A Beginner’s Guide to Catholic Youth Ministry
Kathleen Field
People in the Diocese of Palmerston North’s Catholic schools and parishes are surprised when I tell them I’m a youth minister. But their surprise often follows with ‘I didn’t know the Church had youth ministers’, then ‘what do you do?’
If today’s young people are tomorrow’s Church, we need to encourage them to develop faith through all avenues. Catholic youth ministry connects young people in Church community, within and between schools and parishes, universities, Catholic orders, organisations, movements, families and groups. Through peer ministry, and young people are invited to share their gifts by ministering in some way and spreading Christian community – the love of God in word and action.
In Palmerston North we have a team of three youth ministers: a diocesan co-ordinator, a college and parish chaplain and a tertiary chaplain young-adult co-ordinator. Across the diocese we link with college chaplains in most secondary schools; youth ministers in some parishes; and co-ordinate youth ministers and tertiary chaplains across regions. Every youth-based event offers a mixture of faith development, service and hospitality.
Youth ministry is local – a small youth group meeting in the parish hall on a Friday evening, or a couple of young adults helping at the local parish-service café. But the network of Catholic youth connected to the Church is national. Every diocese has Catholic youth ministers and many events attract young people from other dioceses.
Our guide to Catholic youth ministry is actually a guide to a living Catholic Church. People can link to our events or those in their own diocese and we are always looking for volunteers to help run programmes, youth groups and events. Contact me in Palmerston Northme in Palmerston North or Dan Siave in Wellington in Wellington.
Kathleen Field is Co-ordinator of Youth and Young Adult Ministries for the Palmerston North Diocese.