Home » Toolkit » Advocacy
←
→
Advocacy #8
We understand that young people are our partners in faith because they are baptized, not because they register or show up
Context
From the very day of Pentecost the Church has celebrated and administered holy Baptism. Indeed, St. Peter declares to the crowd astounded by his preaching: "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." The apostles and their collaborators offer Baptism to anyone who believed in Jesus: Jews, the God-fearing, pagans. Always, Baptism is seen as connected with faith: … The baptized have "put on Christ." Through the Holy Spirit, Baptism is a bath that purifies, justifies, and sanctifies. (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1226 -1227)
Goal
Effective and comprehensive pastoral ministry with young people calls for us to recognize that As a baptized member of the Church, Jesus Christ calls you (all) to follow in his footsteps and make a difference in the world today. You can make a difference! . . . In the words of the Holy Father: ‘Offer your youthful energies and your talents to building a civilization of Christian love . . . commit yourself to the struggle for justice, solidarity, and peace (Homily at World Youth Day, Denver, 1993)
Suggested Implementation
-
Intentional Invitation: Young people, as do all the baptized and the entire world, deserve and should expect an intentional invitation to participation in the life of the church. At what points throughout the year are you extending specific invitations to young people? Upon review, what are the general expectations set by the invitations? Are invitations taking into consideration the schedule and lives of young people (exams, holidays, etc.)?
-
Intentional Marketing: Young people, as do we all, deserve and should expect an intentional marketing to participation in programming in the life of the church. Secular companies spend millions of dollars to reach young people. What distinguishes your messages to young people? How are you engaging parents and the young people as collaborators?
-
Intentional Evangelization: Young people, as do we all, deserve and should expect an intentional invitation into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and discipleship of the Lord. Throughout the year is there a consistent invitation and /or challenge expressed to young people related to a relationship with Jesus? Is there a consistent availability of adults and youth modeling and witnessing towards their own relationships?
-
Intentional Homilies: Young people, as do we all, deserve and should expect an intentional commentary upon God’s Word that takes their culture, experiences, and life challenges into consideration. Do the homilists in your community speak to the lives of young people?
-
Intentional Pastoral Ministry: Young people, as do we all, deserve and should expect ministry designed to address their specific needs from within the context of the faith community. This should not be a ministry that excludes young people from the larger community but engages the larger community with the young people we are called to serve.
Methods for Evaluation
Within the same calendar year as you attempt to address this concern, delegate individuals, both young and old, to ask:
-
Have our ministry efforts assessed the needs of young people this year?
-
Has assessing the needs of young people impacted our ministry?
-
Do we take into account what we learn from our evaluations?
-
Do we intentionally welcome all young people?