There is An Urgency
In his Address to DREs, Catechists, and Youth Ministers given on Thursday, November 2, 2017 Bishop Shelton J. Fabre said: “A recent CARA study surveyed U.S. participants ages 15 to 25 who were raised Catholic but who no longer identify as such, as well as another of group of self-identified U.S. Catholic adults 18 and older. Nearly two-thirds of participants in the youth and young adult study reported ‘losing the faith’ between the ages of 10 and 17. A startling number – 23% – stated that they had ceased believing the Catholic faith before the age of 10. Half of the surveyed group now self-identify as atheist, agnostic or without any religious affiliation.”
He continued: “There is an urgency. The situation we are facing with our young people demands that we produce an appropriate response. We must look for new ways to engage our young people. We must find new opportunities that allow them to encounter the love of Jesus personally. We must be ever more creative so that they take steps forward and grow in that relationship. In short or efforts to reach young people in the area of catechesis must be renewed and adapted. The days of us speculating whether things should change have passed us by. The days of us merely complaining about ‘the culture’ or ‘how hard things are’ are gone.”
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The document is a 7-page PDF.
Connect
This initial movement within formation is for a young person to “connect” with people committed to their growth. “Connect” has particular implications for our youth. I believe our youth particularly suffer today from a lack of real connection. Today’s youth are growing up in a world wherepeople may know a lot of “information” about them as can be read on Facebook, Twitter, or dozens of other social media apps. However, few people really “know” them. Young people today not only deeply long for true friendships, connections and a sense of belonging with their peers, but they also long for this with adults. We must seek to help young people connect not only with their peers but also with adults who are invested in their well-being and willing to journey with them through their faith journey. Sometimes the journey of accompaniment with a young person can be a slow process that takes much patience and love. We must learn how to accompany young people with steadiness, compassion, and perseverance. For some, we will need to take time to build a foundation of trust before they will be ready to seek a deeper encounter with Christ. For others, who have already come to know the love of God deeply and are desiring to grow in holiness, we must help them to grow in these deeper ways. No matter where a young person is, this element of “connect” facilitates accompaniment which is necessary for all other pieces of the process of formation.
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 more about the Truths of the Church, by participating in the Sacraments, by learning out how to pray and live a life of virtue.
Mission
Finally, we must help our young people learn about the spiritual gifts God has given; discovering their “charisms” and learning how to respond to God’s call in their life.
Read more about the vision of Youth Formation by clicking the button below.
The document is an address given to DREs, Catechists, and Youth Ministers by Bishop Fabre (11-page PDF).