Goals for Ministry with Adolescents

Holy Infant aims to address the seven major components of comprehensive youth ministry as stated in the vision of comprehensive Youth Ministry as described by the bishops of the United States in Renewing the Vision: A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry (USCCB, 1997):

• Advocacy – speaking out for and on behalf of youth: naming their gifts; claiming their rightful place at the table; and taming fears and uncertainties about youth in the eyes of the parish, family, world and even in the eyes of the young people themselves.
• Catechesis – “empowering young people to become disciples of Jesus by forming, informing, and ever transforming persons and communities in whole and wholesome, lived and living Catholic faith.” (T. Groome)
• Community – fostering a sense of Christian community among young people and surrounding them with love by the entire Church community.
• Evangelization (the lens through which we view all other ministries) – promoting such an enthusiasm for our faith, that in living our faith, we freely share it with others.
• Justice and Service – working, through Action, Reflection and Transformation to bring dignity to every human being.
• Leadership Development – equipping young people to live out their baptismal call to be priest, prophet and servant leader by developing leadership skills and providing them with positions and opportunities to use these skills.
• Pastoral Care – helping heal the hurts of young people through pastoral presence in their daily lives, attentive listening and referrals to others when needed.
• Prayer and Worship – encouraging an ever deeper relationship with God and the Christian community through individual and communal experiences of prayer and sacraments.