Young Adult Ministry/World Youth
Day 2002 Follow-Up Resource Manual

This resource manual was designed to assist young adult ministry leaders build upon the energy and enthusiasm of World Youth Day (WYD), especially for those young adults who had the opportunity to attend the event in Toronto. A full range of reflections, discussion questions, group activity suggestions, and further links can be found here.

1. Introduction to the Follow-Up Project
   
   
2. Follow-Up to World Youth Day Based upon the Level of the Territory/Group Size
   
   1. Stoke the Fires! Initial Follow-Up to WYD in The Parish/Campus Ministry Setting
      
   2. A Few Extra People for Added Excitement: Follow-up on The Diocesan Level
      
   3. Road Trip Anyone? Regional, National, and International Follow-Up
   
   
3. Reflections, Discussion Questions, and Activities Based on World Youth Day Themes
   
   1. You Mean Not Everyone Prays in English? The Multicultural Church
      
   2. Jesus Christ Who? Witnesses to the Modern World
      
   3. Need a Help with that Load You're Carrying? Sin and Mercy
      
   4. A Curse or a Blessing? The Cross of Christ
      
   5. Me, be a saint? The Universal Call to Holiness
      
   6. Hello??? Earth to God? Prayer
      
   7. Live Life to the Full: The Gospel of Life
      
   8. Has Anyone Ever Told You that Your Body is Incredible? The Human Body
      
   9. The Human Instruments of God: Service to the Poor
      
   10. Giv'n It All to the Lord: World Youth Day and Vocations

I. World Youth Day 2002:
A Pilgrimage to Remember; A Foundation for Grace and Growth

For millions of young adults, World Youth Day (WYD) has been the most intense religious experience of their lives. For many of them, it has been a moment of deep conversion and greater intimacy with our loving Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. For others, World Youth Day was a short spiritual boost, a chance to meet new friends, or a nice adventure.

Whatever the experience may have been during the week of World Youth Day, more needs to be done on a broad basis in the United States to keep the energy and enthusiasm of World Youth Day alive. Follow-up is necessary in order to convert this short-term pilgrimage into the cause of a life-long journey in the grace of Christ.

This guide seeks to assist young adult ministry leaders in welcoming home and guiding young adults who have had the privilege to attend World Youth Day. It can also be of use for serving those young adults who have not gone to World Youth Day, but who can still benefit from the themes and message of World Youth Day. As such, this guide builds upon the document, Sons and Daughters of the Light, which is the U.S. Bishops' Pastoral Plan on ministry with young adult Catholics.

A ministry leader working with young adults who have attended World Youth Day will face three major opportunities: 1) helping them to articulate their experience and to deepen their understanding of this experience, 2) helping them to use the enthusiasm which they have gained at World Youth Day in order to deepen their life of faith in the Church, 3) helping them to activate their faith in their relationships with others.

The ideas and proposals contained in this guide have been designed to help those actively ministering with young adults. Feel free to adapt them as befits the particular circumstances. They have been created with an informal spirit and with flexibility in mind, realizing that ministry is at the service of individual men and women, not rigid programs and schedules. Furthermore, each young adult ministry leader has a much better sense of his or her group's needs, vision, and ideals than any cookie-cutter model could achieve. Therefore, don't just consider adapting these models; definitely adapt them to your needs!

In recognition of the varied needs of young adult ministry in the United States, the proposals drafted here are for different types of groups and with diverse interests in mind. The suggestions run along two interweaving tracks: 1) guides to activities for young adult meetings of various territories/group sizes, and 2) short reflections, discussion questions, and activities based upon the themes found in and resulting from participation in World Youth Day. For this second track, the reflections and suggested activities have been written with the young adult ministry leader as the intended audience, whereas the discussion questions have young adults as the intended audience.

Follow-up to WYD may best proceed along two paths: group and individual. Part of the wonder of WYD is that an entire group experiences the Catholic faith in a new way. The intensity of the experience is incredibly bonding. New friendships are made; old ones are deepened. By bringing a young adult group back together, it can relive and deepen the WYD experience.

But our Catholic faith is more than just a group gathering. It needs to be individually and personally experienced, known, and loved. Young adult ministry leaders have the privilege of accompanying young Christians in their personal faith journey. WYD challenges people individually, and therefore the young adult ministry leader must attempt to walk with them individually as they "process" the WYD experience.

It is hoped that these materials will be a useful tool for young adult ministry. Please feel free to contact the USCCB Secretariat for Family, Laity, Women, and Youth with comments and suggestions at youngadult@usccb.org.

II. Follow-Up to World Youth Day Based upon the Level of the Territory/Group Size

Young adult ministry can take various forms. Perhaps the most basic distinction between these forms is based upon the geographical level. This can also correspond to the number of young adults involved in the activity. In the following pages, various proposals for WYD follow-up are presented for 1) the parish or campus ministry, 2) the diocese, and 3) the regional, national and international levels.

