|  Teens
and tomorrow
The diocesan Planning Tomorrow’s Churches strategy
is a 50-year plan for the diocese. So, in the next
half-century, what will our young people’s faith lives
resemble when they marry, raise children and retire? How are
parishes currently ministering to our youth? What faith formation
programs have shown success? Let’s take a look.
According to Sister Rita Wenzlick, OP, director of the diocese’s
Office of Pastoral Planning, and Pat Rinker, director of youth
ministry, successful youth ministry programs have three components:
faith formation, strong community building and strong community
service.
“It is important that all three components are of equal
balance,” says Sister Rita.
 “Sometimes,
one aspect becomes more important to a ministry than the other
two, and that throws the equilibrium off, and the program
is not as successful.”
Additionally, youth ministry programs need to reflect the
signs of the time. Youth programs that embrace technology
(like blogs, music and liturgy available in mp3 format), can
speak to teens in the cultural nomenclature of the day. They
relate to the issues that teens are experiencing and will
most likely see increased membership and longevity.
At press time, all information from the regions had not been
submitted, but Sister Rita did mention that one of the six
regions is convinced that youth ministry oftentimes is more
successful if parishes share resources.
“Our youth want to be with the students that they go
to school with, and most of the time that crosses parish boundaries,”
she says. “Additionally, sharing parish resources among
two or more parishes will add to the sustainability of a successful
youth ministry.”
For more information about youth ministries,
contact Patrick Rinker at prinker@dioceseoflansing.org
or log on to the diocese’s Web site to locate best
practices at the Share the Wealth link at www.dioceseoflansing.org.
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Part 1: Improving our worship
Since 2005, the Diocese of Lansing has been addressing
the process of parish and diocesan improvement. Over
the next few weeks, parishes will be receiving regional preliminary
recommendations based on a completed Parish Evaluation Inventory
(PEI). Each parish’s information will be reviewed on
a regional and diocesan level to determine how the sacramental,
educational and pastoral needs will be met in the 10-county
area.
An important aspect of the process was the PEI. During the
next three months, FAITH Magazine will be highlighting the
three aspects within the evaluation tool used by each parish
– worship, parish as disciple and parish sustainability.
This month, we look at Worship.
Worship: The celebration of the Eucharist, the central
focus within each parish, is complemented by a sacramental
and prayer life that brings faith alive in each person.
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Our diocese’s standards
for worship
 •
Eucharistic liturgies are prayerful, reverent and relevant
to the people in their everyday lives; people feel welcome,
music is inviting, led well and of excellent quality.
• Lay ministers are active and prepared participants
in the liturgical, sacramental and prayer life of the parish.
• People in the parish are formed through the celebration
of the Eucharist and sacraments.
• Various forms of prayer and devotions are well planned,
offered and encouraged throughout the liturgical seasons.
• The work of evangelization is intentional and is present
in all parish ministries.
• The parish has an active catechumenal ministry that
initiates and/or receives adults and children into the Catholic
Church.
• Active participation in the sacramental life of the
parish lends itself to active participation in parish and
community life.
– PEI Criteria.
A Vision for Tomorrow’s Parishes and Schools, Diocese
of Lansing.
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Two youth ministry success stories
Immaculate Heart of Mary/St. Casimir, Lansing
When population drops within a city or rural
area, parishes may also see a decline in congregations and
program participation. Inner-city Lansing parishes Immaculate
Heart of Mary and St. Casimir combined many programs and
their schools in order to share resources. Among other benefits,
this made for a vibrant youth ministry program.
Each week, 40 to 60 teens come together from beyond parish
boundaries to be educated, affirmed and challenged to live
the Gospel in a program called LIFE TEEN – an international
Catholic movement that leads teens closer to Christ through
vibrant eucharistic spirituality and many opportunities
to grow in faith.
LIFE TEEN consists of a Sunday evening Mass with a homily
directed to teens – using language, props, music and
occasional skits performed by teens. This ensures that the
message will resonate with the youth beyond the one-hour
Mass. Following the Mass, teens head to the LIFE Night Experience
in the youth room (equipped with stereo, music equipment,
a full kitchen and stage) to discuss educational topics,
engage in social activities and prayer. It’s a Catholic
ministry that goes beyond the walls and into the wider youth
community. Food, fun and faith!
LIFE TEEN is a program available to all parishes. For more
information about the program, go to www.lifeteen.com.
St. Mary, Chelsea
Service is super-sized for the youth at this
parish. Each Super Bowl Sunday, the teens come together
with other youth groups from churches throughout the area
to ask the community for donations of one can of food and
one dollar to be distributed to three charities. By kickoff,
more than 600 cans of food are collected and nearly $1,000
is raised.
Their service programs extend beyond a football game in
early February – service is year-round and national
in scope. Students start at the local level and, once they
have experience, can move into service projects with a broader
outreach. For instance, St. Mary’s youth will go to
New Orleans to assist in Hurricane Katrina recovery. This
is their second trip to help the storm-ravaged area. The
youth group, which boasts 125 members, has also participated
in eight other national service projects.
What makes these students want to serve? Mary Lou Hahn-Setta,
director of youth ministry at St. Mary Parish, believes
that the teens are rewarded intrinsically when they serve
others and feel a bit more like Christ.
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