Here We Are to Worship!

I have been participating in an Online Course/Discussion on Implementing the New Catholic Roman Missal to Young People. Here's a question that was posed to me... "What are some key points you would suggest as a "must do" for youth ministers to help them catechize the youth of the parish? Any resources you have come across?" Here's my answer...

Some "Key Points":

•GO TO MASS as a Youth Group! You might even want to try and add a daily Mass option to your weekly schedule. Hopefully you have an early morning Mass before school or an evening Mass that you all can make an effort to attend. You can even add this to the list of responsibilities for your CORE Team, or Youth Leadership Council!

•I recommend that your Youth Programs take a look at "The Mass", and do some basic "reminder" style catechesis on its purpose and its opportunity in our lives as Catholic Christians.

•Make friends with your Music and Liturgy Director, and involve them in the planning and presentation of the "New" material. Help them understand how to work with young people, and put them in a good place to succeed in presenting to your group, establishing leadership and respect.

•If you have a music component to your program, think about adding the chosen Parish Mass Setting to your Praise & Worship Nights!

•Think about learning the "New" responses, especially the CREED. Use Youth Group Meetings to talk through them and discuss their purpose within the liturgy... I know (YAWN)... Seriously, this can be done effectively and with a sense of fun and prayerfulness. Think about adding a 10 minute block of time to the end of your youth group meetings dedicated to a different part of the liturgy through the Fall.

•Finally, because the kids in your Parish will adapt to these changes much more easily than their parents, trea

t your youth group as the disciples that they are! They can be leading the way, and embrace the opportunity to journey through this time with enthusiasm!

Some Resources: My parish is depending on the Liturgy Training Publication series based on the booklet Understanding the Revised Mass Texts, Second Edition by Paul Turner (and the Leader Book). There is a book for teens and children as well. I like it because its not too detailed, but it offer all the explanation one needs. Our plan is to offer a copy of the Turner booklet to our congregation, and use it in our Adult Ed. Program. We will utilize the children and teen material in the RE Program, most likely taught in three lessons.