Our
local Catholic High School has just this month completed a week-long mission
led by the Diocesan Youth Ministry Team. The Mission sought to involve the high school students,
their families, the school staff and the parishes, which prayed for the Mission at Mass each day of the Mission. The programme is reproduced
below, (click on picture to enlarge). It is different in tone to what I think
of as Mission but the idea was not to catechise the youth but rather to give
them an experience of God that might spark off a deeper faith in the
future. God Bless those who lead the Mission and those who took part.
Having attended preparatory meetings I can tell you there was much enthusiasm and an obvious care for the youth among the organisers, but the nebulous 'experience of God' aim meant my own suggestions for Doctrinal talks and Adoration were somewhat beyond the goals set. Let us pray that the given experience does indeed induce the life of faith in those worked for by the Team.
Sounds like our usual "Yoof" Ministry again when such 'old fashioned' ideas as Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament are poo-pood. Surely if our young people are meant to grow their faith they should be exposed to every aspect of Catholic life including the EF Mass which might show them the shortcomings of many celebrations of the OF.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteI fully agree that exposure to the Extraordinary Form is important. it is their rightful heritage and for anyone to decide that they should not see it or experience it is a denial of that right.
As for the Mission itself, I am surprised by the amount fo dance and drama workshops. Though these will have had a religious theme (I hope) they present the faith entertainment format and style, rather than as commitment to Christ and self-sacrifice in union with Him in the Holy Eucharist. That is why youth ministry has failed for the last fifty years: it is cheap religious entertainment much of the time.
God Bless.
I went to a school in the diocese and remember going to the YMT village. It was thoroughly depressing. I distinctly remember a classmate saying to me that he enjoyed it because 'it's not really about God is it?'. As the only person from my year who still goes to mass I must say I have kept my Catholic faith IN SPITE of such ministry, not because of it. 14,15,16 year olds, especially boys, don't want 'dance workshops', and I think Youth Ministry is largely to blame for the gender imbalance in the pews.
ReplyDeleteI once accidentally went to St. Mary's Cathedral during an event called 'The Source'. I don't know if you've ever seen it, but the YMT effectively use the Cathedral for a music gig. Now, I admit there was quite a few young people there, but I doubt very much their faith will have been strengthened to the point where they will value God above the standard teenage attractions of sex,alcohol and nightclubs
Thanks Kev.
DeleteI haven't seen The Source, but I think you are probably right; youth ministry per se today is unlikely to put God and (Salvation) before sex, drugs and alcohol. You are more blest than you may realise in that you have kept your faith amidst a world of despair and turmoil -and entertainment in the sanctuary.
God Bless.