Creating youth friendly parishes - pastoral leaders examine their efforts

by Sue Torgersen, CSJ

What a refreshing difference Mary Lee Becker’s three youth ministry presentations have already made in parishes across the diocese!

Mary Lee, representing the Center for Ministry Development in Naugatuck, CT, presented a two-day workshop on youth ministry to the priests and pastoral administrators at the Diocese of New Ulm r Fall Pastoral Leader Days conference.

That same Wednesday evening two regional presentations were held simultaneously, one in Montevideo, MN, given by Bill Casey, diocesan director of youth ministry, while Mary Lee offered a presentation in Gibbon. Mary Lee also gave a daylong presentation in Redwood Falls as part of this three day series.

Four staff members from St. Anthony parish in Watkins were so fired up by her message that they have made plans to invite Mary Lee to come this winter to the Watkins area to conduct sessions that will reach people ecumenically and throughout the whole civic community.

Renee Miller, parish secretary and 6th grade catechist, described some of the little things that have already had a big impact. "We had a bulletin announcement congratulating the youth on their witness to their faith values in the way they celebrated homecoming. In being their regular good selves they gave public witness to their faith. The teens sure noticed and appreciated this support!"

Father Bob Wyffels from St. Michael, Morgan, invited parishioners representing the parish council, the education and worship committees, CCW, Catholic Aid, the Knights of Columbus, youth ministers, school staff, and catechists to attend the Gibbon presentation. Since then, they have been enthusiastically talking and working together and the dialog is already paying off. St. Michael’s parish has just begun a youth choir. The parish held a 7th and 8th grade lock-in retreat and this is only the beginning of St. Michael’s youth friendly initiatives.

Similar responses are happening in a number of parishes. Cheri Le Brun chairperson of the Board of Education at St. Gregory in Lafayette, was part of a group of 18 from her parish that went to the meeting in Gibbon. "Mary reconfirmed our vision as a board: Our young people are a part of our parish community. They have a lot to offer. As adults we just need to give them a chance."

These are just a few examples of the growth and vitality that have been unleashed in many of our New Ulm diocese parishes. The catalyst for this new surge of youth ministry energy is the recent document from the United States Bishops entitled Renewing the Vision: a Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry. In this document our bishops uphold the place of the totality of parish life in engaging young people and forming their faith. We need to invite our young people into the heart of the life of our parish.

Over the last 25 years our Catholic church has been developing in its understanding of youth ministry. We have come a long way since the bishops published their first youth ministry document in 1976 entitled A Vision of Youth Ministry. We can no longer afford to limit our understanding of what needs to happen in youth ministry to the concern of just a few people designated with the responsibility for youth ministry. All of us, young and old and in-between, by virtue of our participation in our parishes and communities with our young people, have an impact on the quality of their life and the development of their faith. As Father Bob Wyffels said, "Our people now realize that it is not enough to simply hire a youth minister. All the people of the parish are youth ministers!"

The offices of Youth Ministry, Religious Education, and Clergy Continuing Education have worked together to develop the various presentations entitled Creating Youth Friendly Parishes. We invite you to share your stories of what is starting to happen in your parish as a result of your attendance.

Video tapes of all three sessions are available for borrowing or for purchase from the Office of Communications. Please use these tapes as an easy tool to spread the word!

Sr. Sue Torgersen is the Director of Continuing Education for Clergy and Associate Director of Vocations for the Diocese of New Ulm.