What is Catholic Youth Ministry?

“What is needed today is a Church which knows how to respond to the expectations of young people.  Jesus wants to enter into dialogue with them and, through his body which is the Church, to propose the possibility of a choice which will require a commitment of their lives.  As Jesus with the disciples of Emmaus, so the Church must become today the traveling companion of young people...” (Youth: Sent to Proclaim True Liberation, World Youth Day 1995, Philippines).    Taken from Renewing the Vision, page 2

Goals, Themes and Components of Youth Ministry:

“Three interdependent and equally important goals guide the Church’s ministry with adolescents.  These goals state what it means for the Catholic community to respond to the needs of young people and to involve young people in sharing their unique gifts with the larger community.”  (Renewing the Vision, page 9)

Goals of a Comprehensive Youth Ministry Program are:

1. To empower young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in our world today.
2. To draw young people to responsible participation in the life, mission, and work of the Catholic Faith Community.

1. To foster the total personal and spiritual growth of each young person.

“Today, we propose a framework for integrating the Church’s ministry with adolescents that incorporates a broader, expanded, and more comprehensive vision … The comprehensive approach is not a single program or recipe for ministry.  Rather, it provides a way for integrating ministry with adolescents and their families into the total life and mission of the Church…”  (Renewing the Vision, page 19)

Seven Themes of a Comprehensive Youth Ministry Program are:

1. Developmentally Appropriate
2. Family Friendly
3. Intergenerational
4. Multicultural
5. Community-wide Collaboration
6. Leadership
7. Flexible and Adaptable Programming

“These components provide a framework for the Catholic community to respond to the needs of young people and to involve young people in sharing their unique gifts with the larger community.”  (Renewing the Vision, page 26)

Eight Components of a Comprehensive Youth Ministry Program are:

1. The Ministry of Advocacy
2. The Ministry of Catechesis
3. The Ministry of Community Life
4. The Ministry of Evangelization
5. The Ministry of Justice and Service
6. The Ministry of Leadership Development
7. The Ministry of Pastoral Care
8. The Ministry of Prayer and Worship

Boyne Valley Catholic Community offers a comprehensive approach to its youth ministry program.  Those youth involved in grades 7 and 8 can participate in the Junior High Youth Ministry program.  The JH youth meet on Sunday nights at 5:30 pm in the BVCC Youth center. 

The senior high youth ministry program is composed of youth in grades 9 through 12.  The program has countless opportunities for senior high youth, including three retreats per year, Diocesan youth rallies and councils, summer mission experience, youth group meetings, outings with youth from various parts of our Diocese, and many other opportunities.

This summer, the senior high youth will be participating in a Habitat for Humanity experience.  Joining youth from three other youth ministry experiences in our Diocese, the youth will work on building two new homes for people in need. The mission week will be held July 5th-9th. 

For more information concerning the youth ministry program at Boyne Valley Catholic Community, please contact Patty at pafurtaw@jamcc.org.