A. Stoke the Fires!
Initial Follow-Up to World Youth Day in the Parish/Campus Ministry Setting

They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this."
- Mk 2:12¹

It is essential to initiate follow-up to World Youth Day almost immediately after returning home. To do this, plan accordingly before leaving for WYD. Have ideas in mind about what to do after getting back from the pilgrimage. Advertise before, during, and after WYD. During WYD, prepare your group to look at its pilgrimage in the long term. While in Toronto, think about how the various experiences of your group can be woven into your follow-up. The key experiences of WYD will need to be "unpacked" in a comfortable, informal setting.

World Youth Day pilgrims will be spiritually and emotionally wired, but physically exhausted, when they get home. Begin immediately with a "welcome home" Mass. Then, give them a week or two in order to catch their breath. Within two or three weeks after returning, the second follow-up activity or meeting should have taken place. If much more time is allowed to pass by, the "WYD-buzz" will have worn off. Given that WYD 2002 ends on July 28, a perfect follow-up date for a second event, if a liturgical context is preferred, is the Solemnity of the Assumption, August 15.

Since the local community is the heart of Catholic life, the following proposals for WYD follow-up are geared mostly for parishes and university campus ministries. They can also be adapted for diocesan and other settings. Try to feed into existing programs and provide opportunities for friendships and informal gatherings to form and blossom. Give the group a time and place in which to be together and to process the WYD experience.

Initial follow-up could include some of the following activities:

1. "Welcome Home" Mass in the Parish/Campus Ministry
   
   • Designate a special Mass on Sunday, August 4 (the weekend after WYD), as a "Welcome Home" Mass.
     
   • Coordinate this early with the pastor or bishop, and arrange for him or another priest to celebrate the Mass.
     
   • Advertise widely beforehand so that the Catholic faithful can be there to welcome the pilgrims.
     
   • This would be a good time to offer a pilgrim testimonial or two.
     
   • Have a reception after Mass.
     
   • Publicly thank any financial sponsors of the trip.
     
   • Take a group photo of the group and its sponsors.
     
   • If you are not able to have a Mass, the Book of Blessings contains an "Order for the Blessing of Pilgrims Before of After Their Return" which would be suitable.
   
   
2. Reunion Dinner or Social Activity
   
   • Start with a special Mass or prayer service, e.g., a Holy Hour, Glory and Praise session, Taizé prayer. Tie the Mass or prayer service into the Closing Mass of WYD or other prayer experience from WYD.
     
   • Ask people to contribute to a pot-luck dinner, or if there is someone available with the time and money, he or she can cook it, arrange for take-out, or arrange for a private room at a restaurant.
     
   • Look at and exchange pictures.
     
   • Suggest that the group continue to meet on a regular basis in the future for faith sharing, Bible study, prayer, etc.
     
   • Invite the local bishop, pastor, or chaplain to attend, whether or not he went to WYD.
   
   
3. Small Meetings over Coffee or Lunch
   
   • Get together with small groups or individuals, trying to maintain a "religious" atmosphere even if the meeting is in a secular locale.
     
   • Begin by asking people how they're doing.
     
   • Ask people how they have changed spiritually since WYD.
     
   • Ask what WYD meant for them.
     
   • Ask what were some key moments for them during WYD.
     
   • Encourage them to reflect on the message of WYD.
     
   • Move from the personal experience of WYD to post-WYD effects in their everyday lives.
     
   • Propose ways that they can grow in the Faith after WYD, e.g., attending Mass, frequenting the sacrament of confession, praying the Rosary, participating in social service projects, personal prayer time, theological reflection, Bible study, men's/women's group. This is a wonderful opportunity to introduce someone to the happenings at the parish/campus ministry.
   
   
4. Invite Testimonials
   
   • Ask pilgrims to give a short testimony of their experience.
     
   • Testimonials can be given:
     
   • At any post-WYD group gathering, such as those presented in this document
     
   • During or after Sunday Mass
     
   • At a parish/campus ministry function
     
   • At a regularly scheduled young adult activity
     
   • To financial sponsors of the pilgrimage
     
   • Through email lists, the World Wide Web, and parish/campus ministry bulletins
     
   • As a way to reawaken memories from WYD, written testimonies can be sent via email to all of the pilgrims in your group. A possible theme for these testimonies is "Hey, do you remember when this happened…?"
   
   
5. Small Reflection Group
   
   • Form one or multiple weekly or regularly scheduled small faith-sharing and reflection group(s) in order to "process" the WYD experience and, over the long term, to grow in our Catholic faith.
     
   • This could also be done through a Bible study, prayer, or spiritual book-reading group.
     
   • Such small groups can be especially successful in a college campus setting where students have the freedom to meet regularly.
     
   • You can use WYD-related themes, discussion questions, and activities as the basis for each week's meeting.
     
   • These groups could include persons who did not attend WYD. This would be an excellent opportunity for informal evangelization.
   
   
6. Thanksgiving or Christmas Reunion
   
   • Although this is a long-term follow-up activity, this can be a great way to bring back together those pilgrims who attend school away from home or who are otherwise normally too busy. Plan and advertise for it right after WYD.

_____________________________
¹ Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible with Revised New Testament and Revised Psalms © 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.


