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Specific suggestions for using Growing Faith in youth ministry, and other needs for the youth... Growing Faith is designed to be used over a two year period with young people

Organizing for Youth

• Work in three “seasons” each year, roughly coordinated with the local high school calendar:

• Fall

• Winter

• Spring

• Select a Growing Faith course for each season; Growing Faith is designed to be used over a two year period with young people if there are 3 seasons of gatherings per year with 8 gatherings per season. Confirmation students will thus receive a systematic and comprehensive course on the Catholic faith before they receive the sacrament.

• You might want to combine youth ministry and high school religious education events on a 50-50 basis.

• Click here for more information on high school religion textbooks.

One month before each season starts

• Begin advertising in the bulletin and web sites and begin getting the word out person to person among the youth.

• Schedule events at a minimum of every two weeks to keep the energy flowing.

• Prepare volunteers among the older youth to assist with getting the meeting space ready.

• Make sure you have enough copies of the Growing Faith booklets you will need for that season.

• Invite the pastor or other appropriate pastoral staff to be present.

One week before each gathering

• Review the Growing Faith Booklet for that gathering.

• Organize whatever food and other supplies will be needed.

• Assemble your volunteers for a one-hour rehearsal of the gathering.

Supplies

• Food and beverages

• Name tags

• Computer and projector for PowerPoint presentation

• Enough Growing Faith booklets for each participant and leader

• Music to play as people arrive, and during breaks

• A Bible and copy of the Catechism for the facilitator

• If possible, personal Bibles for each participant

The Welcome

• Make sure your welcome is large and genuine. Remember, at least half of the youth members of your parish are living in a home where there is a weak relationship to the Sunday Assembly.

Break Open the Word

• Use the process for breaking open the word as described in other whole community catechesis resources.

• Let the young people lead this process themselves.

• Invite them to use Bibles of their own. Help them make the Bible their own personal and treasured book. Teach them to write notes in the margins, to mark the texts they love most, and to be able to find the Sunday readings themselves.

• Make sure the Question of the Week is tailored for youth members. You might want to call this activity “checking in” rather than “faith sharing” as you begin. Above all, let them talk.

The Lesson

• Each Growing Faith booklet is designed to be used in three short sections, all within a single gathering. Use the step-by-step session plan for each booklet to lead this process. These session plans are presented in Part Three of the Facilitator’s Guide.

• Allow plenty of time for discussion and conversation among the young people.

• Be creative about adding various age appropriate exercises as you plan.

• At the end, announce other youth ministry activities and be sure to leave plenty of time for informal socializing.

Afterward

• Keep an open door for young people, even if they question their faith.

• Invite them to talk with you personally and privately if needed, or help make connections to the pastor, pastoral staff, or local counseling services.

• Make sure they always know when the next gathering will be. Keep the ball rolling. Excitement builds when the time between gatherings is short.

• Invite them to invite their friends. Use the web or e-mail to stay in touch or to allow them to contact you or others when they need or want to.

• Urge them to collect the Growing Faith booklets and return to them often.

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