St. Anthony Church

Youth Ministry

2011-2012

Forming Young Apostles

Totus Tuus

“The formation process for young people must be constant and active,

capable of helping them to find their place in the Church and in the

world. Consequently, youth ministry must be one of the primary

concerns of Pastors and communities.”

~ Blessed Pope John Paul II, Ecclesia in America (EA) #47

Table of Content

Why Comprehensive Youth Ministry

Components of Youth Ministry

Mission for 2011 – 2012

Strengthen Your Small Groups

Theme: Song Lyrics

Monthly Calendar

Why Comprehensive Youth Ministry?

Come to him, to that living stone, rejected by men but in God’s sight chosen and precious; and like living stones by yourselves built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer

spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of

him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. ~ 1 Peter 2: 4-5, 9

Comprehensive Youth Ministry is the Church fulfilling its mission on behalf of the youth. Families, pastoral ministers and the lay faithful in union with the Holy Spirit live out the baptismal call and dignity of being “God’s own people” and faithfully witness His “marvelous light” to the young through:

1. A fervent life of prayer, frequent and consistent participation in the Sacred Liturgy and sacraments of the Church.

2. Reverence for and a consistent study of sacred scripture. 3. Faithful adherence to the Magisterium.

Components of Youth Ministry As taken from Renewing the Vision

ADVOCACY – Interpreting the needs of youth and their families, especially the social problems facing them and acting with or on behalf of youth and their families for a change in the systems (policies, procedures, programs) which create or contribute to the social problems: giving young people a voice and empowering them to address the social problems that they face, (adult support for youth concerns). CATECHESIS – Helping adolescents to develop a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and the Christian community, and increasing their knowledge of the core context of their Catholic faith. The ministry of catechesis helps young people to enrich and expand their understanding of the Scriptures and the sacred tradition and their application to life today. Also, to live more faithfully as disciples of Jesus Christ in their everyday lives. The ministry of catechesis fosters growth in Catholic faith in all three dimensions – trusting (hearts), knowing and believing (mind), and doing (will). (Religious Ed., discussion groups) COMMUNITY LIFE – Creating an environment which nurtures meaningful relationships among youth and between youth and adults characterized by Gospel values (eg. Acceptance of all people, trust, respect, cooperation, honesty, taking responsibility, willingness to serve): helping young people to feel that they are an important part of the Church community; providing opportunities for social interaction and meaningful participation in the life of the Church and the civic community. The ministry of community life is not only what we do (activity), but who we are (identity) and how we interact (relationships), (youth retreats, small groups). EVANGELIZATION – Sharing the Good News of the reign of God and inviting young people to hear about the Word made Flesh. Drawing from Jesus’ example, evangelization involves the community’s pronouncement and living witness that the reign of God has become realized in and through Jesus. Evangelization is the energizing core of all ministries with adolescents. The ministry of evangelization incorporates several essential elements: witness, outreach, proclamation, invitation, conversation and discipleship. (Faith sharing, Scripture groups) JUSTICE, PEACE, and SERVICE – Guiding young people in the development of a social consciousness and a commitment to life of justice and service grounded in their faith in Jesus Christ, in the scriptures and in Catholic social teaching; empowering young people (and their families) to work for justice by concrete efforts to address the causes of human suffering, to serve those in need, to pursue peace, and to defend the life, dignity, and rights of all people; infusing the concepts of justice and peace into all Youth Ministry efforts; (feeding the homeless, service weeks). PRAYER and WORSHIP – Celebrating and working to deepen young people’s relationship with Jesus Christ through the bestowal of grace, communal prayer and liturgical experiences; it awakens their awareness of the spirit at work in their lives; it incorporates young people more fully into the sacramental life of the Church, especially the Eucharist; it nurtures the personal

prayers life of young people, and it fosters family rituals and prayers; (Youth Liturgy, Prayer Groups). LEARDERSHIP DEVELOPMENT / ENABLEMENT – Recruiting, training, and supporting youth and adult leaders in Youth Ministry; empowering youth for leadership and ministry with their peers, in their schools, and in the Church and civic community; developing a leadership team of youth and adults to organize and coordinate a ministry with youth; partnering with parents and families in promoting positive youth development and faith growth; (training for youth and adults). PASTORAL CARE / GUIDANCE – Acting as a comprehensive presence in imitation of Jesus’ care for people, especially those who were hurting and in need. The ministry of pastoral care involves promoting positive adolescent and family development; (Penance service, counseling).