B. A Few Extra People for Added Excitement:
Follow-up on the Diocesan Level

Some events and programs work best on a diocesan level, either because the diocese has greater resources and a larger pool of interested people upon which to draw, or because the nature of the event lends itself to a large gathering.

Furthermore, if a young adult has participated in WYD through a diocesan-sponsored group, he or she may likely look for further young-adult-oriented activities on the diocesan level.

Remember that for every young adult who took the time and energy to go on pilgrimage to World Youth Day in a foreign country, there will be countless more young adults who will want to participate in activities, programs, and groups closer to home.

As on the parish and campus ministry level, so on the diocesan level: one activity does not fit all. Some people will be interested in prayer services, others in recreational events, and still others in service projects. Try to provide a variety of activities and programs, focusing first on quality and secondly on quantity.

Here are some suggested events, activities, and groups that could work for the young adults in a diocese.

1. Diocesan Follow-Up Mass
   Organize a post-WYD Mass in the cathedral or a centrally located parish.. Arrange for a local bishop to celebrate the Mass. Invite all WYD participants, financial sponsors, and parishioners from the diocese to attend. Provide for a reception afterwards. Have on display large WYD photos of diocesan pilgrims. See "Stoke the Fires!: Initial Follow-Up to World Youth Day in the Parish/Campus Ministry Setting - #1" for further options.
   
   
2. Theology on Tap
   This creative activity, originating from the Archdiocese of Chicago, is now a popular young-adult event in many dioceses. It brings young people together in an informal setting where they can share faith and fellowship. Each Theology on Tap involves a presentation or talk. As a follow-up to World Youth Day, have one or a few of the WYD pilgrims give presentations on the experience. Perhaps over a couple of nights present a series on the spiritual, theological, moral, and social justice themes of World Youth Day. For more info about Theology on Tap in general, contact the Archdiocese of Chicago Young Adult Ministry office at yam@yamchicago.org.
   
   
3. Coffee Hours
   Another possibility for reaching out to young adults is by sponsoring coffee hours. These can be informal gatherings to talk about the WYD experience and how it has affected the lives of those who attended. These gatherings can be geared for a general young-adult audience, not just for the pilgrims who went to WYD. See "Stoke the Fires!: Initial Follow-Up to World Youth Day in the Parish/Campus Ministry Setting - #3" for further options.
   
   Along this theme, try a coffee version of Theology on Tap. For instance, check out the Archdiocese of Atlanta's Holy Grounds program. Similar in style to Theology on Tap, something like Holy Grounds can be a way to reach those who may not want to "hang out" in bars.
   
   
4. Group Service Project
   A concrete aspect of WYD is service to our neighbors. With hundreds of thousands of people at WYD, a pilgrim cannot but be struck by the need and joy of serving others. Continue that at home by sponsoring a service project.
   
   One possibility for this is Habitat for Humanity. A favorite with the wanna-be fix-it men and women, this can be a great community gatherer and service project for a diocese. Do not just build a house though. Get to know the family who will be moving into the house, and while you are at it, the neighbors too.
   
   This can also be a great time to introduce young adults to the diocesan social justice ministries. Some young adults will be interested in service, others in social change. Have on hand ways to be involved in both respects in your diocese.
   
   
5. Athletic Games
   WYD probably required a bit of physical exertion for its young adult pilgrims. The hike to Downsview Lands in Toronto for the closing Papal Mass will be both exhilarating and tiring. Perhaps the need for catching up on some exercise will be felt afterwards.
   
   In light of this, a great opportunity for bringing together young adults is through athletic leagues. Organize diocesan teams for young adult athletic leagues or start a separate league. For instance, check out South Bay Catholic Young Adult Softball in California and the sports programs of Seattle Catholic Young Adults.
   
   While fun in themselves, the games can be used as an opportunity to build Catholic friendships and to get young adults involved in other Church activities such as those outlined above.

C. Road Trip Anyone?
Regional, National, and International Follow-up

Nothing beats the thrill of traveling for a big event. That is part of the excitement of WYD: it's a road trip! This can be more complex to organize and attend, but also enormously rewarding.

Considering the cost and energy spent in attending World Youth Day, it is unlikely that a young adult ministry leader will be able to plan another major trip or outing soon afterwards - unless, of course, the activity is close to home.

Perhaps the best indication of the success of World Youth Day is that so many pilgrims who have gone once go again. WYD happens only every two to three years, but planning can begin now to go to the next one. The Holy Father will officially announce the time and place for the next World Youth Day at his closing Mass in Toronto. Stay tuned to the USCCB's World Youth Day site for information about the next WYD.

World Youth Day is a form of pilgrimage, but a somewhat unique one in that the goal is a meeting of young adults, not a particular church or shrine. As for one of the more customary pilgrimages, there are plenty of opportunities, both abroad and in the United States. In preparation for the Jubilee Year 2000, the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People published two documents dealing with the meaning and significance of pilgrimages: The Shrine: Memory, Presence and Prophecy of the Living God and The Pilgrimage in the Great Jubilee. For a shorter article on the idea of pilgrimage, read Tourist or Pilgrim?. There are also plenty of books available that can suggest places to visit and how to make a good pilgrimage.

