How to Reach Us
Youth & Young Adult Ministry in the light of Synod
The Third Diocesan Synod was held at St. Isidore Parish in Yuba City on October 11-13, 2004. Delegates came from across the Diocese of Sacramento to partake in an event that, in the words of Most Reverend William Weigand, Bishop of Sacramento would help “establish and define the direction of this local Church of Sacramento for the immediate future.”
As a result of the Synod, the document “Synod 2004, Diocese of Sacramento,” was created and promulgated on January 9, 2005. The document contains eight pastoral initiatives, one of which pertains directly to Youth and Young Adult Ministry, and will be a litmus test for all ministries in the Diocese of Sacramento for years to come.
The following is the initiative on Youth and Young Adult Ministry taken from the document “Synod 2004, Diocese of Sacramento (p. 13):
Youth and Young Adults
Synod Pastoral Initiative 6
Establish as a priority the development, support and funding of a comprehensive youth and young adult ministry which accomplishes the following:
- Empowers youth and young adults to live as disciples of Jesus Christ, leading to Christian maturity
- Draws youth and young adults to responsible participation in the life and mission of the Catholic faith community
- Encourages youth and young adults to be part of a peer
community that nurtures their personal and spiritual growth toward
becoming healthy, competent, caring and faith-filled Catholics
[Adapted from Renewing the Vision, pp. 9, 11, 15 [NCCB, 1997 and Sons and
Daughters of Light, pp. 28, 33, 36, 37]
Establish a training program, respecting the variety of cultural diversity in our Diocese, for adults serving as youth ministry leaders and/or young adult ministry leaders.
Develop and maintain an active/dynamic web site for Youth and Young Adult Ministries, including the option for parishes to utilize a page for their youth and young adult ministries efforts.
Objectives for Implementation
Parish/Parish Clusters/Deanery Level
- Establish a committee at the deanery level consisting of youth and young adult ministry coordinators, drawing from the parishes of the deanery. They will meet and facilitate the sharing of resources, encouraging the involvement of laity, parents and families, and collaborating on joint programs and events.
- Develop a strategic plan of opportunities and encourage the participation of youth and young adults in faith formation programs, extended trips, national and regional conferences, liturgy, retreats and service experiences and World Youth Day.
- Develop a multi-year implementation plan for young adult ministry social gatherings, education opportunities and faith formation programs.
- Provide opportunities for youth and young adults to participate meaningfully in the life of the parish in all aspects of parish ministries (e.g., liturgy, outreach, service, community life and intergenerational activities).
- Establish appropriate financial support at the parish level for implementation of Youth and Young Adult Ministry.
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