Francis of Assisi had a deep love for God, people, animals, and the environment. Put simply, he saw God in everyone and everything. Above all, he cared for and loved the sick and poor in a way that...
Affirmation is one of the Life Teen Core Values. We need to affirm each other, especially those in our life which we couldn’t do ministry without- ie. Our core members.
I always think about how Jesus would react to middle schoolers. Every time they misbehave, I imagine that Jesus would say to them, "You have no idea all that I have done and will continue to do for...
Our youth ministry program references the “Renewing the Vision: A Framework for Youth Ministry (RTV)” approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops as a guide.
The RTV guidelines are as follows:
Three Goals for Ministry with Adolescents
First, empowering young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ;
Second, drawing them into responsible participation in the Catholic Church;
Third, fostering their personal and spiritual growth.
“For I know well the plans I have in mind for you…to give you a future full of hope” Jer 29:11
Seven Themes of a Comprehensive Vision – A comprehensive framework for youth ministry much be:
Developmentally appropriate,
Family friendly,
Intergenerational,
Multicultural,
Have community-wide collaboration,
Have strong leadership, and
Flexible and adaptable programming for young people.
Eight Components of a Comprehensive Ministry with Young People – An integrated approach to youth utilizes each of the Church’s ministries:
Advocacy,
Catechesis,
Community life,
Evangelization,
Justice and service,
Leadership development,
Pastoral care, and
Prayer and worship.
These ministry components describe the “essence” of ministry with adolescents and provide the Church with eight fundamental ways to minister effectively with adolescents.
Following these guidelines, it is our hope that your high school student will be committed to continue to grow their faith at college, trade schools, or upon entering the workforce.
I often wonder how God is interacting with my autistic daughter. Everyone’s inner relationship with God is to some extent secret, but for many we have learned to recognize the imprint of the Spirit...
Humility is, as it were, a disposition to man’s untrammeled access to spiritual and divine goods. St. Thomas Aquinas (Summa Theologica, II-II Q. 161. a. 5) St. Thomas Aquinas tells us that pride...
When we think of the saints and martyrs, especially the first Christians, we struggle to conceptualize their experiences. We don’t live in the same era, they seem “more Catholic” than us, and their...