A Vision for Catholic Youth Ministry

Course Summary

The Vision for Catholic Youth Ministry is a five-week course introducing students to the vision and principles for developing an integral approach for pastoral ministry with young people and their families. Students will explore the themes of encounter, accompaniment, and mission in the Catholic Church’s ministry with young people and their families. Finally, students will be introduced to a leadership system for creating a stable, vibrant, and lasting ministry within their ministry setting.

Successful completion of this course earns 2.5 CEU's.

General Course Objectives

• Identify the goals of Catholic youth ministry and define what is meant by a “comprehensive mindset.”
• Understand how the themes, settings, and components of Catholic youth ministry are integrated to form a comprehensive approach.
• Explore how the Church shares the Gospel message through various means with young people.
• Describe the current model in your local community for pastoral ministry with young people and their families.
• Explore a leadership system for strengthening their current efforts in youth ministry.

Course Materials

• Required Book: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. July, 2020. Directory for Catechesis: New Edition ISBN: 1601376693; ISBN-13: 978-1601376695; ASIN:‎ B08FCT5TLJ
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• Optional Book: Thomas East, et al Leadership for Catholic Youth Ministry: A Comprehensive Resource Twenty-Third Publications, 2009. ISBN: 1585957321; ISBN-13: 978-1585957323
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Course Structure and Highlights

• Week 1: A Listening Church
  • Explore the nature, goals, and principles for pastoral ministry with young people and their families.
  • Understand the Scriptural passage of the journey to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35) as the missionary mandate of the Church’s ministry with young people.
  • Apply the goals, settings, and themes of Catholic youth ministry to your own ministry practice.
• Week 2: The Gospel, a message for young people
  • Explore the Christocentric and Trinitarian centrality of the Gospel message, a message proclaiming salvation and liberation.
  • Understand how the Gospel message is meaningful for young people today.
  • Appreciate that in our ministry efforts, we need to proclaim the Gospel message in a “language” accessible to young people (inculturation) with both fidelity and imagination.
• Week 3: Integral Accompaniment
  • Identify the eight ministries (components) of the Catholic Church outlined in Renewing the Vision.
  • Understand the way of accompaniment: synodality, discernment, participation, dialogue.
  • Explore and assess the current approach of youth ministry in your local community.
• Week 4: Young People, the Subjects of the Church’s Ministry
  • Explore some of the hopes and challenges of contemporary young people and what these mean for the Church’s ministry today.
  • Understand some of aspects of the developmental growth of young people.
  • Appreciate the role that younger and older members of the Church can play in each other’s lives and growth in faith
    
• Week 5: A Synodal Church
  • Explore the various roles necessary for organizing and implementing the Church’s pastoral ministry with young people and their families.
  • Identify the qualities needed by those who exercise pastoral ministry with young people.
  • Appreciate the need for initial and ongoing formation of those in direct ministry with young people.

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