults responding were from Mahoning County. The Catholic teens listed the following as positive things that teens can offer our Church and/or society today: Service compassion input new ideas devotion volunteering new outlooks innovation charity time and money altar serving ideas on welcoming contemporary viewpoints technology and social media energy creativity connections enthusiasm passion fun willingness to serve A few non-Catholic teens added that youth can bring friends to Church with them, be nice be involved and pray with their congregations. Some of the challenges the Catholic teens noted were: drugs/alcohol/partying/vapping/heroin texting and driving balancing school and extra-curriculars peer pressure not believing in God peer pressure distractions with technology judgement sex being belittled not enough sleep discrimination fitting in anxiety and stress boredom laziness bullying athletics social media making good choices insecurities lack of parental guidance overloaded misinformation poverty sinning crime lack of faith The non-Catholic youth added: doubt disbelief not putting themselves out there not going to Church often and not staying motivated. Catholic Young Adults (ages 19 - 30s) listed many of the same challenges as the teens did, but also added things such as: finding a good job finding a place to get involved at Church financial security keeping the faith older adults discounting our opinions expanding ideas relativism loneliness searching for meaning and give me reasons to follow the Catholic rules. The Young Adults add the following positive aspects they can add to Church and society in addition to those the teens listed: service as lay ministers new families modernized experience for teaching examples of discipleship education work ethic ingenuity zeal for the faith and sharing it with youth love and peace and Christian joy! I am very much looking forward to reading more responses in August, then processing the input not only for the Executive Summary for Bishop Murry to use with his brother bishops at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops as they prepare for the Synod next year, but also with our parishes, Catholic High Schools and other diocesan offices, The survey results will have a wide-impact in the planning and priority-setting of the diocese. THANK YOU to each and every person assisting with this -- either by completing a survey yourself if you fit into one of the survey groups, or by inviting people to participate. A special note of thanks to the parishes and schools who are also holing Listening Sessions. May the discussions be fruitful and insightful! And, with the recently-expanded survey time (now through August 15th), there is still plenty of time to participate!
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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
July 2021
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