October 5, 2023
As part of my area of responsibility as Director of Faith Formation, I attend various educational events to bring the latest trends and concepts to our parish. Last week, I attended an innovative Youth Ministry conference in Chattanooga, TN where I met with 117 youth ministers from around the US and Canada! The week was filled with all kinds of interesting sessions that focused on community/team building, adult and peer leadership struggles/successes, small group strategizing, planned dinner circles that encouraged networking and debriefing elements, and many, many, many resource ideas for building family/youth-centric engagement! We prayed throughout the day for each other, with each other, and most importantly for our young people and their families! I was truly inspired by the stories that my ministry-mates shared.
Youth Ministry is struggling. The people that I met work tirelessly around the clock creating innovative ideas to engage youth and their families. Most have experienced some kind of workload challenges, taking on various responsibilities and wearing more hats than ever before. It was encouraging to see young adults throughout the groups with most of them being in ministry under 6 years! Others (about 12 of us) were in the 15+ years with yours truly in the top 5 old-er timers of 22-35 years! It was a sobering moment as we all looked so tired! Vintage talk was not necessary as we were so inspired by those coming in behind us. I felt this personally through my many interactions with these incredible young adults throughout the week. They leaned on us with their newness and inexperience; yet they inspired us with their hope and energy to engage the marginalized, the unchurched, and the unseen. As you can imagine it was so powerful!
I left Tennessee thinking about our parish and ways to encounter the youth and families, the unchurched, and the unseen. I prayed for all of us throughout the day, especially during morning prayer and Mass. It felt great knowing I was not alone as many joined me in prayer for you. That was amazing!!!! Prayer is ALWAYS a good idea!
Now, the work begins! Starting this Wednesday, Religious Education is back up and running! It seems like forever since we saw each other! I am excited to join you this year as a 9th-grade catechist (among other things). We have a great group of adults and young people working together to build small groups in our little 9th-grade community. This little group will join us in January as part of the Confirmation program. It will be nice to get to know the young people as they encounter the Trinity in a new way! We have room if you want to join us -- young person or adult! Shoot me an email at mdraper.icc455@gmail.com. I welcome the opportunity to speak to you!
In closing, I am thrilled to be "back in the saddle" this week! I look forward to seeing you all soon at other events, trips, and activities we have planned this season!
Mare Draper