Eight Components of Comprehensive Youth Ministry
The components describe specific areas of the mission of the Church that work together to provide ministry with adolescents. These components provide a framework for the Catholic community to respond to the needs of young people and to involve young people in sharing their unique gifts with the larger community. (RTV 26)
Advocacy
The ministry of advocacy engages the Church to examine its priorities and practices to determine how well young people are integrated into the life, mission, and work of the Catholic community. It places adolescents and families first by analyzing every policy and program – diocesan, parish, domestic, and international – for its impact on adolescents and families.
Catechesis
The ministry of catechesis helps adolescents develop a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and the Christian community, and increase their knowledge of the core content of the Catholic faith. The ministry of catechesis also helps young people enrich and expand their understanding of the Scriptures and the sacred Tradition and their application to life today and live more faithfully as disciples of Jesus Christ in their daily lives, especially through a life of prayer, justice and loving service.
Community Life
The ministry of community life builds an environment of love, support, appreciation for diversity, and judicious acceptance which models Catholic principles; develops meaningful relationships; and nurtures Catholic faith.
… The ministry of Community Life is not only what we do (activity), but who we are (identity) and how we interact (relationships).
Evangelization
The ministry of evangelization shares the good news of the reign of God and invites young people to hear about the Word Made Flesh. The starting point for the ministry of Evangelization “is our recognition of the presence of God already in young people, their experiences, their families, and their culture. Evangelization, therefore, enables young people to uncover and name the experience of God already active and present in their lives. This provides an openness to the gift of the Good News of Jesus Christ.” (Challenge of Catholic Youth Evangelization 7-8) … The ministry of Evangelization incorporates several essential elements: witness, outreach, proclamation, invitation, conversion, and discipleship.
Justice and Service
The ministry of justice and service nurtures in young people a social consciousness and a commitment to a life of justice and service rooted in their faith in Jesus Christ, in the Scriptures, and in Catholic social teaching; empowers young people 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; infuses the concepts of justice, peace, and human dignity into all ministry efforts.
Leadership Development
The ministry of leadership development calls forth, affirms, and empowers the diverse gifts, talents, and abilities of adults and young people in our faith communities for comprehensive ministry with adolescents. Leadership roles in adolescent ministry are key. Leaders must be trained and encouraged. This approach involves a wide diversity of adult and youth leaders in a variety of roles.
Pastoral Care
The ministry of pastoral care is a compassionate presence in imitation of Jesus’ care of people, especially those who are hurting and in need. The ministry of pastoral care involves promoting positive adolescent and family development through a variety of positive (preventive) strategies; caring for adolescents and families in crisis through support, counseling, and referral to appropriate community agencies; providing guidance as young people face life decisions and make moral choices; and challenging systems that are obstacles to positive development (advocacy). Pastoral care is most fundamentally a relationship – a ministry of compassionate presence. Pastoral care enables healing and growth to take place within individuals and their relationships.
Prayer and Worship
The ministry of prayer and worship celebrates and deepens 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 eucharist; it nurtures the personal prayer life of young people; and it fosters family rituals and prayer.