For travel outside the United States, consider visiting the Catholic sites in a country whose citizens you got to know at WYD, or connect with a local young adult group at the final destination.

Staying state-side, a good resource is the book Catholic Shrines and Places of Pilgrimage in the United States. It can be purchased through the USCCB Publishing Department. One possibility is to combine a group visit to a shrine with a camping, skiing, or site-seeing trip. For a special WYD-related site, check out the shrines associated with Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, one of the WYD patrons, in New York State and Quebec, Canada.

Also within the U.S., there are regional and national events that WYD pilgrims can do as a follow-up.

On the purely national level, efforts have been limited up to this date. However, have no fear! Just in time for post-2002 WYD follow-up, the Archdiocese of Santa Fe is sponsoring a National Catholic Young Adult Conference from June 13-15, 2003. It will be held at The Catholic Center, 4000 St. Joseph's Pl., Albuquerque, NM 87120. The theme of the conference is "The Road to Emmaus. Do you know where Jesus is on your journey? A Young Adult Journey into our Faith." For more info, contact the Archdiocese of Santa Fe Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries at (505) 831-8145 or Dawn Barreras, the Archdiocese of Santa Fe Young Adult Ministry Coordinator, at (505) 292-5363 or dbarreras@comcast.net.

A second place to look is other dioceses. Many dioceses in the country (e.g., Boston, Cleveland, Chicago, Santa Fe, Los Angeles, San Francisco) have annual young adult conferences which could be suitable for young adults willing to travel. For a running list of such conferences, contact the National Catholic Young Adult Ministry Association(website www.ncyama.org) at info@ncyama.org or (202) 298-8178.

Lastly, consider sponsoring a young adult conference in your diocese or in cooperation with nearby dioceses.

III. Reflections, Discussion Questions, and Activities Based on World Youth Day Themes

Young adults often grow in their faith through discussions with their peers and young adult ministers. The experience of World Youth Day emphasizes certain themes which are especially relevant to the lives of young adults. As such, these themes can be the basis of fruitful discussions among young adults.
As an aid to young adult ministry leader, the following reflections, discussion questions, and activities are offered as a thematic way in which to build upon the World Youth Day experience. The reflections have been written especially for young adult ministry leader in order to help situate the theme within the context of young adult ministry. The discussion questions have been designed to be asked directly to young adults, either in private conversation by young adult ministry leaders or collectively in a young adult discussion group. The suggested activities are ways in which to bring the discussions into the realm of public or group events. All of these ideas can be appropriated and modified according to the needs of the particular young adult setting. In general, they have been designed for parish, campus ministry, and diocesan settings.
The themes offered are as follows:

1. You Mean Not Everyone Prays in English?- The Multicultural Church
   
2. Jesus Christ Who?- Witnesses to the Modern World
   
3. Need a Help with that Load You're Carrying?- Sin and Mercy
   
4. A Curse or a Blessing? - The Cross of Christ
   
5. Me, be a saint?- The Universal Call to Holiness
   
6. Hello??? Earth to God? - Prayer
   
7. Live Life to the Full: The Gospel of Life
   
8. Has Anyone Ever Told You that Your Body is Incredible?- The Human Body
   
9. The Human Instruments of God: Service to the Poor
   
10. Giv'n It All to the Lord: World Youth Day and Vocations

A. You Mean Not Everyone Prays in English?
The Multicultural Church

After this I had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on the throne, and from the Lamb."
- Rev 7:9-10

One of the most impressive features of World Youth Day is the visible and audible diversity of the Church. Many young adults from the United States have probably not stopped before to consider that the Catholic Church is bigger than their local parish, diocese, or nation. Yet it is! World Youth Day is a prime example of this fact. WYD gathers young adults from all over the world for a week of prayer, activities, and fellowship. With the crowds and cacophony of voices, the worldwide dimension of the Church as catholic, or universal, literally touches all of the senses at WYD.

For young adults, the broadness of WYD can show them that their Catholic faith is so much bigger than they ever thought imaginable. They will feel strengthened in their knowledge that there are other young adults who are striving to live the faith in the modern world with all its opportunities and challenges. Simultaneously, they will have their minds opened to the spiritual richness of the Church and their hearts strengthened by the collective enthusiasm of hundreds of thousands of other young people.
While the international dimension of the Church will be awe-inspiring for young adults, they may find it helpful to bring out its deeper significance.

Discussion Questions for Young Adults

1. How many persons of different cultures did you meet at WYD? Can you name some specifically? Did you talk to them extensively? What was their experience of the Catholic faith in their own countries? How does this have any similarities or differences from your own experience? How might this change how you practice your faith?
   
   
2. In calling for World Youth Day gatherings every 2-3 years, Pope John Paul II gathers young adults from all over the world. How and why is having specifically young-adult-oriented international gatherings important to the Church and to you?
   
   
3. Given that you have an idea of just how broad and deep the Catholic faith is around the world, what special connections do you perceive between yourself and Catholics from other parts of the world? What responsibility do you have towards other Catholics?
   
