Be Not Afraid:Engaging Youth in

Liturgy

2009 Diocese of Youngstown

LITURGY DAY

With Cindee Case

Opening Prayer

O God of everlasting goodness, be with us at this hour of promise.

You have called us to consider the younger members of our communities when we assemble for worship in your name.

Renew in us a sense of awe in your presence, manifested in the sacramental life of our parishes.Just as your Son gathered his disciples in the upper

room, So may we be gathered to give praise and honor to your name.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Components of Comprehensive Youth Ministry

to, by, with and for youth: Advocacy Catechesis Community life Evangelization Justice and Service Leadership Development Pastoral Care , and Prayer and Worship

“The ministry of prayer and worship

CELEBRATES and DEEPENS the young people’s relationship with Jesus Christ by bestowal

of grace, communal prayer and liturgical experiences;

It AWAKENS their awareness of the spirit at work in their lives;

It INCORPORATES young people more fully into the sacramental life of the Church, especially

Eucharist;

It NURTURES the personal prayer of young people; It FOSTERS family rituals

and prayer (RTV, p. 44)

Quick side note on Engaging Parents:

“Parents are the most influential agents of catechesis for their children. They have a unique responsibility for the education of their children; they are the first educators, or catechists.”

(National Directory

for Catechesis, p. 23)

“…the best social predictor, although not a guarantee,

of what the religious and spiritual lives of youth will look like is

what the religiousand spiritual lives of their

parents do look like.” Soul Searching, p. 261

CSL key points:

• Paschal Mystery (#6)

• Source and Summit (#10)

• Involvement (#14, 48)

• Public and communal (#26)

• Simple (#34)

• Inclusive and Representative (#37, 38)

From Age to Age: The Challenge of Worship with Adolescents -- Principles for Vibrant

Worship with Adolescents

• Vibrant Worship with Adolescents Celebrates Their Involvement in the Church’s Life and Mission

• Vibrant Worship with Adolescents Invites and Accepts Their Authentic Participation

Vibrant Worship with Adolescents Attends to the

Diversity of Ages and Cultures in the Assembly

Vibrant Worship with Adolescents Roots and Fosters

Their Personal Prayer Relationship with God

Vibrant Worship Includes Effective Preaching of the Word

Vibrant Worship Has a Youthful Spirit in Music &

Song

Diocese of Youngstown teens favorite Church songs…..

(2005, not 1985)

• Be Not Afraid

• City of God

• Here I am, Lord• On Eagles Wings

  Vibrant Worship Incorporates Visually Dynamic Symbols and Actions  Vibrant Worship Has an Interactive and Communal DimensionVibrant Worship Has an Interactive and Communal DimensionVibrant Worship Has an Interactive and Communal DimensionVibrant Worship Has an Interactive and Communal Dimension

Opportunities for Engagement• Lectors• Cantors• Choir members• Ushers/Greeters• Musicians

•Sacristan assistants

•Church cleaning

•Gift bearers

• Servers

•E.M.E. (over 16)

•Environment

•Liturgical committee

The keys First,

• Invite

• Encourage• Affirm

Then

• Train• Mentor• support

“In our in-depth interviews with U.S. teenagers, we also found the vast majority

of them to be incredibly inarticulate about their faith, their religious beliefs

and practices, and its meaning or place in their lives” (Soul Searching, p. 131)…

“Catholic teenagers also tended to be particularly inarticulate about their

faith” (ibid., p. 132).

Four Movements of Formal Prayer/Structure of Liturgy

1. Call to Prayer, Gathering

2. The Word, reading

3. Respond, ritual

4. Blessings, Sending Forth

What are you thinking?

• HOW DO YOU ALREADY ENGAGE YOUTH

IN YOUR MINISTRY SETTING

• What “One Thing” can you – will you do – to better engage youth in Liturgy?

Ideas to share/borrow:

• Let me know if I can • answer any questions • after this session…

Cindee CaseDirectorOffice of Youth & Young Adult Ministry144 W. Wood St, Youngstown OH 44503330.744.8451Ccase@youngstowndiocese.org