What is the Comprehensive Model of Youth Ministry?
The Comprehensive Model of Youth Ministry is a stepping stone in the faith journey of a young person. During this journey they will grow spiritually, emotionally, and educationally all while strengthening their relationship with Jesus Christ and making a lifelong commitment to their Catholic Community. Following the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Document Renewing the Vision A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry, the Goals of the Comprehensive Model of Youth Ministry are:
Goal One: To empower young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in our world today.
Goal Two: To draw young people to responsible participation in the life, mission, and work of the Catholic faith community.
Goal Three: To foster the total personal and spiritual growth of each young person.
It is important to understand the Comprehensive Model of Youth Ministry is just that, a model, not a “program”. Therefore, parishes will no longer run on the “school model” (September-May), sessions will be held year round.
Each ministry will look different from parish to parish in order to meet the unique needs of your community.
Three Phases
The Comprehensive Model of Youth Ministry will take the young person through three phases.
Phase One: Learner
Phase Two: Disciple in Training
Phase Three: Disciple in Ministry
These phases have no time limit; rather, a young person will move through these phases when they feel ready to make the commitment to their Catholic faith and Community.
Transition from one phase to the next will be determined with a parent, student, and Catechist/Minister interview and celebrated at Mass.
Comprehensive Model
Before you begin gather your team together (Pastor, Catechetical Leader,Confirmation catechists and maybe some ministry leaders) and create your vision, mission, goals, objectives and strategies for making a custom comprehensive youth ministry plan. Note: Each parish’s plan will be slightly different to meet the unique needs of each community.
Utilizing the document put out by the USCCB called, Renewing the Vision, you want to keep 3 important goals in mind throughout this process:
– To empower young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in our world today.
– To draw young people to responsible participation in the life, mission, and work of the catholic faith community.
– To foster the total personal and spiritual growth of each young person
The youth will go through 3 phases and will move through these phases as they feel ready to make a commitment to their Catholic faith and Community.
Phase One: Learner (Basic Catholic teachings/ Sacraments/ Importance of s service/ Building healthy relationships/ Spiritual and Community Outreach activities.
Phase Two: Disciple in Training: Catechesis on the Sacrament of Confirmation/ Ministry Internship/ Catholic teachings/ Importance of Serving/ Spiritual andCommunity Outreach Activities. At the end of this year youth will receive
the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Phase Three: Disciple in Ministry: This phase will cover the aspects of:Advocacy/ Catechesis/ Community Life/ Evangelization/ Justice and Service/ Leadership/ Pastoral Care/ Prayer and Worship/ Spiritual andCommunity Outreach Activities Youth are invited to begin their Confirmation journey
Large Size Comprehensive Book Approved 1.12.17 by Archbishop John C. Wester