   
4. St. Paul uses the image of the body as an analogy of the Church: "As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit . . . . Now you are Christ's body, and individually parts of it." (1 Cor 12:12-13, 27). What does this mean for the Church? What does it mean for you? Given the interconnection of the Church and your place in the Church, how can you be a better "part" of the Church?
   
   
5. The events of September 11 have heightened awareness of the diversity of cultures in our world, but often in a negative way. This can lead to stereotyping or categorizing people without even trying to know them. How can young adults help to break down these barriers that appear to be more present in our society these days?
   
   
6. What is your parish/campus ministry like? How many cultures are represented? How many countries of origin are represented? How is it a reflection of the Church at large?

Activities

1. Continue your experience with Catholics from other cultures by meeting with the young adults from your own or another parish community which is composed of persons from a different ethnic group. For instance, in many dioceses, there are specific parishes which are designated especially for the pastoral care of Hispanics, Vietnamese, Chinese, Haitians, Poles, etc. Contact one of these parishes to see if you can arrange a common meeting with other young adults or if they can supply a speaker for a young adult group. Meet over a meal. Or attend the parish festival of such a parish.
   
   
2. Learn more about the state of the Church in other parts of the world. In the United States, we have it fairly easy in that we enjoy freedom of worship, and we can draw upon and contribute to innumerable Church worship services, community activities, and social outreach programs. This is not possible in other parts of the world. Conversely, other parts of the world have culturally been heavily influenced by the Catholic faith. Imagine what it would be like to be a young adult Catholic in such various places as China, Germany, Brazil, Kenya, and India. Consider setting up an email correspondence with young adult Catholics in other countries or from other ethnic groups in the United States.

Further Resources
The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium) by the Second Vatican Council

The Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World (Gaudium et Spes) by the Second Vatican Council

Many Faces in God's House: Encuentro 2000 sponsored by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops


B. Jesus Christ Who?
Witnesses to the Modern World

Then Jesus approached and said to them, "All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age."
- Mt 28:11-13

One of the most exciting features of World Youth Day is that it is a forum for young adults to see the full, unbridled truth, goodness, and beauty of the Catholic faith in a way which has never been apparent to them before. It elevates them to a new level of understanding; it literally leads to life-changing conversions. Once the faith has been seen and grasped in its depth, it cannot remain bottled up. As Christ relates in the Gospel of St. Matthew, light is not put "under a bushel basket" (Mt 5:15). Instead there is the natural desire to share it.

In fact, many young adult Catholics, whether they have been to World Youth Day or not, have the energy and enthusiasm of new converts precisely because Catholicism is something which they have discovered in their teenage or young adult years. As young people grow and mature, they have the capacity to develop an increasingly deeper personal relationship with Jesus Christ. As this relationship continues to develop, it engenders a desire to share Christ with others. The Catholic faith is experienced as a great gift, and because it is based on the infinite God, it is truly a gift that reaches out to touch others. And there is plenty of room for young adult Catholics to reach out and spread the faith because there are so many people who do not know Christ.

Meet the witnesses of the New Evangelization! For those who have the privilege of attending World Youth Day, chances are this experience will light a fire to share the faith with others. When they get home, that energy needs to be supported and channeled. They can be encouraged to share their enthusiasm with their family, friends, and co-workers in informal ways, and to work in Catholic evangelization outreaches in more formal settings.

While this commitment to the faith is foundational and can be infectious, young adults, in order to be good evangelists, also need to continue to deepen their faith. Two important ways that they can do this is through prayer and study. Prayer unites us with God, the ultimate goal of all our lives and of evangelization. Study of Sacred Scripture and the Tradition of our faith reveals to us who God is and what He has done for us. The young adult who has the knowledge and the love of God, and who is thus rooted in the life of God, can communicate that knowledge, love, and life to others who are searching for that ultimate fulfillment which only God can give.

Discussion Questions for Young Adults

1. After World Youth Day, which particular events, experiences, or features of the week did you share with your family, friends, and acquaintances? Why were these aspects important to you? Why did you want to share them with others?
   
   
2. What does it mean for each Catholic to be an evangelizer? How can you be an evangelist to our world today? Does our world need something in particular? What can the Church give to it? What can you give to it?
   
   
3. How does one go about evangelizing others? Is evangelization a state of mind, a particular activity, a way of life? How?
   
   
4. How might you concretely improve your knowledge of Sacred Scripture? How does this affect evangelization?
   
   
5. How might you learn more about the "why" behind our traditions and practices as Catholics?
   
   
6. The recent sex abuse crisis within the Catholic Church has caused many lay Catholics to recognize that it is not enough to be passive members of the Church. Rather, the crisis has awakened Catholics to realize that by baptism they have been called to be active members of this faith community. For you, what does it mean to be an active member of the Catholic community?

Activities

1. Sponsor a lecture series about the basics or elements of the Catholic faith. Make it available to all young adults of whatever religious background. It can play both an evangelical and catechetical role. For example, see the Diocese of Richmond's Summer Theologica series.
   
   
2. Invite a prominent Catholic evangelizer to speak to young adults about his or her role as a public witness to Jesus Christ.
   
