Youth ministers and pastors from across the eight-county Diocese of Cleveland gathered recently at diocesan headquarters for a daylong conference to pray, share ideas and gather information to make their ministry with young people more dynamic.
Bishop Edward Malesic opened the session with prayer. He also shared information about his trip to the diocesan mission in El Salvador in mid-September. The bishop and a group of 14 deacons and priests traveled to the mission for a retreat and to celebrate its 60th anniversary. He said the mission serves as many as 10,000 to 20,000 faithful Salvadorans.
“The young Church in El Salvador is beautiful,” the bishop said. “It is full of energy like in our parishes.”
He said young people “want authenticity. Show them what it means to be authentic, to be a leader. They need to be formed. Lead them to the water and we hope they will drink,” he added.
Francine Costantini, director of youth ministry in the diocese, introduced Aaron Richards, keynote speaker for the program. Richards is executive director of operations and finance for Damascus, a ministry program based in Centerburg, Ohio. Its flagship program is a large summer camp for teens. His topic was “Hope.”
Richards told the group that many who are baptized into the Church as babies fall away by the time they reach adulthood.
“But there is hope,” he said.
Youth ministry is not new, Richards said, telling the group to look back to the example of Jesus himself.
“The average age of those called into ministry during the time of the apostles was 13-30,” Richards said. “Jesus ministered to a gaggle of teens.”
He said Jesus modeled the first and most impactful form of youth ministry. “It was a real opportunity to speak to youth through the heart of Jesus. “
God’s heart was motivated by two things, Richards said: the state of the world in despair and his children are desperate and he heard their cry.
“Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened,” he added. Richards said there are three challenges to young people in Generation Z, those born from 1997 to 2012.
First, there is a general distrust. The solution is witness.
Second, there is confusion. The solution is moments of opportunity for encounter.
And third, there is loneliness and isolation. The solution is community.
He said young people today doubt facts; they rely on witness.
Reflecting on young people in Jesus’ time, Richards said by about age 13 boys who showed an inclination or seemed called to a deeper faith were invited to “Come, follow me.” The others were told to take up their father’s trade.
Richards said Damascus built its ministry around St. Paul’s encounter with Christ: awaken empower and equip. “These are the three prongs of our ministry model.”
Richards called young people today the loneliest generation since that data began being measured. “Only 25% of Gen Z says they have a trusted adult they can confide in,” he added.
By age 13, young people generally decide if they will live life as a Catholic, he pointed out. “How can we help? By fostering real and meaningful community. Young people want to apply their energy to something that can change the world. We need to form communities on mission that are driven with passion and purpose,” he added.
Richards said Christianity and Catholicism should be driven by care for others, to do something meaningful.
“Young people are hungrier than ever for something to change the world,” he said.
Richards offered three takeaways. Some people will be called to do something bigger. “Be responsive and be ready to act,” he said.
Even if people are not called to start something new themselves, they may be the ones to invite others to participate in something meaningful. And finally, advocate.
“My life was transformed by my eighth-grade teacher,” Richards said, noting the teacher identified a spark in him and a few other students. They were invited to meet and explore their faith more deeply.
“Curiosity is at an all-time high for this generation. Foster it,” Richards said.
Click here to learn more about Damascus. More information on youth ministry in the diocese is available here.