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YOUTH MINISTRY: Keeping Young Parishioners Connected, Helping Them Grow Closer to Christ
In their middle school and high school years, our youth are often at a crucial turning point on their faith journey. Our parish’s Youth Ministry program helps guide them through this time while showing them how to live out their faith in every aspect of their life. Through fun activities, catechesis, and group discussion, these students are able to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ and deepen their understanding both of their faith and of themselves. Although the ministry has had to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic over the past year and a half, they have been able to keep the youth connected.
“Youth Ministry this past year has been nothing but a blessing,” says ministry leader Brandon Jones. “The Holy Spirit has challenged me to grow deeper and to share my vulnerability with our youth. They were able to see all the transitions and changes that occurred, and they knew it was okay to struggle at times and bring those struggles to the feet of Jesus.”
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Youth Ministry started off the past year by alternating virtual and in-person meetings every other week.
“In February, we split into groups — Group A had five small groups and Group B had nine small groups,” Brandon says. “This way, there was Youth Ministry happening every week in person, which helped the families to know that through all the chaos in the world, Jesus remained consistent.
“This ministry couldn’t have worked without the Holy Spirit providing strength, knowledge, compassion, and understanding to each one of our Adult Core members and Teen Leads,” he adds. “Their fellowship shows how Christ is working in each one of them, which leads to them connecting to other youths.”
This past July, the entire Youth Ministry — including students from sixth through 12 grades — was able to gather in person along with their families for a special BBQ event. This allowed families to meet the Youth Minister, Core Team, and Teen Leads, as well as enjoy time together in fellowship with the other families.
Our Steward for Youth Ministry Brandon Jones with some of our youth
Brandon is excited about the Youth Ministry events they have planned this fall. These include both the YOUCAT and DOCAT studies, weekly Life Teen and EDGE meetings, a bi-weekly Unleashed program, “Word Up Wednesday” weekly activities for all youths, “Level Up” monthly activities for eighth-grade leads, and a weekly Senior Summit activity for 12th-graders. In addition to these, Confirmation preparation will take place on the fourth Sunday of each month, followed by post- Confirmation catechesis on Theology of the Body. Youth Ministry is an important resource for our youth because, as followers of Christ, we are called to go and proclaim His Good News — Youth Ministry teaches them to do just that.
“Our youth learn how to build fellowship with each other, we visit the sacraments, and we learn how to pray and adore Jesus,” Brandon says. “They can then share what Jesus is doing in their lives. Youth Ministry is important for those youths who yearn for a deeper connection with Jesus, and to give them a place to go where they are not judged and are always welcomed with love.
“Our youth don’t know you care until you show that you care,” he adds. “Relational ministry is the key — if we don’t have a great relationship with Jesus, then how can we expect to have a relationship with the youth? Our youth see their peers adoring Jesus and encountering an intimate relationship with Jesus, and they yearn for that same feeling. Knowing they are truly loved and that Jesus wants to get more intimate with each and every one of them is what makes the difference during their faith journey.”
Our Youth Group at a recent conference
