Erin Hogan, youth minister at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Cuyahoga Falls, realizes that although there is a learning curve, sharing the faith during an anxious time is of extreme importance.
As IHM core team members began to plan and implement digital outreach to parish members, Hogan and her youth and young adult members outlined ways to connect virtually.
“This is an opportunity for all youth leaders to be innovative and provide another avenue for outreach, prayer and conversation for teens and young adults,” Hogan said.
Since church closures were announced in March, IHM has been offering a weekly Bible study session via Zoom for high school and college-age young adults. Facilitated by Hogan, the Zoom sessions allow a visual gathering from the comfort of home and an opportunity to break open the Scriptures.
“We are in a time when a lot of kids are feeling farther away from God. Although it’s utilizing video conferencing, the Bible study affords us the opportunity to see how everyone is doing on a personal level, trying to cope with this ‘new normal,’” Hogan said. “We start every meeting sharing the high points and low points of the previous week.”
Incorporating social media platforms is another avenue of engagement. Every day at 3 p.m., Hogan or a different core member goes live on the IHM Life Teen Instagram and Facebook pages to share some reflections and pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. The Chaplet is offered for victims of the coronavirus and all the people out on the front lines. Petitions are gathered from anyone who is watching and praying along at home. “This has been one of my favorite things,” Hogan said. “It gives us a concrete way to come together as the Body of Christ -- to pray with and for each other -- and it centers my day around prayer.”
Social gatherings via Zoom also have been implemented to include game and movie nights. On Good Friday, Hogan and a team of college students watched “The Passion of the Christ” at 7 p.m. in their own homes. After the movie ended, each joined the Zoom team meeting to unpack and share reflections. “What a beautiful experience and great way to enter into the sufferings of our Lord on Good Friday from the safety of our own homes,” Hogan said.
She manages the youth ministry Instagram platform where she shares positive, faith-based content targeted at uplifting a teen’s newsfeed. “Sometimes, I think they just need to be reminded that they are loved and if an Instagram post can provide that, I’m all for it,” Hogan said.”
In addition to the targeted teen and young adult ministry, Life Teen music ministers Jeff and Kira Andrea created their own musical arrangement of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy which was then incorporated into the Divine Mercy Sunday live streamed Mass.
Watch or follow IHM youth and young adult ministry on Instagram, @ihmlifeteen, or on Facebook, @IHMLifeTeen
Live stream Masses may be found at ihmcfo.org
