By Rhys Lowther
During our annual summer school, the Proclaim team of the Archdiocese of Melbourne conducted a workshop on youth ministry.
We were introduced to the discipleship model of youth ministry broken down into a three-stage journey. Firstly, a disciple has a personal encounter with Jesus Christ who calls him or her to follow Him. Secondly, the young person’s faith is engaged with intentional friendships, doctrinal formation, sacramental participation and by fostering the practice of virtue. Thirdly, the disciple must embark on a life long commitment to be a member of the Church, understanding their call to personal holiness and apostolate within a culture of vocations. We were given various practical tips on how to begin and conduct youth ministry in small groups as well as guidance on apologetics.
In my understanding, the kernel and hinge is what the presenters called “The Theory of One.” This paradigm shift invites us to conduct our ministry as if our task were to make just one person a saint. We mustn’t just see the multitude, but individuals. Therefore, youth ministry needs to be personalised and calls for authentic relationships built over time. Youth ministry is less about pulling in a big crowd and more about accompanying individuals in friendship and prayer to be nothing less than the saint God calls them to be.
To make each young Catholic a saint might seem like a lofty goal but, after a quick glance at the Gospels, we notice that Christ Himself does not settle for anything less.
