Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment Pre-Synodal Meeting During March 19-24, 2018, more than 300 young representatives from around the world (including 5 from the USA) convened in Rome at the inaugural Pre-Synodal Meeting of Young People. Over the course of the week, the representatives took part in large-group and small language-group discussions, and responded to fifteen questions. Their answers were synthesized into one final document, and will be incorporated into the Instrumentum Laboris (Working Document), the basis for the Synod Fathers’ deliberations in October. Read this document posted at: www.synod2018.va/content/synod2018/en/news/final-document-from-the-pre-synodal-meeting.html > What insights might you take from this document for your local community? > Did anything surprise you in reading this document? > Did you find anything in this document to affirm your current faith community efforts?
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(Diocesan News Release) All young people ages 16 – 29, (Catholic and non-Catholics alike) have been invited to participate via social media with a gathering in Rome March 19 – 24, 2018. 315 young people (including 5 from the United States) will be travelling to Rome for a Pre-Synodal Meeting for an “opportunity for young people to produce a document, which expresses their view on the state of things, their ideas, their feelings and their recommendations, to be presented to the bishops and cardinals who will meet in October 2018 with Pope Francis to treat the topic: ”Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment.’” Young people from all around the world, however, can also participate by responding to 15 Hashtags using their social media (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook.) which are listed online at: http://www.synod2018.va/content/synod2018/en/pre-synodal-meeting/15---hashtags-for-comments.html’ Please help us to extend this invitation to young people ages 16 – 29. For more information, please contact Cindee Case, Office of Youth & Young Adult Ministry, by phone: 330-744-8451 or email: [email protected]. Information has also been posted at: https://youngstownoyyam.weebly.com/synod-on-youth-2018.html 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? The Synod question asked was:
How and in what manner is contact made with young people who do not frequent Church surroundings? From the surveys of parents/families and staff at parish and school, the most cited way to make contact with young people was through invitation (56). Within this answer, many people specified that personal invitation was best (28), while a significant number stated the importance of peers inviting their friends (21). Social media was also a common suggestion (21). Many responses including having more programs, activities, events, or socials, only specifying that they be fun and engaging and offer youth a wide selection. Specific elements mentioned were music (7), food (6), and sports (5). Social justice and service were mentioned by 20 people as a way to reach out to youth. Other responses include:
How does your parish reach out to teens? How does your parish reach out to young adults? How do you prepare your parishioners to provide hospitality and invite others to participate in Church activities? (If you do have an answer to this question, does that include preparing teens and young adults to evangelize as well?) What do young people really ask of the Church in your diocese today? In asking high school and young adult youth directly what they would like the Church to offer them, the overwhelming response was that they want more! The most common response was for more activities to help them grow in their faith (23), including opportunities to learn about aspects of the faith or to experience retreats. An equally occurring response was for more activities of fellowship and fun (23). Related was the call for true community, with the call for groups that are supportive, honest, accepting, and relatable (16). Fourteen youth mentioned Mass in what they want the Church to offer. However, the specific comments about Mass were divergent. Nine suggested making Mass more engaging in general, or specifically through music or participation in liturgical ministries. There were also 3 suggestions for a separate Mass for young people. Two young people suggested more solemn and reverent Mass. Ten youth suggested allowing for more input and suggestions from youth as well as youth leadership. Responses also indicated service opportunities (8) and opportunities to learn about vocations (3). The surveys also included an open ended question about what they would like to share with Pope Francis. Suggestions for Pope Francis included:
Considering this quick snapshot of what some teens and young adults are asking of the Church in the Diocese of Youngstown, what AFFIRMS your ministry efforts? What challenges you? Summary of the Synod Process
In November, Cardinal DiNardo shared the following summary of the Synod process on “Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment.” This was presented to his brother bishops at their general assembly meeting based on the work and findings that had been conducted over the last few months. This video was shared on the World Youth Day USA Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/wydusa/videos/2023137324587662/ Please take a few minutes to watch/listen to the video. It is about nine minutes long. There was some great information garnered from the work many of you did. What kinds and places of group gatherings of youth, institutionalized or otherwise, have a major success within the Church, and why? Fortunately, in some parishes/schools, the effort to promote youth and young adult programs within the Church has seen some success in reaching out to young people, such as:
