Home » Toolkit » Discipleship
←
→
Discipleship #5
We view everything young people are a part of through the lens of evangelization
Context
You, teenagers and young people, play a special role: you are called to speak about Jesus to your peers, not only within the parish community or your association, but most of all beyond it. This is a commitment especially reserved to you, because with your courage, your enthusiasm, spontaneity and ease of getting together, you are more easily able to reach the mind and heart of those who have distanced themselves from the Lord. So many teenagers and young people your age have an immense need of someone who through their own life tells them that Jesus knows us, that Jesus loves us, that Jesus forgives us, shares our difficulties with us and supports us with his grace. (Pope Francis to German Altar Servers August 5, 2014)
Goal
Effective and comprehensive pastoral ministry with young people reminds us Evangelization is the energizing core of all ministry with young people. All of the relationships, ministry components, and programs of comprehensive ministry with young people must proclaim the Good News. They must invite young people into a deeper relationship with the Lord Jesus and empower them to live as his disciples. (Renewing the Vision)
Suggested Implementation
-
Witness: All programming should consciously ensure that leaders are serving as witnesses to our faith in Jesus Christ, that they are offering themselves and the community of faith as living models of the Christian faith in practice. But we have to challenge our young people to share their story too. We have to create the expectation that, with guidance, young people will be so comfortable with their story of faith, they will look for opportunities to share it.
-
Relevance: There is obviously a place for programs, but we are worried about catechesis while people are asking other questions. What is the Church's understanding of science and faith? Why do people suffer? Is it okay that I have doubts? Catechesis is incredibly important, but it must follow evangelization, not be a substitute for it. Engaging people in the real questions of life can be a vital part of evangelization.
-
Outreach: Teens are in schools, parishes, families, and communities. So why isn’t our ministry? A community that welcomes and that is dedicated to honestly seeking answers to the biggest questions in life is a place where teens are engaged – and where they will stay engaged.
-
Proclamation: All programming should consciously choose to ensure that Jesus Christ is at the core of all programming. He offers a message that is a response to their hungers and proposes a way to live.
-
Invitation: All programming should consciously choose to ensure that invitation is extended into the life and mission of the Catholic community so that others might experience the support, nurture, and care necessary to live as Christians.
-
Conversion and Discipleship: All programming should consciously choose to ensure that the challenge is continuously extended, that one might conform their own life and life choices towards that of the Master and commit themselves into discipleship with Jesus Christ.
Methods for Evaluation
Within the same calendar year as you attempt to address this concern, delegate individuals, both young and old, to ask:
-
How has the lens of evangelization changed our approach to pastoral ministry with young people in the parish?