Nora Ruiz (x 1008; nora.ruiz755@sbcglobal.net)
Comprehensive Youth Ministry
St. Brigid operates under a Comprehensive Youth Ministry Program model striving to meet the three goals as directed by the United States Catholic Conference 2000 as stated in Renewing the Vision: A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry.
- To empower young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in our world today.
- To draw young people to responsible participation in the life, mission, and work of the Catholic Faith community.
- To foster the total personal and spiritual growth of each young person.
A Comprehensive Youth Ministry Program identifies eight components to it developmental process.
| Advocacy | Catechesis |
| Community Life | Evangelization |
| (Social) Justice & Service | Leadership Development |
| Pastoral Care | Prayer & Worship |
| Question: | What makes Youth Ministry different from Faith Formation? |
| Answer: | There is always that temptation to interpret Youth Ministry as Faith Formation for high school. While faith formation refers more to the attitude towards catechizing with the realization that faith is caught not taught, Faith Formation is conventional only because that is where its children are. Their faith lacks originality or individuality; they believe because that is what they are being taught to believe. In other words, that is what their parents/guardians/catechist believe. They trust God because they trust their parents/guardians/catechist. They have not questioned or struggled through their own faith to take ownership. During Faith Formation we teach children about our faith, we deposit seeds of our own faith trusting God that their own faith will grow. While a Comprehensive Youth Ministry approaches its youth in the same way as Faith Formation does: by meeting its youth where they are at. Comprehensive Youth Ministry assumes that its youth has reached a natural phase of growth and development, where its youth is capable of grasping faith, capable to responding personally to their own baptismal call, and capable of putting their own faith in action. Comprehensive Youth Ministry encompasses a holistic approach in ministering to it youth by nurturing their faith and developing their leadership skills for a lifetime as Disciples of Christ. |
| Question: | What is the difference between Youth Group and a Comprehensive Youth Ministry Program? |
| Answer: | Many see Youth Ministry as a “group” of young people coming together as friends and sharing faith which is simply a “youth group.” But Youth Ministry is much more than that! Ministry is done on purpose with the end result in mind. It accepts its youth as apprentice to their own faith. It cultivates that faith through its different components of Comprehensive Youth Ministry (advocacy, catechesis, community life, evangelization, social justice & service, leadership development, pastoral care, prayer & worship). |
Youth Ministry Advisory Core
The Youth Ministry Advisory Core is entrusted with St. Brigid's mission statement as an integral part of a Comprehensive Youth Ministry Program. Its core includes the Youth Minister, the Youth Ministry's Pastoral Liaison, Youth Liaison, along with two other youth preferably one male and one female including a diversity of eight other adults. The advisory core not only advises its implementation as a whole, but supports its youth ministries with prayer, service, and advocacy.
Youth Ministries
Youth Splash
Youth Splash meets twice a month with the purpose of bringing Youth already involved in different ministries to come and celebrate together as one.
Youth Events
These consist of city-wide events schedule by the Youth Connected office for the Catholic Center of Charismatic Renewal and the Youth Office of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center. The objective of these events is to bring youth of all ages in San Antonio together.
Youth 4 Justice
Youth 4 Justice meets on a regular basic providing different services both parish-wide and city-wide such as: food drives, coat drives, serving at soup kitchen, Elf Louise, etc.
Mission Project
Our Mission Project is a week-long summer project bringing youth together for community service city-wide.
Retreats
St. Brigid schedules a retreat for Middle School and High School once a year. These retreats are created age-appropriately with a theme and spiritual message in light of the gospel for the spiritual growth of it youth. These retreats are off-site. Please contact the parish office for further information.
- Middle School Retreat
- High School Retreat
Youth Mass
The parish 12:30 Mass is youth oriented. Because of this youth are invited to serve as mass greeters/lectors/and Eucharistic Ministers with music and homilies geared toward youth. If you are interested in serving at the liturgy, please contact Cathy Tucker (x1007).
