Back to Exponent Menu Printer Friendly Page   LOCAL FEATURES Friday, March 29, 2002 DPC considers direction, importance of youth ministry The Diocesan Pastoral Council called ‘valuable resource’ in ‘think tank’ role By Lou Jacquet YOUNGSTOWN — The current and future state of diocesan ministry to youth and young adults was the main topic on the agenda and on the minds of members when the Diocesan Pastoral Council met March 7 in St. Columba Hall. The meeting opened with Cindee Case, newly-appointed director of the diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, speaking about the U.S. bishops’ documents that have dealt with youth and young adult ministry. In 1996, the bishops set the framework with “Renewing the Vision: A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry,” then added “Sons and Daughters of the Light,” a pastoral plan for young adults, in 1997. The former document outlined three goals for outreach: empower young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in the world today; draw young people into responsive participation in the life, mission and work of the Church; and foster the personal and spiritual growth of each young person. Ms. Case detailed direct programs offered by the department to help parishes better serve young people. “These are opportunities to bring youth together … things we can do on a larger scale to help build on what the parishes are doing,” she said. Such programs also give youth a sense of the Church beyond the parish, she added. For young adults, the key word is “connecting,” she said; connecting them to Jesus, to the Church, with the Church’s mission in the world and with their peer community. Faye Abbondanza, assistant director of the same office, pointed out how easy it is for young people to feel overlooked in parish life. “When you are single and young, it is difficult to find a place where you fit in,” she told the council members. “There are lots of things going on in parish life for very young people, for families, for married couples and couples with children, but there don’t seem to be many activities centered on the life of young adults.” The challenge is particularly real, Ms. Abbondanza added, because the U.S. bishops’ committee preparing the documents found that “with young adults there is a growing movement away from institutional involvement.” But there is also “a deep longing for faith life and commitment among these people,” she said. Growing interfaith marriage, more ethnic diversity and an interest in greater service on the part of young adults are also current realities, she said. Ms. Abbondanza noted that another round of “listening sessions” with diocesan youth and young adults is planned soon to help those in the diocesan office minister continue to improve ministry effectiveness to these segments of the diocesan population. At the DPC meeting, two diocesan college students made presentations assessing the state of youth and young adult ministry from their perspective. Miguel Chavez of Walsh University in North Canton and Michelle Phillips of Youngstown State University shared their views with DPC members, who later broke into small groups to discuss the presentation and how to implement the suggestions made. Chavez, a sophomore at Walsh and a Massillon St. Mary parishioner, told the DPC he is heavily involved with youth ministry in his parish. But overall, he sees young Catholics as having limited interest in Church activities outside of Sunday Mass. He also finds a “large spiritual and social gap from youth and young adults to the rest of the parish.” Reasons for that gap, in his view, include the growing “busyness” of young people with new distractions and duties. Effective ministry to them thus might include child-care for young parents, and designing activities that take less time than some former youth ministry staples. A second problem, Chavez said, is that in America’s technological society, “youth and young adults have become more introverted in their homes and workplaces.” Parishes used to be a center of social interaction among the young, “but the Church has been placed on the back burner with the dawning of Internet communication,” he said. The question remains how to attract young people to church activities, and Chavez drew prolonged laughter from DPC members when he suggested that “anything with food” and social activities would be a good start. But he also suggested that youth and young adults are drawn to service activities. “Service is fun and … establishes a bridge of trust within the members of a group,” he asserted. “Individuals learn to use their gifts for others.” Miss Phillips, a YSU junior and Newman Center regular, also highlighted service as a draw for young people, noting that the Newman Center Christmas party for women and children at Beatitude House draws many college students. She especially appreciates the spiritual in her life, she said, because as a mechanical engineering major, she finds it easy to focus too much on science and not enough on broader life questions. Miss Phillips also pointed to the importance of a good home life to nourish faith. Without that, she said, attracting young people to Church activities is a difficult process. Attendance at youth events builds on CCD attendance and church attendance as a child, she suggested. The DPC, reorganized in 1997 as an advisory group or “think tank,” includes members appointed by Bishop Thomas Tobin and others nominated by deans or priests from across the diocese. The group represents a broad cross-section of Catholi cism in the diocese – married, single, men, women, clergy, and religious. “The DPC has been very valuable to me,” Bishop Tobin told the Exponent. “It helps percolate ideas from different parts of the diocese, from different people with various experiences. The ideas they bring to this table become infused into diocesan programming, policies and ministries. The conversations that take place around this table help us to formulate pastoral responses to issues we are dealing with.”   