What kinds and places of group gatherings of youth, institutionalized or otherwise, have a major success outside the Church, and why? Generally speaking, the survey indicates that the way young people are best engaged are through sports (26) and music (22), which both received a significant number of responses. Social media and technology was also often mentioned as successful at reaching youth (14). The arts were also mentioned, as well as general school activities, teachers, and coaches. Many youth reported on attributes of groups that had success, such as being accepting and welcoming, relating to teens and personally connect with them, and fostering a sense of community among young adults. How do these findings affirm your current ministries? How do these findings challenge you? "And the Survey Says..." Insights from the Diocesan Synod Surveys At the 2017 Ministry Day workshop with Fr. Chris Luoni and Cindee Case, we discussed some of what we learned through the input of nearly 500 teens, young adults, parents and Church leaders in preparing for the 15th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops focused on "Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment." We laid it out as a bit of a game show, inviting attendees to guess at the responses of the high school teens, young adults (20s and 30s) and sometimes parents/family members of the youth and young adults on a few key questions. The results surprised a few folks.... but do keep in mind that the surveys were completed voluntarily for the most part (a Catholic school religion teacher may not have given an option, and perhaps a few parents may have insisted, but it is mostly from volunteers.) Responses also came primarily from people who are very or somewhat connected to a Catholic parish or school, but I was pleased with some very honest responses on what that connection may mean for the individual. In any event, why not test yourself? Let me know if the comment section how you did, what you thought, or how a survey result might impact your ministry. And come back to this blog page for more updates throughout the year. The Powerpoint presentation is attached below (large file) and has been posted online for quick viewing at: (Click on link address or black button) www.slideshare.net/secret/LjWSb61r0tdJpQ
Youngstown Synod Survey Insights, Part 2 What are the main challenges and most significant opportunities for young people in our Diocese today? The challenges that young people face are many and varied. The most common challenges in general listed were social pressures, such as negative peer pressure (40), bullying (12), and anxiety (12), especially around subjects such as drugs and alcohol (33) and human sexuality (8). School was also listed as a common challenge (10). These responses were concentrated among the high school age youth. For those in their late teens and 20s, the challenges shifted more so to challenges of finances (12), not being recognized as adults (9), jobs (5), relationships (5), lack of community (4) and finding one’s path in the world. In the Church context, a lack of faith was cited most often as challenge to staying connected (23). Specific issues with the Church included that it was boring and non-engaging (26), more so for the high school teens, a lack of connection or belief in God (17), and the perception that the Church was too strict (16). Lack of support from parents and leaders contributed to this disconnect for many, as well not feeling part of the community. When stating why young people drift away from Church, a sizeable portion listed the parents’ lack of faith and practice (13), while many did not feel engaged or an important part of the community for Mass. For the opportunities, the survey focused on the question of how young people are active in their parish. For those that took the survey, there were about 15 that indicated they were not active. The vast majority reported being active in at least some way, and many listed several ways they were involved. The most reported activities were: · Liturgical ministries (65), such as altar serving, choir/music ministry, Extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist, lector; · Volunteer and service (40), including parish volunteering and mission trips; · Youth ministry programs and retreats (26); · Catechetical roles (11). Editor's note: I am excited to see that such a great number of young people who are engaged in the various ministries of the Church took time to complete the Synod Surveys. There were also a good number (about 8%) who completed the survey stating they were Catholic but not involved; they helped give insights though on challenges (which we in ministry know we can work to convert to opportunities!) Personal invitation remains key for our ministries, so be sure to continue to be on the look out for talents of interests of teens and young adults then connect them to ways to utilize those within our faith communities! |
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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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