   
3. Learn more about the Catholic foreign missions which are working to spread the faith around the world. Support them through your prayers and however else you may feel inspired.
   
   
4. Invite other young adults who are not Catholics or non-practicing Catholics to various Catholic young adult activities. This is an opportunity to share the Catholic faith and to understand others' beliefs and practices.

Further Resources
The Decree on the Mission Activity of the Church (Ad Gentes) by the Second Vatican Council

On Evangelization in the Modern World (Evangelii Nuntiandi) by Pope Paul VI

On the Permanent Validity of the Church's Missionary Mandate (Redemptoris Missio) by Pope John Paul II

Go and Make Disciples: A National Plan and Strategy for Catholic Evangelization in the United States by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops


C. Need a Help with that Load You're Carrying?
Sin and Mercy

In this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him. In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.
- 1 Jn 4:9-10

Most young adults, as with all of us, have probably fallen off the highway to holiness at one time or another. Sometimes we get ourselves caught in situations in which we would rather not be, and we may not know how to find our way out of the fog. At other times we realize our faults only after the fact, even long after the fact. Sometimes we realize that we have sinned immediately after performing a deed. At other times, we do not even recognize that some of our actions could be of questionable moral value.

Perhaps as a result of the moral uncertainty of the last few decades, young adults can often fall into two extremes: 1) they do not recognize that there may be sin in their lives, and they could not care less; and 2) they can feel that something is wrong in their lives, even to the point of being excessively guilt-ridden, but they do not know how to fix the situation. Each group needs to be treated separately, but ultimately they both need to be led to the healing mercy of Jesus Christ, even if they do not realize it initially. For modern, independent-minded persons, as young adults tend to be, this can be a very difficult truth to accept. On big matters, it's hard to trust someone else, especially someone you can't normally see! Yet God desires not to condemn us, but to perfect us in His love.

For the first group of young adults, those who do not recognize the possibility of sin, chances are that these persons do realize that sin exists in the world, but they just do not see themselves falling into one of the categories of sin usually identified by the Church. For instance, some may not understand the Church's teaching on sex outside of marriage or committing fraud at work. For such persons, it may be a simple matter that they have never been shown the various facets of a certain action or the Christian understanding of that action. In these cases, a clear exploration and instruction may be all that is needed. For other cases, all you may be able to do for them is to tell them the facts, pray for them, and give them time to see the truth.

As for the second group, those who feel guilt in their lives but do not know how to deal with it, these need to be introduced to the loving mercy of Jesus Christ who saves us from our sins and reconciles us with God. Christ continues to bestow His love upon us through the Church and the sacraments. One of the most important vehicles for Christ's mercy is the sacrament of reconciliation. Pilgrims to World Youth Day will behold this sacrament celebrated in a grand way, with hundreds of priests available to hear confessions and to bestow our loving God's forgiveness to the thousands and thousands of young adults who want to get back on the highway to holiness.

Discussion Questions for Young Adults

1. (Without making a public confession) how do you deal with guilt? Do you perceive that it affects others in particular ways?
   
   
2. How have you experienced God's mercy in your life? How does this affect you?
   
   
3. How do you give mercy to others? What does this mean? In what concrete ways are you called to be merciful?
   
   
4. If you sin against God, how do you deal with it? If you sin against another human person, how do you deal with that? How are these responses related?

Activities

1. Plan a reconciliation service explicitly geared (in its preaching, timing, etc.) for young adults. You may wish to hold this service during Advent or Lent, or at other times during the year.
   
   
2. Recently the Divine Mercy devotion has gained broad currency in the Catholic world, especially through the designation of the Second Sunday of Easter as "Divine Mercy Sunday." Investigate this devotion and how it can be relevant to young adults. Use the Divine Mercy chaplet as a closing prayer experience at a young adult group meeting. Check out the Divine Mercy site of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception for more information.
   
   
3. Oftentimes "fallen-away" young adult Catholics may wish to return to the practice of the Catholic faith, but feel some guilt about a past event in their life. Offer a series of lectures to welcome and assist such persons in their reconciliation with the Church.
   
   
4. Sometimes guilt and trauma over a past incident can run very deep and leave terrible scars on persons. Be aware that young adults may have suffered or done something which requires serious assistance and counseling. Alert those in need to the various opportunities for help which are available to them. For instance, many women and men who have been involved somehow in abortion will experience post-abortion trauma at some point in their lives. There are Catholic groups available to minister to such individuals. In the case of post-abortion trauma, the most well-known Catholic counseling service is Project Rachel.

Further Resources
Rich in Mercy (Dives in Misericordia) by Pope John Paul II

Reconciliation and Penance (Reconciliatio et Paenitentia) by Pope John Paul II

Penitential Practices for Today's Catholics by the Committee on Pastoral Practices of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops


D. A Curse or a Blessing?
The Cross of Christ

For Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
- 1 Cor 1:22-25

One of the more prominent and poignant acts of religious devotion to be held at World Youth Day 2002 will be the Way of the Cross on Friday evening. It is a traditional Catholic practice to commemorate in this manner the events in which Christ was condemned to death by Pontius Pilate and killed on the Cross on the first Good Friday.

