Family Life Commission
                                                                                   Young Adult Ministry

                                                                          If you are a young man or woman,
                                                                                 Between ages 19 – 40,
                                                                            And you are single or married,
                                                                                    Divorced or widowed,
                                                                                  With or without children,
                                                                           In college, working, or unemployed,
                                                                 You are a newcomer in search for a better life,

 
                                                                                                 Then our
                                                                                       Young Adult Ministry
                                                                                                 Is for you!

 
The Church recognizes all these categories and understands the vastness of this age demographic. What unites you all is your youthful enthusiasm and energy, but also the challenges of transition and discovery. Through our Young Adult Ministry we at St. Bart’s want to celebrate your excitement and optimistic outlook and offer pastoral care for those in transition.

 

1 Timothy 4:12
"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity."

St. John Paul II
"It is Jesus that you seek when you dream of happiness; He is waiting for you when nothing else you find satisfies you; He is the beauty to which you are so attracted; it is He who provoked you with that thirst for fullness that will not let you settle for compromise; it is He who urges you to shed the masks of a false life; it is He who reads in your heart your most genuine choices, the choices that others try to stifle.

It is Jesus who stirs in you the desire to do something great with your lives, the will to follow an ideal, the refusal to allow yourselves to be ground down by mediocrity, the courage to commit yourselves humbly and patiently to improving yourselves and society, making the world more human and more fraternal.”
                                                                                       (Rome, 19 August 2000)

Pope Francis
"I say to each one of you, 'put on faith,' and your life will take on a new flavor. 'Put on Hope' and every one of your days will be enlightened. 'put on love' and your life will be like a house built on rock, your journey will be joyful because you will find many friends to journey with you."

"It is Your life that Jesus wants to enter with His word, with His presence. Please, let Christ and His word enter your life, blossom and grow."

The Church needs you, your enthusiasm, your creativity and the joy that is so characteristic of you.”
                                                                                          (Rio de Janeiro, 2013)

 
                                                               GOALS OF ST. BART’s YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY

 The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) developed some strategic goals for Young Adult Ministry as a starting point for parishes.

Goal 1: Connecting Young Adults with Jesus Christ.
To foster the personal and communal growth and education of young adults toward a relationship with Jesus Christ leading to Christian maturity.

Objectives:

• Spiritual formation and direction: To help young adults develop their spiritual life rooted in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as their redeemer and savior.
  
• Religious education/formation: To help young adults appreciate the teachings and traditions of the church through catechesis, religious education and pastoral care.
  
• Vocation discernment: To help young adults understand vocation as primarily a call to holiness and Christian maturity lived through single or married life, the priesthood, the deaconate or religious life.
  

Goal 2: Connecting Young Adults with the Church.
To make contact with young adults and invite and welcome them to participate in the life and mission of the Christian community, which proclaims Jesus Christ by preaching the Gospel.

Objectives:

• Evangelizing outreach: To identify places where young adults gather and to personally connect them with the church by listening to their concerns, hopes and dreams, and welcoming them into a community of faith.
  
• Forming the faith community: To invite, empower and enable young adults to participate in the life of the church through worship, community life, small faith communities and evangelizing efforts, and on committees, in ministries and in Catholic movements and organizations.
  
• Pastoral care: To provide activities, visitations and counseling opportunities which respond to the spiritual and developmental needs of young adults.
  

 Goal 3: Connecting young adults with the mission of the church in the world.
To invite young adults, through healthy relationships, work and studies, to embrace the mission of Christ to promote the building of the kingdom of God in the world today, thereby bringing about the transformation of society.

Objectives:

• Forming a Christian conscience: To help young adults form their conscience based on the Gospel and on the church’s moral and social teachings.
  
• Educating and working for justice: To provide educational and service opportunities for young adults to practice the Gospel values of justice, peace and care for the less fortunate in the workplace, at home and in the local community.
  
• Developing leaders for the present and the future: To invite, train, support and mentor young adults to be leaders in society and church life.
  

Goal 4: Connecting young adults with a peer community.
To help young adults develop relationships with peers who share similar values and beliefs which nurture and strengthen their faith, thereby creating communities of support.

Objectives:

• Forming faith communities of peers: To provide opportunities for young adults to find among their peers the necessary support and encouragement as they journey through life and fulfill their mission to the world.
  
• Developing peer leadership: To help young adults become leaders, not only among their peers, but within the larger community.
  
• Identifying a young adult team: To identify a team to advocate and respond to the needs of young adults.
  

Goal 5: Fellowship and Social Activities
To help young adults socialize and enjoy the fun things they love doing together, in a relaxed and familiar environment.

Objectives:

• Sports events:  To provide sports opportunities and events, which may include getting involved in a league.
  
• Social Events: To provide opportunities for social events, including movies nights, bowling, dance, etc.
  
• Parish Event: To have the Young Adults plan an intergenerational event in the parish
  

                                           Young Adult Leadership Team Member Position Description

Composition:
The Team will be made up of the Spiritual Director, the Young Adult Ministry Coordinator, and at least five young adults, each in charge of one aspect of the ministry’s five goals.

General Responsibilities of Every Ministry and Committee Member:

Specific Responsibilities of Young Adult Leadership Team Members

• They will be responsible for planning and leading all Young Adult Ministry activities
  
• They will be responsible for working with the other young adults in the group
  
• They should endeavor to get everyone is involved and contributing
  
• They should lead by delegation – giving everyone a role in the group’s activities
  

General Qualifications Required of Every Ministry and Committee Member:

Specific Qualities Required:

• Desire to serve others
  
• Ability to reach out to peers
  
• Willing to serve both their peers as well as the entire parish
  

 
                                                    Young Adult Ministry Coordinator Position Description

Reports to:         Young Adult Ministry Spiritual Director and Commission Co-Chairs

General Responsibilities of Every Ministry and Committee Chairperson and Coordinator:

Specific Responsibilities of Young Adult Ministry Coordinator

• The goal is for the Young Adults to run the ministry themselves.
  
• Thus the group will form/choose their Team Leaders
  
• However, the Team Leaders will need some help here and there
  
• The coordinator, working with the Spiritual Director, helps them in the areas help is needed, e.g.
  

                  a. Logistics – as regards programs and activities

                  b. Paperwork through the office

                  c. Reminders and follow ups 

                  d. Mentoring, etc.

Special Activities

• Attend Annual parish Leadership training
  
• Attend annual parish Ministry Recollection Day
  
• Annual Parish Ministry Appreciation Dinner
  
• Help with Annual Stewardship Fair
  

Time of Commitment

• Depending on the programs and activities of the ministry
  

Expected Length of Commitment

• At least two years and at most four years.
  

              General Qualifications Required of Every Ministry and Committee Chairperson and Coordinator:

Specific Qualifications Required

• Zeal to play a role in the future of the Church and Society:
  
• Ministry to young adults offers people in a congregation the opportunity to invest in lives that will guide and direct the future of our world, country, and denomination. What an exciting opportunity!
  
• Maturity in faith or sincere desire to grow in faith and in the practice of the faith
  
• Exemplary life
  

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