TEEN CATHOLICS COMPLETE CHURCH

By MAUREEN MCGUINNESS- | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

In their 1997 document, "From Age to Age: The Challenge of Worship with Adolescents," the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry states that in order to be effective in its mission, the Church needs its members of all ages to be fully involved.

"As a community, we are less complete when...teens are not with us," the document states. "We as the Mystical Body of Christ are less whole. Our prayer is less complete when we do not include the faith experience of adolescents and when young people's enthusiasm is missing."

According to the NFCYM, adolescents bring five charisms to the Church. The five charisms listed below are the basis for The Evangelist's teen issue this year.

In addition, this special issue about Catholic youth includes nine winning essays from The Evangelist's annual teen essay contest, which attracted hundreds of entries from throughout the Diocese. Entrants were invited to write a message to Catholic teens of the year 2050, telling them about life as the 20th century closes.

VISION: The visions of today's young people, according to the NFCYM, offer opportunities to ask "what if?" questions about life. The visions of youth challenge others to grow as witnesses of Christ's saving action.

QUESTIONING: According to the NFCYM, questions from young people were ritualized in the Jewish tradition rather than seen as challenges to tradition. The questions were opportunities for the community to retell their story. Today's youth present parishes with similar opportunities to retell stories and celebrate the paschal mystery.

SERVICE: Young people are eager to serve and do so with charity, compassion and caring. Their idealism renews the Church's mission to serve.

ENTHUSIASM: Adolescents are risks-takers whose energy is contagious, states the NFCYM. The enthusiasm of youth can call the whole community to take risks.

PROPHECY: The prophet Jeremiah was a young man who was at first fearful to speak God's word. Like Jeremiah, young people are challenged to let their voices for truth be heard in the community. Through their honesty, youth call the Church to accountability.

(11-04-99) [[In-content Ad]]