Youth groove to tailored liturgies

Working with an age range from tykes to teens, youth ministers face challenges in engaging them meaningfully in the Mass. But when given the opportunity to participate, leaders and teachers say, young people respond with gusto.

"The reaction of the kids who participate in the Life Teen Mass is extraordinary," said Mark Trudeau, youth minister at St. Ambrose Church in Latham. "They engage in the Mass and become full, active participants. It relates to them better."

The Life Teen Mass has been celebrated there for 11 years. It is offered at 5:30 p.m. every Sunday.

All still one
"It is not a separate Mass," Mr. Trudeau explained, and more adults than teens attend. "It is a community Mass but it is geared toward young people." Contemporary music using drums and guitars, and a homily designed to reach high school students are key.
Other than the duties of Eucharistic ministers, Mr. Trudeau said, "The kids do everything." That includes serving as ushers, greeters, gift bearers and lectors.

Youth Masses are new at St. Stephen's Church in Hagaman. Rev. Martin DeRose, pastor, and youth faith formation program coordinators Patti Canterbury and Theresa DaBiere-Craig sought ways to reach out to the young members of the parish.  

"It is a challenge getting the kids really engaged and plugged in or finding the Mass meaningful to them in this day and age," said Mrs. DaBiere-Craig.
The youth Mass is now offered monthly.

"The kids plan it," she said. "They write the prayers of the faithful and they decide who will be greeters, who takes up the collection, who does the readings and who brings up the gifts."

At the table
Students in grades K-10 gather around Father DeRose at the homily. "They sit on floor all around him," she described. "They hold hands during Our Father, and they exchange the sign of peace with each other. The Mass becomes theirs that day."

Music minister Mike DeRosa oversees a contemporary Christian music format and is initiating a youth band and choir for the Mass. "Out of 100 young people in the youth ministry, 15 to 20 signed up," Mrs. DaBiere-Craig said. "They will play all the music at Mass."

Children in grades 1-4 will have their own session of "breaking open the Word" at their own level at the weekly 11 a.m. Mass. They and others will learn parts of the Mass, and Father DeRose will give tours of the sacristy.

At St. Bernard's Church in Cohoes, Sharon Sgroi is the parish secretary and serves on the children's liturgy committee with the pastor, Rev. John Lanese. Their monthly youth Mass is geared toward children of all ages.

Taking part
"The older kids do the readings but sometimes the second graders can do that," said Mrs. Sgroi. "The prayers of the faithful and readings are amazing. They love taking part. And even kindergarteners participate as gift bearers." The children sit on the steps as Father Lanese delivers the homily, and they are on the altar after the offertory.

Youth ministers see the need and the efficacy of these Masses.

"There are so many challenges today - drugs, alcohol, promiscuity, predators on the internet," said Mrs. DaBiere-Craig. "You need to be able to face it and make good choices."

Mr. Trudeau sees the Life Teen Masses as building much needed trust.

"There is so much subliminal pummeling of youth, telling them, 'You can't trust anybody.' That translates into, 'Don't trust anything.' When trust is diminished, faith is diminished."
Meeting Christ anew can help, Mr. Trudeau said.  

"You can't look at the Eucharist without trust," he explained. "You can't look at the cross without trust. Trust in the idea that this sacrifice is for you, today, and is the true revelation of love."

(11/27/08)