Today’s youth have a deeply long for true friendships, connections and a sense of belonging. As parish leaders, we must seek to help young people connect peers and adults to accompany with them through their faith journey.
Encounter - Pope Francis is merely the latest to speak of the centrality of encounter with God as the energy that fuels the formation process. Our ministry with today’s youth must lead them Jesus, to a personal encounter with Jesus Christ.
Conversion - To stay in relationship with God requires conversion. Formation must help our young people orient their life, with Jesus at the center. As we accompany our youth we teach them to say “no” so that to they are able to say “yes” more fully to God.
Grow - Formation must help today’s youth mature as disciples by learning the Truths of the Church, by participating in the Sacraments, by learning out how to pray and live a life of virtue.
Together, youth leaders and parents, foster the personal and spiritual growth of young people in such a way that they will be able to confront the real challenges and sorrows of human life and develop their talents in service of their family, parish and neighborhood.