Back to Exponent Menu Printer Friendly Page   Other Articles of 2002   Christmas letter from El Salvador missions thanks diocesan Catholics   Bishop shares views, discussion with Central students   ETC slates Christmas specials throughout the season   My Favorite Christmas Memories   Guidelines on religious ed homeschooling are issued   Local Catholic radio station targets Feb. 1 date   HMs end 98-years of service to Salem St. Paul Parish   Learn ‘language’ of young, youth meet speaker urges   Bishop Tobin: Meeting in D.C. on norms was ‘anxious, tense, difficult’   Priests must ask one another the tough questions, speaker says   Catholic death and funeral rites   Deacons mark 25th with Mass, dinner, memories   Diocesan Ministry Convocation Speaker: Global solidarity, not globalization, should be aim   Jusseaume inaugurated as sixth Walsh president   Diaconate marks 25th anniversary with Oct. 27 fete   New norms sent to priests, deacons on Communion under both kinds   Ashtabula parishes are ‘one Catholic community’   Jusseaume to become Walsh’s sixth president   Charismatic speaker: ‘Church being tested in faithfulness’   Lutheran/Catholic covenant event draws 140 to Walsh   Canton St. Joseph Parish observes centennial celebration   HMHP CEO Michael Rowan   Stewardship speaker: It’s about gratitude and thanking God first   Imagination is key to resolving crisis, priests told   War with Iraq? Expo readers opposed by 81-19%   Newspaper columns didn’t give complete story, official says   Diocesan Ministry Convocation set Oct. 26 at YSU’s Kilcawley   New year brings new faculty, changes at diocesan high schools   Mont St. Michel, Avignon’s papal palace are treasures   Preparing for the priesthood   Entering well-earned retirement, Sr. Marcella’s not slowing down   Warren St. Mary observes 100th year for church building   Lay Ministry Formation program attracting new audience   The cathedrals of France: Monuments of faith in stone   Executive summary of the ad hoc commission on athletics in diocesan high schools   ‘No widespread abuse’ found   Milburn leaving pro-life post to pursue grad studies   Return to France yields history, memories, surprises   Two new members appointed for Diocesan Finance Council   Former SS. C&M school razed, but memories remain   Pastor, 80, keeps busy with ‘lots of interests’   Ravenna IC boasts 5 high school valedictorians for ‘02   Humility Sister Sandy Pedone to profess perpetual vows July 21   NRLC convention filled with good news   ‘Capture the Romance’ is theme for NFP Week   Question of moral evil discussed at Walsh symposium   Notre Dame Sisters will celebrate jubilees July 14   ‘A great lady’ retires   Statement of Bishop Tobin on the meeting of the U. S. Conference   Haladej, Celuch ordained to priesthood, diaconate in Slovakia   Bishop plans implementation of norms on sexual abuse   Kevin McCaffrey, Robert Miller are newest priests   Theologian: ‘Behave toward others as though God were there’   Fr. Bonnot: Use good judgment for TV, movie viewing   MOMS: ‘A place to claim yourself’   Storm ‘changed lives forever’ for Jackson Twp. family   Bishop will ordain Miller, McCaffrey at May 25 ceremony   Update on child abuse   Vicar general addresses issue of not giving priest names to media   New Middletown St. Paul youth — called to be ‘witnesses’ for Christ   New Ursuline Sisters leadership team elected to 6-year term   Two receive first pastorates; two pastors change parishes   Abuse coverage   Walsh University dedicates new ‘David’ campus center   Sisters’ HIV/AIDS ministry critical, heartbreaking   Bishop visits St. Peter’s as rebuilding process begins   Chrism Mass theme: Priests can’t afford discouragement   Bishop’s Appeal stresses meeting needs, funding ministries   Diocese OKs closing Conneaut St. Frances Cabrini K-8; preschool stays   St. Stan’s marks 100th year   Canton St. Joseph choir enjoys ‘incredible trip’   New schools superintendent   Four journeys of faith among hundreds marked here   DPC considers direction, importance of youth ministry   Richard Jusseaume named as Walsh University’s sixth president   Pro-life dinner heralds new beginning in Stark County   Kids at church   Religious day studies resurrection amid culture of violence   Richard Jusseaume named as Walsh University’s sixth president   Keynoter: Eucharist should change us   Speaker: ‘Truth’ key concept in Gospel of John   Parishes offer Lenten missions for spiritual enrichment   Parishes offer Lenten missions, speakers series   Working in Medjugorje   TV anchorman finds faith not incompatible with journalism   Action alert on cloning set in diocese for Feb. 2-3   Austintown parishioner finds fulfillment in El Salvador   ‘Where Faith and Knowledge Meet’   Resisting TEMPTATION: It’s worth the effort, teens say   4th annual Diocesan Pro-life Mass set Jan. 26   Catholic/Lutheran dialogue, death of Walsh president top news   Diocese helping Afghanistan relief   Past Articles From 2001