Listen, teach, send: U.S. Bishops unveil new framework for youth ministry

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has introduced a new “National Pastoral Framework for Ministries with Youth and Young Adults,” intended to guide the Church’s engagement with younger generations. Titled “Listen, Teach, Send,” the framework draws inspiration from the biblical Emmaus journey (Luke 24:13-35), focusing on the three core actions.

Leaders in the Archdiocese of Newark’s Office for Youth and Young Adult Ministry and the Catechetical Office shared their thoughts with Jersey Catholic on how it will impact local parish programs for youth in the future.

Guidance for a modern youth ministry

The USCCB’s framework serves as a directive for church leaders to foster a more robust and dynamic engagement with young Catholics. It aims to empower young Catholics as essential contributors to the Church’s mission. The bishops call for collaborative efforts from priests, deacons, lay leaders, and families. These efforts support the spiritual growth of young people and guide them in their journey of faith.

The framework is then divided into three main sections:

• Part One, “Listening,” discusses the importance of engaging with young people. It prompts those who work with youth to understand their realities, be present in their lives, and address their generational needs. These needs include individualized accompaniment, understanding and valuing distinct cultural and generational expressions, and addressing physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Additionally, it emphasizes fostering environments of trust, healing, and engagement within the faith community.
  
  The document also highlights the need for the Church to recognize and respond to the experiences and challenges faced by today’s youth. These challenges include secularization, health crises, economic hardship, and family breakdown. Other significant concerns mentioned in the document are racial and cultural divisions, mental health issues, and exposure to violence.
  
• “Teaching,” the second part, focuses on deepening the youth’s understanding of the Gospel through catechesis. It also promotes evangelization through renewed sacramental life. Additionally, it encourages sharing the teachings of Jesus in a manner that resonates with young people. The document encourages catechists to connect with youth by listening to their voices and learning their stories. Catechists are also encouraged to encounter youth directly to understand their unique experiences and needs.
  
• The final segment, “Sending,” calls for youth to be active participants in evangelization. It focuses on the youth’s role in advocating for justice, charity, and vocational discernment. The framework also encourages young Catholics to take on leadership roles within the Church and their communities, advocating for a faith that is actively lived out.

The framework also acknowledges the Church’s past challenges. These include the impact of scandals and the global pandemic, and commits to ongoing efforts in healing and reconciliation. It emphasizes a commitment to building a supportive community that mirrors Christ’s teachings through tangible actions and support.

Archdiocesan leaders react with optimism

Rich Donovan, Assistant Director for Youth and Young Adult Ministry at the Archdiocese of Newark, responded positively to the USCCB’s new pastoral framework. He emphasized its role as a broad guide and also highlighted its flexibility.

Donovan described the document as a comprehensive and broad scale framework meant to be adaptable for parishes from diverse backgrounds. “This document can help parishes and pastoral leaders understand more of the needs of youth and young adults,” he said.

He expressed hope that the new framework would not only provide valuable support to parishes, but also empower their youth ministry. He also encouraged youth ministers to combine the new framework with with findings from the Synod on Synodality and the National Dialogue on Catholic Pastoral Ministries with Youth and Young Adults, as well as other significant documents like Christus Vivit, Pope Francis’s apostolic exhortation encouraging pastoral care for youth in the church.

Donovan noted the poignancy of the bishops’ pastoral letter at the beginning of the document. The letter opens with Pope Francis’s words: “He is in you, he is with you, and he never abandons you”. Donovan stressed the importance of this message given the current challenges faced by youth in the church. Specifically, he mentioned disaffiliation and mental health issues. “They need to know there is a God that loves them for who they are, the way they are, in this very moment. No matter what.”

Donovan also expressed confidence in the framework’s three-step approach: listening, teaching, and sending. “It’s a unique formula for pastoral leaders to help draw youth and young adults into a renewed and strengthened relationship with Jesus,” Donovan said.

Looking ahead, Donovan said that the Office for Youth & Young Adult Ministry plans to host workshops this fall. These sessions will help parish leaders and clergy integrate the new framework with other tools. The sessions will also help youth ministers to better engage with their youth and young adult communities.

USCCB framework ‘speaks to the hearts’ of catechists

Patty Rodriguez, the Director of the Catechetical Office, highlighted how the “Listen, Teach, Send” framework aligns seamlessly with the mission and goals of the archdiocese’s current catechetical programs. Rodriguez said that the document will help catechists  alongside pivotal sources like Christus Vivit, the 2020 Director for Catechesis, and also Evangelium Gaudium, an apostolic exhortation by Pope Francis that emphasizes the importance of joy and mercy in evangelization and outlines his vision for the Church’s mission in today’s world.

Rodriguez noted that, particularly,“this new document uses language that speaks to the hearts of those in catechetical ministry.”

Notably, the word “teach” is right the name of the document. This emphasizes the important role of catechism in reviving youth ministry.

Rodriguez stressed that teaching is not just an intellectual endeavor but a holistic process that inspires missionary discipleship. Central to this approach is the idea that catechesis engages the whole person. Thereby, teaching is placed at the heart of the conversion process.

Rodriguez is optimistic about the framework’s potential to enhance youth participation in church activities. She also acknowledged that adopting this new approach will require pastoral leaders to depart from traditional models and structures. However, she believes the dedicated individuals currently ministering to young people are eager to move forward.

“When young people experience our authentic care for them and see the witness of joyful Christians, their hearts will be attracted to the Church,” she said. “Many dedicated individuals who currently minister to young people are eager to move forward.”

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