Bringing them back with a smile
Youth ministry is trying to find out what happened to young people in parish life
A visitor enters the local church for Sunday mass and is surprised to see a large gathering of families with teenagers. It is the celebration of Confirmation. It is a time of grace and gratitude.
The visitor smiles.
A visitor enters the local church for Sunday mass and is surprised to see mostly seniors. During the prayers of the faithful, intentions include: prayers for young people, students writing exams, local boys and girls in hockey tournaments, students suffering from mental stress and addictions, students who volunteer in the community. Even though the youth are not visible at this mass, they are still here in prayer.
The visitor smiles.
A visitor enters the local church for Sunday mass. A greeter smiles. Another greeter says hello. The mass starts with familiar rhythm and voices respond with familiar prayers. The visitor relaxes into the mystery.
The visitor smiles.
In your mind, how old is the visitor?
Few would think the visitor might be a teenager, a university student away from home, or a young adult starting their career in a new city.
We know young adults, youth and teenagers do attend mass. Perhaps not in the numbers of years gone by, but they are still here. People have been asking what happened to the youth in parish life. Youth ministry is trying to address this question.
During the month of June, people who lead youth ministries in Canada are gathering in Mabou for a conference dedicated to youth. The Canadian Catholic Youth Ministry Network is holding a conference and annual general meeting hosted by the Diocese of Antigonish at the St. Joseph Renewal Centre. It is time for us to reflect on how we understand young people and how we are called to minister to them.
We will be asking new questions, questions about what is happening with youth, and how we can connect with them. Through prayer, guest speakers, and sharing experiences, those of us in youth ministry hope to move towards a new narrative of youth ministry.
It might be a return to parish youth groups, it might be mission trips, it might be social justice action in our own communities, it might be faith formation and youth leadership training, it might be a bus trip or a hike or a new adventure. It will be interesting to learn what is happening in parishes across Canada and to see what might work in our own Diocese of Antigonish.
Will church-based activities bring the young people back? The answer is not clear. If a young person feels welcomed by their faith community, discovers a place where they can belong, then they might come. If they like the music and like seeing their friends in attendance, then they might come. If they don’t feel pressured, and maybe if there is food, they might come. If they feel nourished, they will come. We can work with the new and evolving narrative!
They will come, they will come! They will no longer be a visitor!