Additionally, the weeks leading up to World Youth Day involve a special cross, given by Pope John Paul II to the young people of the host country, which is carried in procession throughout the country.

From the very beginning of its existence, the Cross has been one of the most perplexing signs of Christianity. On the one hand, it was perhaps the most brutal form of capital punishment and religious persecution during the Roman Empire. As such, it took centuries after the actual Crucifixion for Christians to become comfortable enough to depict the Cross in their religious art. On the other hand, the Cross has been the sign of Christ's love for us, even to the point of death.

In today's culture, the Cross can carry all sorts of meaning. Most certainly, it still is identified with Christianity. However, some years ago, it also became fashionable to wear a crucifix around one's neck, even if one were not Christian or especially dedicated to being Christian.

On a spiritual level, the Cross has often been identified as the act of accepting with love the sufferings that batter us in our daily lives. The goal is not to suffer, but to love in the midst of suffering. As such, the Cross is transformed not into a menace, but into a mystery of love. On one level, the Cross represents the love of God. "God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8). On a second level, the Cross becomes our means to love God. "Apart from the cross there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven" (St. Rose of Lima: cf. P. Hansen, Vita mirabilis [Louvain, 1668], quoted in The Catechism of the Catholic Church, #618).

Certainly Catholic young adults of today are not immune from suffering. Young adults have grown up with the societal specter of drug and alcohol abuse, widespread divorce and non-traditional families, and attacks on the very foundations of human life. The events of September 11 caused adults of all ages to stop and reflect on how fragile life can be. For young adults, as for all people, the Cross can be an instrument of personal and communal healing.

But for the Cross to be relevant to young adults, it perhaps needs to be presented to them anew, with its full implications for their individual lives made explicit. This is a matter for solid catechesis on one of the most mysterious aspects of our faith.


Discussion Questions for Young Adults

1. What does the Cross mean for you today? When you look at it, what comes to your mind? How does this compare with what society thinks of the Cross?
   
   
2. Why should an ancient instrument of capital punishment be the nearly universal sign of Christianity? How can the Cross be a part of a modern Christian's faith and spirituality? How is it a part of your own faith and spirituality?
   
   
3. The Cross represents the event of Christ's final suffering and death. What role does suffering play in your life? What good can come from suffering? How can God truly transform a bad thing into a good thing? What is your role in any such transformation?
   
   
4. The Cross is also linked to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. What role does the Resurrection play in your life? How do you experience the effects of the Resurrection? How can you participate in the Resurrection of Christ?
   
   
5. How does Christ help you carry your own cross? How do you give your load to Him and seek His assistance?
   
   
6. For many people, we now carry the cross resulting from September 11. Is this a cross for you and if so, how can Christ help you to carry it?

Activities

1. Following upon the example of World Youth Day, organize or participate in a local prayer service with the Stations of the Cross. Have young adults generate reflections which can be used for each station and which are geared towards people of their own age and background.
   
   
2. Visit the sick or dying in a Catholic hospital, nursing home, or shelter. Notice if the Cross can bring healing to those in need. A good place to visit, for instance, would be one of the homes of the Missionaries of Charity, the group of sisters established by Mother Theresa of Calcutta. Their spirituality emphasizes the role of the Cross in bringing healing to those who are suffering.

Further Resources
"Jesus Died Crucified" - ¶595-623 in The Catechism of the Catholic Church

Of Salvific Suffering (Salvifici Doloris) by Pope John Paul II


E. Me, be a saint?
The Universal Call to Holiness

Just as salt gives flavour to food and light illumines the darkness, so too holiness gives full meaning to life and makes it reflect God's glory. How many saints, especially young saints, can we count in the Church's history! In their love for God their heroic virtues shone before the world, and so they became models of life which the Church has held up for imitation by all. Let us remember only a few of them: Agnes of Rome, Andrew of Phú Yên, Pedro Calungsod, Josephine Bakhita, Thérèse of Lisieux, Pier Giorgio Frassati, Marcel Callo, Francisco Castelló Aleu or again Kateri Tekakwitha, the young Iroquois called "the Lily of the Mohawks". Through the intercession of this great host of witnesses, may God make you too, dear young people, the saints of the third millennium!
- Pope John Paul II, Message of the Holy Father to the Youth of the World on the Occasion of the XVII World Youth Day

One of the foremost endeavors of Pope John Paul II has been his call for all Catholics to be saints. Holiness is not reserved for priests and religious alone. All people, no matter what their walk of life or background, are invited by Jesus Christ to follow Him perfectly. This conformation to Christ is the essence of a saint.

Pope John Paul II, in addressing this "universal call to holiness," has particularly encouraged young people to accept the invitation of Christ to become saints. As he said in his preparatory letter to WYD 2002, "it is the nature of human beings, and especially youth, to seek the Absolute, the meaning and fullness of life. Dear young people, do not be content with anything less than the highest ideals!"