TThhee vviissiioonn gguuiiddiinngg yyoouutthh mmiinniissttrryy iiss ffoouunndd iinn tthhee lliiffee ooff JJeessuuss tthhee LLoorrdd.. YYoouutthh MMiinniisstteerrss aanndd yyoouutthh ttaakkee tthheeiirr iinnssppiirraattiioonn ffrroomm tthhee mmiinniissttrryy ooff JJeessuuss dduurriinngg hhiiss

jjoouurrnneeyy ttoo EEmmmmaauuss.. ~~ LLkk 2244:: 1133--3355

““II kknnooww GGoodd wwiillll nnoott ggiivvee mmee aannyytthhiinngg II ccaann’’tt hhaannddllee.. II jjuusstt wwiisshh tthhaatt HHee ddiiddnn’’tt ttrruusstt mmee ssoo mmuucchh..”” ~~ BBlleesssseedd MMootthheerr TTeerreessaa

RReenneewwiinngg tthhee VViissiioonn iiss mmoosstt iimmppoorrttaannttllyy aann aaffffiirrmmaattiioonn ooff tthhee ffaaiitthh,, ggiiffttss,, eenneerrggyy,,

aanndd ffrreesshh iiddeeaass ooff yyoouunngg ppeeooppllee.. IItt iiss aa CChhrriisstt--cceenntteerreedd vviissiioonn.. IItt iiss aa ccaallll ttoo eemmppoowweerr yyoouunngg ppeeooppllee ffoorr tthhee mmiissssiioonn tthheeyy hhaavvee bbeeeenn ggiivveenn bbyy tthhee LLoorrdd JJeessuuss..

““II aamm aa lliittttllee ppeenncciill iinn tthhee hhaanndd ooff aa wwrriittiinngg GGoodd wwhhoo iiss sseennddiinngg aa lloovvee lleetttteerr ttoo tthhee

wwoorrlldd..”” ~~ BBlleesssseedd MMootthheerr TTeerreessaa

““TToo tthhee wwoorrlldd yyoouu mmaayy bbee jjuusstt oonnee ppeerrssoonn,, bbuutt ttoo oonnee ppeerrssoonn yyoouu mmaayy bbee tthhee wwoorrlldd.. OOnnccee yyoouu cchhoooossee hhooppee,, aannyytthhiinngg’’ss ppoossssiibbllee”” ~~ CChhrriissttoopphheerr RReeeevvee

Mission Statement

Cooperate with the Holy Spirit to LIVE, TEACH, and DEFEND the faith as handed on by Jesus Christ.

Imbue teens with sacred scripture and tradition to

nurture love for the Blessed Sacrament.

Empower teens with the tools to grow in virtue by frequent participation in the Sacred Liturgy and the

sacraments.

Strengthen Your Small Groups By: Doug Fields & Matt McGill / ©2011, YouthMinistry.com

In most important endeavors, fundamentals are essential for the endeavor to be successful.

They are critical not just because they are the first lessons taught, but they also form a solid

base and/or foundation on which everything vital is built. Forget or ignore a fundamental, and

failure is highly probable.

In the past, we have found ourselves so caught up in the details of pulling off small groups (i.e.

promoting, equipping leaders, administrating the details, etc…) that we have found ourselves

forgetting to remind students what THEY need to do to help make a good small group

experience.

This week, we will take a look at some of the specific and practical coaching that we’ve given

our teenagers in the hopes that you’ll be able to adapt it into your ministry context.

UNDERSTAND WHY WE MEET

Our small groups exist to help followers of Jesus connect with one another and celebrate God.

There will often be an element of fun within the small groups, but not the same kind of fun that

they might experience at an entry-level program (with wild games and crazy videos). We

design our small groups as a place to study God’s Word, share about important life matters,

and support one another in prayer. “Help make Jesus visible by expiencing God.” ~ Hoppel

CONSISTENCY

You can’t develop strong relationships if you aren’t present. This is why one of the keys toward

a healthy small group experience is consistency. If you’re going to be in a small group, make

your best attempt to show up every week. Your presence matters, not just for yourself, but also

for the health of the small group community.

AUTHENTICITY

Strong relationships also need to be real. Fight against the temptation to look like you have

“everything together.” Take a risk and share something personal and true. Honesty is TOUGH,

but it’s the only way that solid friendships are built.

Small groups can only work if they are safe. In a world that’s filled with superficial relationships, you’ll need to fight in order to keep your small group safe. Today we will look at three additional commitments that will help create a safe environment. [See yesterday for other types of actions that we teach our students]

ACCEPTANCE A safe small group is one where people are accepted for who they are. Hold back your

judgment. We realize this is so very difficult! You would think it would be easy since we all

want to be accepted for whom we are, but it’s common to [falsely] believe that we will feel better about ourselves if we put others down. By being kind and showing unconditional acceptance, you will help create a place where you will be accepted too. ATTENTION It’s hard to focus… we get it. But it’s not impossible: we focus on things all the time that are important to us. The essential action for being in a small group is to make a decision that the person sitting across from you is important. If you see the people in your group as significant, then it won’t be as difficult to listen when others are speaking. CONFIDENTIALITY

Few things kill relationships as quickly as gossip! Trust is absolutely essential, and without trust there will be no honesty. Without honesty, you can’t have a strong relationship. When something personal is shared in your small group, make sure those words don’t leave the

group. There will be times when you hear something so tempting to share; you’ll feel compelled toward gossip. Don’t. Fight the urge. Win. It will help your small group win too. You will strengthen your small groups when you coach your students on how to get the most out of their meeting time together.

