Program attracts youths with enthusiastic Masses

Carlee Trudeau, a 17-year-old parishioner of St. Ambrose Church in Latham, used to be dragged to Sunday Mass. Now she is one of 150 to 200 youth that eagerly choose to attend Mass weekly.

"I've been here since I was baptized. I used to be forced to come to church," she said. "Now it's cool to be Catholic"

She feels that way as a result of participating in the parish's Life Teen program, a 14-year-old nationwide youth ministry program that began in Arizona. The program focuses on the Mass, Eucharistic adoration and Church teaching.

Music and teaching

In Latham, Life Teen Masses are held on Sunday evenings and utilize music styles that appeal to youth. Young people take on such key roles as lector and greeter, while the homily is geared to them.

After Mass, the youth are invited to participate in the catechetical component of Life Teen, known as "Afterlife." Other aspects of the program include retreats, a Scripture study group known as the Young Apostles, and a Holy Hour for teens which includes prayer, Eucharistic adoration and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

At St. Ambrose, the youth attending the Mass sit in the front rows during the Liturgy of the Word and then crowd around the altar during the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Throughout Mass, the teens sing and use liturgical gestures.

'Cool stuff'

Young people are drawn to Life Teen for several reasons. Chris Preble, a 17-year-old who is a parishioner of St. Edward's Church in Clifton Park, said, "There's a lot of kids our age here. The time [of the Mass] is better so it's a lot easier to come. We also do a lot of cool stuff. It's out of the ordinary in a good way."

Carlee said the music and liturgical gesturing took some getting used to. "It was kind of weird in the beginning," she said, adding: "It's brought so much to my friendships."

Cristina Ouellette, 18, who is preparing to become a Catholic through the parish's Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, agreed: "We help each other. Sin is everywhere at our school, but Life Teen has brought so many people closer to God. I was always drawn to God, but I owe it all to Life Teen. It makes me want to be Catholic."

Reaching teens

Rev. Francis DuBois, pastor of St. Ambrose, brought the program to the parish as a way to increase the participation of youth in Sunday Mass.

"We always saw a lot of teens at religious ed but very few at Mass," he said. "I was frustrated because we were not getting through to their hearts."

Life Teen is what he was looking for. "I am extremely pleased with the result," he told The Evangelist. "I look for the program to expand and grow. It's the most worthwhile [youth ministry] program I've been involved with."

Commitment

The program requires commitments from the priest and parish. The Life Teen Mass is the fifth weekend liturgy at the parish, which makes for a long day for the priest. He also must prepare a different homily for the teens. In addition, he has had to give up his own free time. Father DuBois had been in the habit of spending Sunday evenings with his elderly parents.

"I've sacrificed taking my parents out," he said. "It's confining in that respect."

The program also requires a financial commitment from the parish because a full-time youth minister had to be hired. Also, since the parish doesn't charge any fees for Life Teen events, it must come up with the funds to run the program.

Risks and rewards

The program also requires a parish to take some risks, Father DuBois said. "Many people are afraid of Life Teen because you have to take a risk," he said. "I canceled our junior and senior high [religious education] programs."

The pastor believes the program is worth the extra effort on his part, the expense and the risk. "The expense is worth it," he said. "The kids want to go on retreats. A priest has to be willing to alter his schedule, and his whole life will change. I've never been as enthusiastic and alive with a program. It does all I would hope."

Father Dubois said Life Teen is revitalizing more than just the parish's outreach to youth. While the Mass is geared toward teenagers, it attracts people of many age groups. Bob Rice, youth minister, estimates that 70 percent of the participants in the Life Teen Mass are adults.

Criticisms

While the program is working well at St. Ambrose, those involved acknowledge that it's not for every parish. Mr. Rice said the program requires the commitment of the pastor as well as the parish.

"Every parish can't do this," he said. "Father DuBois has made a great commitment. The program works when the youth minister and the pastor work together."

Both he pastor and the pastor have heard criticism. "The extremely conservative attack it" for the style of the liturgy, Mr. Rice said, "and the liberals attack us for teaching traditional doctrine."

Father DuBois said, "Life Teen is very, very traditional in its teaching and follows the Holy Father. It's not a cult; it's straight-down-the-aisle Catholic teaching."

Rock and soul

Others shy away from the program because it uses rock music during the Mass. At St. Ambrose, electric guitar and drums are part of the Life Teen music ministry. Mr. Rice encourages people to see beyond the drums.

"Evangelists are missionary workers working with a different culture. Teens are a different culture," he explained.

It is common for liturgy to be adapted to reflect the culture of the people. While Catholics can accept this idea when talking about a foreign country, it's more difficult to accept when thinking about the teens of their own parish according to Mr. Rice, who said: "When they find a music style they can get involved in, they will sing with us and feel welcome."

Catalyst

While the Life Teen Mass at St. Ambrose is geared toward youth, Father DuBois sees it as a parish Mass, not something exclusively for teens. Young families, adults and senior citizens also attend.

Rather than viewing the program as separating the youth from the remainder of the parish (see separate article), the pastor believes Life Teen is revitalizing the whole parish.

"This is a building program," he said. "This is the groundwork. This is the catalyst. This is the fire that will develop other things. It's going to impact everything else."