sspp thank god for youth-wyd 2009

The Church Thanks God for Youth!What Church Leaders are saying

about the Gifts of Youth

Thank God for Youth!

The Church and world need the faith, gifts, energy, and fresh ideas of young people. United States Catholic Bishops. Renewing the Vision, pg.50)

Thank God for Youth!The faith experiences of adolescents enrich our own sense of the continuing presence of Christ’s Spirit in the world and give us hope.

National Federation of Catholic Youth Ministry From Age to Age 1997 pg. 2

Thank God for Youth

Parish life is enriched by the energy, enthusiasm, and gifts of young members.

Tom East, Dir of the Center for Ministry Development in Effective Practices in Youth Ministry, 2004


Youth challenge the rest of the church not to become settled and sedentary, never to experience itself as fully established or absolutely complete. National Federation of Catholic Youth Ministry; United States Conference of Catholic Bishops From Age to Age 1997 pg. 6


Youth bring to the parish community youthfulness, energy, vitality,

hopefulness and vision United States Catholic Bishops in their Message to Youth


Youth engage us in a sense

of wonder and awe about the present that evokes a joy and hopefulness for the future. National Federation of Catholic Youth Ministry, From Age to Age 1997 pg. 6


…Young people can be the hands, arms, and mouthpiece of God to their generation. Jim Burns, Pres. National Institute of Youth Ministry


Youth give active witness that in these new generations Christ is still proclaiming his gospel and the people are still responding to God… National Federation of Catholic Youth Ministry, From Age to Age 1997 pg. 2

Thank God for Youth!Historically, our Catholic

heritage boasts of childhood saints and adolescent martyrs. Today’s youth are no different. They still possess that contagious enthusiasm and refreshing idealism. They are capable of serving Christ in a heroic manner… (

Frank Mercadante, Trainer and Founder of Cultivation Ministries, Growing Teen Disciples 1998 pg. 14)


Adolescents assist our faith communities by calling us to the youthfulness and vitality of the Spirit National Federation of Catholic Youth Ministry From Age to Age 1997 pg. 3

Thank God for Youth!Youth who are called, trained, and supported in leadership roles serve with great passion and energy. They develop amazing abilities to share faith, witness their relationship with God through the decisions they make, and pursue good works into adulthood. Ann Marie Eckert , Center for Ministry Development, Total Youth Ministry: Youth Leadership vol. 1 2004


More teen Church leaders today could mean more adult church leaders tomorrow. Lisa Marie Calderone-Steward, Trainer & Founder of Today’s Promise, Changing Lives: Transformational Ministry and Today’s Teens 2004 pg.27

Thank God for Youth!A community that comes to know and treasure the youth in their midst will experience new ways of praying, celebrating, serving and learning…Youth and the community learn together and are transformed in the process. Tom East, Dir. Center for Ministry Development, Effective Practices in Dynamic Youth Ministry 2004

Thank God for Youth!The church should invest a great deal of attention, creativity, and institutional resources into its young members… Undeniably the future of the U.S. Catholic Church vitally depends on it.

National Study on Youth and Religion pg. 194


Youth – in their vitality, their questioning and exploration, their

stretching, … – in all of these things, youth mirror for us the face of a church with a youthful heart. National Federation of Catholic Youth Ministry, From Age to Age 1997 pg. 6

sspp thank god for youth-wyd 2009

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