The Ministry of Advocacy:

1.       Engages the Church to examine its priorities and practices to determine how well young people are integrated into the life, mission, and work of the Catholic community; 

2.     Places adolescents and families first by analyzing every program and policy for its impact on adolescents and families;

3.     Struggles against economic and social forces that threaten adolescents and families; and

4.     Supports policies and programs that support and empower adolescents and their families and works to overcome poverty, provide decent jobs, and promote equal opportunity.

The Ministry of Catechesis:

1.       Develops a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and the Christian community;

2.     Increases knowledge of the core content of the Catholic faith;

3.     Enriches and expands understanding of the Scripture and the sacred tradition and their application to life today;

4.     Encourages adolescents to live more faithfully as disciples of Jesus Christ in their daily lives, especially through a life of prayer, justice, and loving service; and

5.     Encourages adolescents to grow in three dimensions of Catholic faith—trusting (heart), knowing and believing (mind), and doing (will).

The Ministry of Community Life:

1.       Builds an environment of love, support, appreciation for diversity, and judicious acceptance, which models Catholic principles;

2.     Develops meaningful relationships; and

3.     Nurtures Catholic faith.

The Ministry of Evangelization:

1.       Shares the Good News of the reign of God and Invites young people to hear about the Word Made Flesh;

2.     Incorporates the elements of witness, outreach, proclamation, invitation, conversion, and discipleship; and

3.     Is the core of all ministry with adolescents, as all relationships, components, and programs of comprehensive ministry with adolescents must proclaim the Good News.

The Ministry of Justice and Service:

1.       Nurtures in young people a social consciousness and a commitment to a life of justice and service rooted in their faith in Jesus Christ, in the Scriptures, and in Catholic social teaching;

2.     Empowers young people to work for justice by concrete efforts to address the causes of human suffering, to serve those in need, to pursue peace, and to defend the life, dignity, and rights of all people; and

3.     Infuses the concepts of justice, peace, and human dignity into all ministry efforts.

The Ministry of Leadership Development:

1.       Calls forth, affirms, and empowers the diverse gifts, talents, and abilities of adults and young people in our faith communities for comprehensive ministry with adolescents;

2.     Encourages and trains leaders; and

3.     Involves a wide diversity of adults and youth leaders in a variety of roles.

The Ministry of Pastoral Care:

1.       Promotes positive adolescent and family development through a variety of positive/preventive strategies;

2.     Cares for adolescents and families in crisis through support, counseling, and referral to appropriate community agencies;

3.     Provides guidance as young people face life decisions and make moral choices;

4.     Challenges systems that are obstacles to positive development; and

5.     Is a relationship- a ministry of compassionate presence in the lives of adolescents.

The Ministry of Prayer and Worship:

1.       Celebrates and deepens young people’s relationship with Jesus Christ through the bestowal of grace, community prayer and liturgical experiences;

2.     Awakens young people’s awareness of the spirit at work in their lives;

3.     Incorporates young people more fully into the sacramental life of the Church, especially Eucharist;

4.     Nurtures the personal prayer life of young people; and

To open up opportunities, we look to all of our resources.  Four ministry settings create possibilities and inspire our shared activity.

Teens

Families

Parish

Wider Community