Priest sees Church present in parish youth

The 17-year-old parishioner is involved in several activities, including the cluster council and the CROP Walk to raise money for the hungry.

She is grateful to Father Konopka for the pastoral care and guidance he has shown in encouraging her to live out her faith, but she also appreciates the simple fact that he is so approachable and willing to listen to teens' concerns.

"He's a real person. He's a friend for you rather than just being the priest. I think anybody would be comfortable going to him," she said.

Teen impact

"Our teens are very gifted people. They're very open and hungry for spirituality, a sense of God in their lives," he told The Evangelist.

The cluster council is one way that Father Konopka has welcomed teens such as Kendra to participate in lay ministry. By enabling them to interact with representatives from St. Joseph's, St. Patrick's and Holy Cross parishes, Father Konopka includes teens in the decision-making process and opens up opportunities for leadership that previously hadn't been made available to them.

Youths' gifts

"I don't see the future [when I look at them]. I see that the Church, presently, is alive. Youth bring a certain enthusiasm that is contagious," he said.

One of the keys to pastoral care among teens is just listening to them and building a friendship based upon good communication. He was touched, for example, when he attended a concert with a high school student and family from his parish, and was introduced as the student's priest.

"That says something to me. You build that trust with young people by letting them know you care and you're available," he said.

Worries

"I get concerned about kids when I listen to their schedules, and they're busier than I am," he said. "When are you being a young person? When are you having fun?"

Kendra certainly is having fun during her teenage years, and much of her happiness comes through her involvement with parish ministry and her friendship with Father Konopka.

Not only is she a member of the cluster council and coordinator of the recent CROP Walk at St. Joseph's, she also belongs to the youth ministry team and the Confirmation class that received the sacrament last Monday.

Friends

"He's great. I think everybody likes him. He is very teen-oriented at getting us involved. He wants to see teens doing more of everything," she said.

Kendra considers herself more a part of St. Joseph's parish, her cluster and the Catholic Church as a whole because of Father Konopka's approach to teens.

"I actually feel like I'm a part of the Church because I've do so much and been so involved," she said.

Peer ministry

Religious education is only one aspect of good pastoral care to teens, he noted, and not everything can be found in books.

"We need to teach them doctrine and to be in relationship with God," he said. "If we keep a healthy relationship with God in our lives, then we can remain connected to the Church.

"Just talking to a kid outside of Mass on Sunday is pastoral care. Having one youth talk to another youth about faith or problems is pastoral care," he said. "The vision of youth ministry is the vision of a good, healthy parish."

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