COMMIT FOR THE LONG HAUL Authentic community doesn’t happen overnight, it requires a significant amount of “together”

time. Chances are, you won’t feel totally connected after just a few weeks…that’s normal! Keep showing up, and keep giving your best to the group. Arrive with high expectations that the people in your group could possibly become lifelong friends. COME EXPECTANTLY When you gather together, come ready to engage. God will do some great things in your life when you share your life with others. What you put into your group will determine what you get out of the group. CELEBRATE SUCCESS

When a friend wins, everyone wins. The ability to celebrate another person’s success is a measure of relational maturity. When someone in the group has a breakthrough, be genuinely excited for their success. This kind of excitement is infectious. Celebrate and have fun! Small group is so much more than learning new information. It’s about EXPERIENCING God, seeing how God moves in others, and exploring his plan for our lives. SPEAK THE TRUTH…IN LOVE It’s tempting to tell people what they want to hear. It is also easy to simply play it safe and keep from creating conflict. Community can’t happen without honestly, but this doesn’t mean we can say whatever we want, when we want. We must speak the truth, even when it’s difficult, but we need to speak the truth with an attitude empowered by love. Grace always wins.

Theme: “You Are Loved…”

“You Are Loved (Don’t Give Up)” By: Josh Groban

Don’t give up It’s just the weight of the world

When your heart’s heavy I…I will lift it for you

Don’t give up

Because you want to be heard If silence keeps you

I…I will break it for you

Everybody wants to be understood Well I can hear you

Everybody wants to be loved Don’t give up

Because you are loved

Don’t give up It’s just the hurt that you hide

When you’re lost inside I…I will be there to find you

Don’t give up

Because you want to burn bright If darkness blinds you

I…I will shine to guide you

Everybody wants to be understood Well I can hear you

Everybody wants to be loved Don’t give up

Because you are loved

You are loved Don’t give up

It’s just the weight of the world Don’t give up

Every...one needs to be heard You Are Loved

Calendar

9/21 1st Day / Foundation Intro all new Catechist, what we are going to do this year, and some AWESOME activities, also learn about the Rock of the Church

9/28 Prayer Why we pray, how do we pray, and what does it mean to pray and how does the Our Father mean something

10/5 1st Family Night If you wanted to do an activity something with “Who Are You?” it would tie the other lessons together

10/12 Who is God? We learn the Trinity, the Creator of all things

10/19 Community Helpers / How Saints Live! Who are other Christian Helpers in our world, and church // Being the following week is All Soul’s & All Saints great time to learn about Saints and what they do for us, and the world, and how they become Saints and what goes on Oct 31 / Nov 1

10/26 Collect for Community Hope If time do a quick chat about the Saints again, or hand out a TAKE HOME on the Saints

11/2 2nd Family Night If you wanted to do an activity something with “Talents”

11/9 Virtus //Who Serves the Church? Learn about Vocations, and the roles of the Church Heirs

11/16 Liturgy Calendar Why we have different colors and the meaning also what Advent means, and Christ the King

11/23 Thanksgiving Wed. NO CLASSES

11/24 Thanksgiving Mass RE participates

11/30 Mass Manners Learn the meaning of the Mass and replies also review Advent

12/7 3rd Family Night If you wanted to do any activity something with “Advent Prayer and Rites of the Christmas Season, also talk brief about Advent and Immaculate Conception

12/14 Movie – Nativity / Party Review Advent and Christmas Season

12/21 RECONCILIATION Last Class til 2012

1/4 4th Family Night If you wanted to do any activity something with “Mary & Epiphany”

1/11 Sacraments Part 1 of 2 Learn the 1st section of the Sacraments and why they are important to our Faith, and also talk about the Baptism of the Lord

1/18 Sacraments Part 2 of 2 Learn the 2nd section of the Sacraments and why they are important to our Faith.

1/25 Movie

2/1 5th Family Night If you want to do any activity something with “Lent / Presentation of the Lord”

2/8 Beatitudes What they mean and how can you use them in your everyday life.

2/15 Creation What does the story of Creation mean to use and how does it relate to the Lenten Season, also chat briefly about Ash Wed.

2/22 Ash Wednesday Go to Mass

2/29 Time Line of Jesus

3/7 6th Family Night If you want to do any activity something with “Forgiveness & the Rites of our Church”

3/14 Lent Activity Act out all the Stations

3/17 – Sat YOUTH CONFERENCE TBA

3/21 Movie – Passion of Christ Also do an Activity

3/28 Make a Gift of Yourself Learn what Theology of the Body means to yourself and how to use yourself to help others in need of help, also chat about Easter

4/4 7th Family Night If you want to do any activity something with “Easter” or “Holy Week”

4/11 Bible – How to Learn what a Bible is, how to respect it and use it right.

4/18 Party – Grad // END OF RE Chat about the year, next year events, and summer events

4/25 Steak Fry THANK YOU TEACHERS

5/6 Mother’s Day Do a Mother Day Tea Party ?????

5/9 Open Youth Room After a 30 min Q/A session

5/16 Open Youth Room After a 30 min Q/A session

5/23 Open Youth Room BBQ Hotdogs and small party for Memorial Day

**** All events in May are just suggestions. Just a thought.