Teens know benefits of active faith

In 1976, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued "Renewing the Vision: A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry," in which they called for the empowerment of young people by parish leaders to live as disciples of Jesus through active participation in ministry.

Throughout the Albany Diocese, teens participate in annual events, like the Christian Leadership Institute (CLI) and the National Catholic Youth Conference, which prepare them for ministry, evangelization and peer support.

Two prime examples of parishes that support teens are Our Lady of Hope in Whitehall and St. Ann's in Fort Ann. The Evangelist spoke with some of the participants, now all high school grads, about their experiences. Included below is an opinion article by one of them.

Altar call

Nick DeSimone, 18, decided to become active in ministry at Our Lady of Hope when he was just seven and started serving at Mass. When he was a bit older, he joined the contemporary choir as a singer.

"I love to sing," he said, "and I believe that singing at liturgy is a form of prayer. It's pretty special."

While in high school, Nick also became involved in peer leadership teams and was a substitute catechist in the faith formation program.

"I was on the Comprehensive Youth Ministry and diocesan Peer Retreat teams," he said. "I really enjoyed setting up retreats and events and ministering with others. I like to help people."

Benefits

Sarah Salvatore, now a student at Utica College, said that being active in ministry helped her overcome her shyness as a child and enabled her to have confidence speaking before large groups.

She serves her school as a campus tour guide, an extension of her studies in public relations.

"When I was a child, I served on the altar," Sarah recalled. "Our pastor made me feel very comfortable up there with him. I really enjoyed being actively involved in the celebration of the Mass.

"Later, I was a lector and sang in the contemporary choir. It was a great place to make friends and learn about singing, which I still love. Whenever I'm home [from college], I rejoin the choir for weekend Mass."

In the middle

Mike Gordon, also a student at Utica College, became involved in ministry because "it helped me get a better understanding of my religion. Being an altar server, I got to be in the middle of things that the Church did. That increased my appreciation of how the Church grows and changes."

As a teen, Mike helped to facilitate peer retreats in Washington and Warren counties. He also attended CLI.

"Going to CLI taught me leadership skills and gave me the courage to do things I would not have otherwise done," he noted. "Young ministers today should do things in the Church and take some chances. It may not seem 'cool' at the time, but it definitely helps a person get a better knowledge of what the Church is all about. Because of the things I participated in, I have kept in touch with my Church."

Said Nick: "Being involved in ministry is a great experience for a young adult or teen. Besides setting a good example for other kids, you build a good foundation for your own faith."

OPINION

How I grew through Church involvement

BY ELYSE PUTORTI

My religion has always been an important aspect of my life. When the opportunities arose for me to serve my parish through ministry, it seemed natural to become involved.

Growing up, I had a number of significant influences who encouraged me to become part of ministry. I listened to my father and uncles sing in the choir, heard my aunt read during Mass, and watched my cousins as altar servers.

Without knowing it, they strengthened my faith and became role models for me to become a part of youth ministry.

Involvement

Over the years, I participated in Christmas caroling, attended the Christian Leadership Institute (CLI) for teens, made bag lunches for a retreat and painted the parish school's classrooms.

I was an altar server and, with the help of other youth ministers, organized food collections and raised money for a soup kitchen.

I enjoyed taking part in each activity. They were rewarding experiences that allowed me to grow and become more active in ministry.

Deepening faith

CLI was an amazing experience for a number of reasons:

* I met and became friends with 40 incredible people, some of whom I am still in close contact with today;

* I improved on the leadership skills I already had, like learning how to be a better listener and how to mediate situations; and

* I was able to apply all that I learned at CLI and receive a Leadership Scholarship at Ithaca College, given to only 55 students out of hundreds who applied. The time I spent at CLI three years ago is helping finance my college education today.

Carrying on

I still am practicing my faith at college and attend Mass on campus. Unfortunately, I am not as involved in ministry as I would like to be.

As a freshman, everything is so new, and it is difficult to balance it all at once. I am majoring in athletic training, a very demanding and competitive program that requires many extra hours in the lab and studying in the library.

Soon, however, I will be able to devote more time to my faith and become just as -- or even more -- active in ministry.

(When not at college, the author goes to Our Lady of Hope Church in Whitehall.)

(11/15/07) [[In-content Ad]]