April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
Youth choose, act and learn
Dan Quinn, a 15-year-old, is learning how to usher, lector and be an altar server.
They are among approximately 200 youth at St. Francis taking part in a new catechesis program offered by the parish's youth ministry team.
Menu of options
Rather than providing religious instruction to the youth in a classroom setting, the teens have the opportunity to choose from three different programs designed to help them serve the parish and grow closer to God, according to Patrick Looby, coordinator of youth ministries. The tracks include prayer and worship, justice and service, and pastoral care:1. The prayer and worship track is designed to incorporate youth into the prayer life of the parish. Through this track, young people experience many forms of prayer. It also encourages the parish community to accept young people's creative and energetic expressions of faith during Mass, Mr. Looby said.
2. Through the justice and service track, youth will be educated to the injustice in the world and reach out to those who are suffering those injustices, he noted.
3. The pastoral care track will develop systems that will reach out to young people and their families in times of crisis. Workshops and retreats will be offered that will help young people face tough decisions with sound footing, explained Mr. Looby.
Successful effort
The program, which kicked off in September, is being well received by both the youth and adults of the parish. Said Dan, "I feel a part of the parish. It's a good opportunity."Of the program, Sean said, "Kids like it better."
Mr. Looby said, "Overwhelmingly, parents are saying, `Why didn't we do this when I was young?'"
Decisions
An important part of the program is the element of choice. "We want them to decide how they're going to fit in the parish," Mr. Looby said."Choice is important," said Dan. "If you don't want to do something, you feel pressured and you don't want to pay attention."
Sean agreed, saying: "It's much more fun. It's not a class, and we had the choice to be there."
Prayer experience
Sean chose the prayer and worship track because "I was tired of praying the same way," he said.So far, he has experienced a variety of prayer forms, including praying with music and meditation. "I like to meditate," he said.
Dan has been pleased with learning "why we do things during Mass."
He has also been pleased with the adults he has met through this experience. The prayer and worship track he has been participating in trains youth to take on roles during Mass, allowing them to minister side-by-side with the adults of the parish.
Through this experience, Dan said, "Youth can get involved and play a role in the Church."
Learning
The parish designed the program as a way to make catechesis a more effective experience for the youth and to encourage life-long catechesis."The catechetical moment requires two people to both be sharing," said Mr. Looby. "It is a sharing of faith rather than a deposit. When you share faith in a school model, they won't be as open."
There is excitement at the parish about this new program. Said Mr. Looby: "The youth are learning, doing and using their gifts."
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