Holy Name Youth Ministry is ready to follow the Leader

aka “The Road to Emmaus leads to a new tomorrow for Holy Name youth”

Art: The Road To Emmaus is a painting by Daniel Bonnell

“...to accompany requires placing oneself at the disposal of the Spirit of the Lord and of the one accompanied, with all his or her qualities and capacities”

~ Final Document of the Synod of Bishops on Young People, Faith and Vocational Discernment, #101

The guiding image of the recent international Synod on Youth was The Appearance on the Road to Emmaus. It is symbolic of what youth ministry needs from today’s Church: accompaniment, so that those searching might find—and see!—Christ.

In recent years, the two quotes* I’ve heard most often from parish youth ministry leaders are:

1.) “They disappear after Confirmation.”

2.) “They’re too busy for youth group. They don’t show up.”

*not actual quotes, but you get the idea

Sometimes youth ministry takes place in a gathered “youth group” format: a regularly-scheduled time and place, with a distinct start and finish and a “message” in the middle.

But if teens aren’t there, they won’t hear the message.

In 2019, it’s hard to get teens to come to youth group activities. That’s not a Holy Name problem. That’s a Catholic Church issue I’ve seen throughout NWI Indiana and beyond. Teens are busy (or apathetic). Parents are busy (or apathetic).

Jesus didn’t hang out in Emmaus and wait for the two men to come to him. He went out and walked and talked with them on their journey.

Following the lead of Pope Francis and the Synod, Holy Name Youth Ministry is forming an Adult Leadership Core Team. The team will be assembled to:

1.) help Holy Name grow parish-wide efforts to expand ministry with adolescents

2.) mentor youth: identify youth, walk with them on their journeys

At first, the Core Team will be more think-tank in nature: what can we be? In the Summer of 2019, I will lead the Core Team in at least two training sessions that will educate and inspire team members to be true pioneers: exploring uncharted territory for the young Church of Holy Name.

Qualifications: active Roman Catholic, graduated high school, desire to love teens. You don’t have to be perfect, just be real. And be you. Ideal age: NONE. I mean, you have to be an adult 18+ as per diocesan safe environment rules, but 18, 28, 58, 108...whatever. As long as you genuinely want to help young people discover Christ.

“Those who accompany should be welcoming and patient, they elicit pertinent questions and recognize the signs of the Spirit in the replies of the young”

~ Final Document of the Synod of Bishops on Young People, Faith and Vocational Discernment, #97

It starts this coming Sunday with a no-obligation information meeting, Sunday, May 19th, 6-7:30pm, in the Parish Office. At the meeting you can find out more, and see if it’s a good fit for you.

Let’s make Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church a place in which our teens know and see Christ.

Email me if you have any questions: yyakev@yahoo.com .

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Kevin Driscoll is serving Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church as a youth and young adult ministry consultant for a few months. In that time he hopes to build a team of youth ministry leaders, prepare a document on the needs of the community, and lead a few direct service programs too. Kevin has spent 22 years in youth and young adult ministry leadership, most recently as the Director of the Diocese of Gary Office for Youth & Young Adults.

Art: The Road To Emmaus is a painting by Daniel Bonnell.