FOCUS:
"Youth and Young Adults"
Prayer  Focus 1,  Article 4

YOUNG PEOPLE’S INVOLVEMENT
 
IN THE LAY MINISTRY

by Dick Lajiness

             This title probably does not ring a bell with many people and rightly so.  It’s the title of Pope John Paul II’s General Audience of August 31, 1994.  This particular writing starts off with the paragraph,  “Affirming the need for Christian education and reminding pastors of their gravest duty to provide it for all, the Second Vatican Council observed that the young “… are the hope of the Church.” (Gravissimum Educationis 2)  Later in the address, John Paul states, “It is a constant factor, not only of psychology, but also of the spirituality of youth, that they are not satisfied with passive adherence to the faith.  Young people feel the desire to contribute actively to the Church’s development as well as to that of civil society. This is especially evident in many fine girls and boys of today, who wish to be “leading characters in evangelization  and participants in the renewal of society.”
             How are our Youth being invited to be “leading characters in evangelization and participants in the renewal of society?”  One way that has proved effective is called “Youth Alpha.”  You may know that Alpha is an interdenominational evangelization program for Adults.  Using a format of a meal, talks (videos) on basic Christianity topics and small group sharing on these topics, this program has proven itself in our Archdiocese as an effective means of spiritually energizing adults in the faith, including those who have practiced the Catholic faith all of their lives.  Now there is an Alpha program designed specifically for Youth.  Youth Alpha is now also being successfully used in our Archdiocese.
            One person who is doing Youth Alpha is Jovita Sanchez, Youth Supervisor/Coordinator of St. Stephen/Mary, Mother of the Church, St. Gabriel, and Our Lady Queen of Angels parishes in the Archdiocese of Detroit, Michigan.  As Jovita writes –
            “In April, 2010, the Youth Alpha course was given at St. Stephen/Mary Mother of the Church.  It was an experience that brought youth closer to each other and renewed their faith in Jesus Christ as Catholic believers.  Youth Alpha is a tool that ministers to the youth through a meal, small group talks and dynamics. The youth are the leaders of the program. They never are bored and they keep coming back.  Also, Holy Spirit Day was amazing, and the youth made a new commitment in their faith to our Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
            The youth of today in this technological world are hungry, thirsting, and seeking for answers. Through Youth Alpha they can come and be among other adolescents their own age.  They can open up and let go of what is on their minds.  At the end of the course they know who Jesus is, because He is the Light of their hearts and the world.   I highly recommend Youth