Ministry to Youth: Walking with Christ in Family, Parish, and Archeparchy
November 14, 2024
On Saturday, November 2, the Ukrainian Catholic Women's League of Canada (UCWLC) in the Archeparchy of Winnipeg held its 41st convention at the Holy Eucharist Parish Centre, located at 460 Munroe Street. The convention centered around the theme: "Youth in our Church: How to Encourage and Engage."
The main speakers for the event were Fr. Mykhaylo and Iryna Khomitsky, who shared their valuable experiences working with parish youth. They suggested several effective approaches to bring young people to the church, including learning the faith, serving at the Divine Liturgies, organizing interesting and engaging summer camps, and actively listening to children. They emphasized that parishes should consider investing both time and money to sponsor events and programs specifically designed for youth.
Here is their presentation in brief.
Introduction
In our church, we often hear the saying, "Children are the future of the church." However, it's time to see things differently: Youth are the present of the church. If they're not here with us today, there may be little chance they'll be part of our church in the future. Indeed, youth are the vibrant presence of our church now.
In the introduction to the new Youth Catechism, We Walk With Christ, His Beatitude Patriarch Sviatoslav, Head of our Church, reminds us:
"Youth is a special period in a person's life. This is a time when a young person learns about themselves, discovers previously unknown strengths, aspirations, feelings, and abilities. It is a time for personally seeking the Genuine One, the True One, the Eternal, and the Beautiful. Being a young man or woman is a vocation to know our loving God and to discover His pre-eternal plan, to personally experience His eternal love, and to learn from Him how to love and be loved."
Let us journey with Christ to see how we can invite young people back to a vibrant life in His Church.
Let us discuss the ministry to youth in three areas:
- Family
- Parish
- Archeparchy
1. Family: The Foundation of Faith
The family is a child's first place of faith. Here, children learn about God, how to speak to Him, listen to Him, and live in His love. God has blessed our marriage with three children, and as they've grown, we've noticed how they change. They ask questions like:
- "Why should I go to church every day?"
- "If I went in the morning, why do I need to go again in the evening?"
- "Why must I attend Sunday Catechism? I know it already."
These questions are crucial in their faith journey, as these practices are as essential for our spiritual life as breathing is for our physical life. Just as we need air to live, we need spiritual practices to live eternally.
2. Parish: Engaging Youth in the Church Community
Ministry to youth at the parish level is essential-not only for clergy but for all of us. Key principles include:
- Respect: Every child, every young person, is created in the image and likeness of God, precious and unique. Treat them with respect, regardless of age.
- Listening: As adults, we need to take time to listen to young people. If they feel we're uninterested, they may turn away from the parish-and from us.
- Engagement: Keep youth actively involved, both inside and outside the church.
- Investment: Don't hesitate to invest in our youth. Use resources to nurture them rather than solely for operational costs. One day, they will care for the parish.
- Belonging: Show youth that they're valued and that the parish needs them.
3. Archeparchy: Creating Spiritual Spaces for Youth
On the Archeparchy level, we must ensure that every parish can create a spiritual space where youth can:
- Pray: A place for authentic worship and connection with God.
- Learn: A space to deepen their understanding of their faith and the meaning of life.
- Build Bonds: Spaces for fun and community, allowing young people to connect with peers and adults.
Some practical ideas include:
- Service Roles: Invite youth to serve as Altar Servers or Children of Mary. Order new vestments for them to show appreciation.
- Celebrations: At Christmas, give tokens of gratitude for their service.
- Community Activities: Organize movie nights, cook favorite foods, or arrange youth activities like volunteering for meals for the homeless.
- Trips and Pilgrimages: Organize outings to lakes, historic churches, or shrines in the province to connect with our heritage.
- Catechism Assistance: Encourage youth to stay involved as catechism assistants after Grade 8.
- Camps and Events: Provide financial support for youth to attend religious summer camps and keep them busy with church activities.
Through these efforts, we'll keep our youth connected and help them grow in faith.
Conclusion
Dear Youth and Young Adults, thank you for your presence in our Church. You are a precious gift to our Archeparchy.
As Cardinal Josyf Slipyj advised, "Dream big, desire big," and as Cardinal Liubomyr Husar said, "Be a human."
Let us walk together in faith, supporting our youth as they build a future rooted in Christ.
Fr. Mykhaylo Khomitsky and Dobrodijka Iryna Khomitska
