Comments on: Are youth to be served or to serve? http://ericsammons.com/blog/2010/02/03/are-youth-to-be-served-or-to-serve/ Musings about the Catholic Faith Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:09:03 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.3 hourly 1 By: Dino http://ericsammons.com/blog/2010/02/03/are-youth-to-be-served-or-to-serve/comment-page-1/#comment-7533 Dino Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:53:54 +0000 http://ericsammons.com/blog/?p=6824#comment-7533 Many years ago, our parish had a youngish nun as youth minister. Formerly a teacning sister, she did a great job and built up the program. She welcomed parent involvement, and I was eventually dubbed an "assistant lay youth minister". In addition to a guitar Mass, the YM participated in community service, even making trips to a Mexican orphanage, bringing clothing, catechism, and simple friendship to the children there. When Sister left, the new YM made it clear he didn't want any help (even labeled the leaders of the parish Boy and Girl Scout troops (in our diocese considered a part of YM) as homosexuals. YM in this parish has not recovered ten years later. Many years ago, our parish had a youngish nun as youth minister. Formerly a teacning sister, she did a great job and built up the program. She welcomed parent involvement, and I was eventually dubbed an “assistant lay youth minister”.
In addition to a guitar Mass, the YM participated in community service, even making trips to a Mexican orphanage, bringing clothing, catechism, and simple friendship to the children there.
When Sister left, the new YM made it clear he didn’t want any help (even labeled the leaders of the parish Boy and Girl Scout troops (in our diocese considered a part of YM) as homosexuals.
YM in this parish has not recovered ten years later.

]]> By: JP http://ericsammons.com/blog/2010/02/03/are-youth-to-be-served-or-to-serve/comment-page-1/#comment-7529 JP Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:17:53 +0000 http://ericsammons.com/blog/?p=6824#comment-7529 Very Good! When Lifeteen came to town (it has since left), parents were asked NOT to attend the meetings! This progressively irritated me. Eventually, my two eldest kids stopped attending anyway due, partly, to the inappropriate pride of some of the leader. We could barely tolerate the Mass, which we were more than welcome to attend. My second daughter did not ever set foot into a Lifeteen meeting. Her adamant choice. I think teens should meet with a mixture of service, and being served. I think that's how we should all be treated. I think the observation of consumerism is astute. I remember the comment of our chapel secretary with regards to couples coming in seeking sacraments. The Church is the dispenser of sacraments. People come in and ask. If they don't like what we offer, they go somewhere else. In one case, a couple which attended the Protestant Chapel, brought their baby to us (the Catholics) for Baptism! Go figure. I hear this so often when people discuss their church attendance (or lack thereof). So what do we do about it? Very Good!

When Lifeteen came to town (it has since left), parents were asked NOT to attend the meetings! This progressively irritated me. Eventually, my two eldest kids stopped attending anyway due, partly, to the inappropriate pride of some of the leader.

We could barely tolerate the Mass, which we were more than welcome to attend. My second daughter did not ever set foot into a Lifeteen meeting. Her adamant choice.

I think teens should meet with a mixture of service, and being served. I think that’s how we should all be treated.

I think the observation of consumerism is astute. I remember the comment of our chapel secretary with regards to couples coming in seeking sacraments. The Church is the dispenser of sacraments. People come in and ask. If they don’t like what we offer, they go somewhere else. In one case, a couple which attended the Protestant Chapel, brought their baby to us (the Catholics) for Baptism! Go figure.

I hear this so often when people discuss their church attendance (or lack thereof).

So what do we do about it?

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