OK, hunker down for a little bit, folks.  This is gonna take some space.  Blame Roy. We are both big fans of Mark Oestricher and, on facebook, Mr. Petitfils called my attention of a recent blog post of Marko’s.  In it, he ponders upon the question of adolescence extending later and later in life into a third stage of “emerging adulthood” and the implications for the Church in utilizing the services of 18-24 year old adolescents ministering with adolescents in our high schools or middle schools.  Read the whole post and the comments, it is an engaging dialogue.

And throughout it all, I was reminded of Paul’s message to the Galatians (3:26-28): For through faith you are all children of God in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If racial, social-economic, and gender identity really does not matter to God, why do we think age should?

Paul did not. He reminds Timothy (4:12) to Let no one have contempt for your youth, but set an example for those who believe, in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.

So, Marko is sweating brain development and its impact on ministry, and I’m wondering… does it matter?

We are failing to fully engaging the many generations within our Church into ministry with young people.  I remember attending a regional LifeTeen training a few years back, When it came time for the break-out, a percentage went to the “experienced core team member” group, a few others went to the catechesis group, but the overwhelming majority gathered for the musician / worship leader group – -  and most of them were young adults. And I wondered back then… Is this about involvement in liturgy? Is this about praise and worship music in a Catholic setting? (and/or) Is this about being young adults together?  My guess back then was it was a combination of all with a mix of willingness to be in service to the Lord.

Leaving young adults alone to ministry is not a failure of wrongful placement of trust… It’s abandoning an age group to their own devises in a Church were we don’t dispose Jew or Greek, we do not forsake one who is a slave or is free, or renounce males or females…  They is no place in our Church for the contempt of age-segregation of young people any more.

The rEVOLution in Catholic Youth Ministry must, must, must be us actually living up to our own rhetoric.  Renewing the Vision outlined the challenges thirteen years ago: We are deeply concerned by America’s neglect of young people…. Ministry with adolescents will need to be more comprehensive and community-wide…  the continuing development of the Church’s understanding and practice of ministry needs to be incorporated into a contemporary vision and strategy for ministry with adolescents today.

RTV goes on to elicit a quote from John Paul II’s 1995 World Day of Prayer for Vocations.  You will likely recognize it as the “This is what is needed: a Church for young people…” quote.  Yet imagined if it read…

This is what is needed: a Church that sets aside young people into youth groups or youth liturgies, speaking to their hearts for only the short while of their adolescence hyping upon their hormone-driven emotions and inspire enthusiasm for joy and strength, but not necessarily about the really hard stuff like the Gospels or the Eucharist; a Church which is only bold enough to ask to Confirm your presence for a certain amount of service hours or contact time and not get involved in embarrassingly pulling a “rich young man” demand on a kid and asking him or her to  commit his whole existence; a Church which is afraid to require much because the young people won’t really be good for it, a Church which gives the impression it is incapable of having have given much; a Church which does not fear asking from young people the effort of a noble and authentic adventure, such as the summer youth conference or the workcamp, from which they will quickly return home safe and sound.

Yea, that sounds wrong, does it not?  But how are we programming…?

If we are to be a Church for young people…

> We’ve got to engage the “adult” church to speak to young people’s hearts and enkindle, comfort, and inspire enthusiasm in them with the joy of the Gospel and the strength of the Eucharist. The core team can “represent” but even the most successful youth ministry effort sweats not having enough adults.
> We’ve got to invite young people into the full community and not into a safe segment of the community.  This is us giving much because that safety factor is for us adults who rather not deal with the messiness of adolescence and discount their membership.
>  We’ve got to follow John Paul II’s example and call young people to “discipleship;” follow Benedict XVI’s example and call young people to “making definitive choices;” and not fear asking from young people the effort of a noble and authentic adventure.

OK, I’ve gone on way too long. It is not about adolescence, brain development, it’s about God’s call and God doesn’t card at the door. Comment away… What are the other “We’ve got to’s” if we are to be a Church for young people?