Thank you for visiting the website of Saint Cecilia Catholic Community's youth ministry program.
Catholic youth ministry is defined as "the response of the Christian community to the needs of young people and the sharing of the unique gifts of youth with the larger community." (Renewing the Vision: A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry, 10)
At Saint Cecilia, we hope to provide a warm, encouraging environment where young people are surrounded with support and opportunities to be involved through the sacramental life of the Church. Through social, catechetical and liturgical experiences at Saint Cecilia, teenagers are able to find an accepting place where they can grow in their relationship with God. In this way, we are a community that "works to foster the total personal and spiritual growth of each young person. Youth ministry seeks to draw young people to responsible participation in the life, mission and work fo the faith community." (A Vision of Youth Ministry, 7)
We strive to respond to our young people's needs and share their multitude of gifts through three principle goals. The goals of Catholic youth ministry are: (1) to empower young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in our world today, (2) to draw young people to responsible participation in the life, mission, and work of the faith community; and (3) to foster the personal and spiritual growth of each young person through our Life Teen, Confirmation and junior high faith formation programs. (Renewing the Vision, 9, 11, 15)
These goals are accomplished through comprehensive youth ministry programs that incorporate ministry for both high school and middle school aged students, in gathered and un-gathered settings within their young community, our wider parish, as well as local and global communities.
Finally, our programs are focused on leading teens closer to Christ through developmentally appropriate, family friendly, intergenerational and multicultural ministry, providing leadership opportunities and felixible and adaptable programming for the modern teenager.
We believe that your child possesses a uniqueness and variety of gifts that deserve a place of leadership within our Church. In the words of John Paul II to our young people, "The church needs you to be imbued with the spirit of Christ, strong in your commitment to building His kingdom." We look forward to involving your family in this discipleship focused vision of youth ministry in the Body of Christ.
"The challenge of discipleship - of following Jesus - is at the heart of the Church's mission. All ministry with adolescents must be directed towards presenting young people with the Good News of Jesus Christ and inviting and challenging them to become his disciples....If we are to succeed, we must offer young people a spiritually challenging and world-shaping vision that meets their hunger for the chance to participate in a worthy adventure."
United States Catholic Conference of Bishops,
Renewing the Vision: A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry, p.10
To find out more about the "vision" of Catholic youth ministry, visit the website of the United States Council of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), where the document Renewing the Vision is explained & available for viewing:http://www.usccb.org/laity/youth/rtvcontents.shtm
Ames, Iowa