September 9, 2015

The Goal of Diocesan and Parish Youth Ministry is to provide age-appropriate opportunities which will lead our youth to a life-changing encounter with Christ which will nourish a faithful, fruitful and joyful friendship with Him and His Church.

Too often youth ministry is considered an optional ministry. The option is exercised if and when: there is enough time, energy, money, volunteers, experience. We need to agree that this ministry is essential. The following steps serve as a guide

Essential elements for successful parish youth ministry
The core team should strive for a healthy balance of active, prayerful and fun filled fellowship opportunities which give youth occasions to grow in three basic ways: discipleship, service and knowledge.

1. Discipleship: To become a close follower of Christ is to have a personal and communal relationship with him as friend, Lord and Savior. (Youth to be exposed to following aspects: prayer, fellowship, vocations, apologetics, mission)

2. Service: To know and love Christ is to follow in His footsteps. Service means extending a loving and helpful hand to the Church family as well as the larger secular community in the name and person of Christ. (Including opportunities to involve youth in church liturgical ministries, corporal and spiritual works of mercy, service trips, networking, pilgrimage, social justice issues)

3. Knowledge: To have a relationship with Christ requires one to know His teachings. Ignorance of Christ’s life, teachings or commands is to be ignorant of Him. (Includes prayer, personal and communal, morality, saints, scripture. Catholic identity, personal witness, social justice issues, community life and vocations.)

The vision statement also addressed funding, how to choose a youth minister, the process for certification and offers reviews of available youth ministry programs and resources.

In conclusion:
This Diocesan Vision for Youth Ministry is intended to guide efforts at the parish level in providing young people age-appropriate opportunities which will lead them to a life-changing encounter with Christ and nourish a faithful, fruitful and joyful friendship with Him and His Church. The working committee, comprised of clergy and youth ministry leaders from across the diocese, prayerfully researched, considered and discussed each element of the Vision and is confident it fulfills the stated intention. Through the inspired efforts of local pastors and collaborating core teams and individuals, it is believed that our ministry to the youth will flourish in the Diocese of Ogdensburg. May God bless all of our endeavors for our youth so that they may find in Christ constant renewal in faith, joy in hope and discover in Him the love which never fails.

(The entire document is available in the Pastoral Documentation section on the diocesan website, www.rcdony.org)