Certainly all of us are sinners. But we have confidence in God because Christ came precisely to redeem us from this state. Christ said, "I did not come to call the righteous but sinners" (Mt 9:13). Through Christ, we can be transformed from a sinner into a righteous saint.
To be a saint is no light undertaking, as the Pope is well aware. That is why one of his most repeated phrases to young people is "Be not afraid." No matter what the difficulties may be, the grace of Christ can overcome all objections and obstacles. Confidence in God's grace, not in ourselves, is perhaps one of the first steps that we can make in the road to sainthood.

What exactly does it mean to be holy? Does it mean to say certain prayers? Is it merely doing good deeds? Holiness goes much beyond this. It is a way of life that involves commitment and activity. It is not a passive endeavor. It is a continuous choice to deepen one's relationship with God and to then allow this relationship to guide all of one's actions in the world.

It may be foreign to some young adults to think of themselves in the context of striving for holiness. It requires a radical change in mindset and attitude. In essence, the acceptance of the call to holiness places God as our final goal in every aspect of our lives. This fundamental orientation towards God even envelops and sustains our relationship with other human beings. Then, sustained by a life of virtue and fortified by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, God draws us ever closer to Himself and to that day when we shall see Him face to face in Heaven and achieve full union with Him.

This call to holiness is not something alien to who we are as human beings. Rather it is the very goal and final fulfillment of our human personhood. Christ calls us to be the human beings we were meant to be. As the Pope so movingly said to young people in St. Louis: "Remember: Christ is calling you; the Church needs you; the Pope believes in you and he expects great things of you!"

Discussion Questions for Young Adults

1. What is holiness in our day and age? What is it for you? Who are some people who you know embody holiness? Why?
   
   
2. What does it mean for you that God has called you personally to be a saint? How can you respond to this?
   
   
3. What does it mean for you that God has called all other people to also be saints? Does that impact how you view or treat them?
   
   
4. Examine your ideals and values. How do these help or hinder holiness in your life? How can you change these ideals and values, and grow in union with God?
   
   
5. The recent sex abuse crisis revealed instances when our actions as church were less than holy. What does it mean for the Catholic Church to seek holiness in the aftermath of this crisis? As a Catholic young adult, what is your role in this?

Activities

1. Get to know more about the patron saints of World Youth Day: Agnes of Rome, Andrew of Phú Yên, Pedro Calungsod, Josephine Bakhita, Thérèse of Lisieux, Pier Giorgio Frassati, Marcel Callo, Francisco Castelló Aleu and Kateri Tekakwitha. The official 2002 World Youth Day website contains biographies on each of them. Perhaps put on a play depicting one of their lives, showing the relevance to the world of young adults today.
   
   
2. Make a commitment as a group to do one thing each day which leads to greater holiness. Such tools for growth in holiness can be found in the World Youth Day experience. For instance, if your group prayed the Rosary at WYD and found it helpful, agree to continue this practice after WYD. In imitation of WYD, the group may also wish to continue attending Mass together and individually receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation on a regular basis.

Further Resources
"Chapter V: The Universal Call to Holiness in the Church" of The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium) by the Second Vatican Council

The Lay Members of Christ's Faithful People (Christifideles Laici) by Pope John Paul II

Called and Gifted for the Third Millennium by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops


F. Hello??? Earth to God?"
Prayer

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asks for a loaf of bread, or a snake when he asks for a fish? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him."
- Mt 7:7-11

Prayer can be both scary and sublime for young adults. On the one hand, young adults want to develop an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, but on the other hand, it seems like that relationship and Jesus Christ are so far away. Some people have the notion that they should pray, but feel at a loss in how to go about doing this.

There are perhaps two fundamental points that should be emphasized to young adults that will help them with prayer. First, prayer involves mystery. It is the communication of persons with each other. Prayer is about relationships. It unites God and human beings. As the Holy Trinity comes to fuller actualization in the inner life of the human person, prayer becomes more and more a participation in the inner life of the Three Persons of the Trinity. Prayer thus envelops us into the very life of God.

Second, while maintaining the mystery of prayer, the false mystique about prayer should be removed. Most people have the notion that they have to engage in a certain series of steps before and during prayer. These may include methods of prayer, postures, topics for prayer, etc. However, there is no one universally correct way to pray. Methods may help, but prayer is not method. Just as each group of friends is a unique entity with its own special lingo, so the relationship between each human being and God is unique and enjoys a privileged form of communication. Each person should pray to God as comes to him or her naturally. Some people may like to kneel, others sit. Some may like to chant Taizé prayers, others meditate on the sacred texts of the Bible. Some find inspiration for prayer in their interactions with other people, others find it in the wonders of creation.

This being said, the Church has identified a wide range of prayers and prayer styles which are sure guides to lead the believing Christian to God. First, there are the liturgical acts of public prayer which bind the Christian community together in the worship of God. The most central of these is the celebration of the Eucharist, the source and summit of our lives as a Christian community. Another type of public liturgy is the Liturgy of the Hours which is celebrated every day throughout the world. Second, there are private devotions which have evolved from the experience of the Church. These would include prayers whose forms have been standardized by the Church such as the Our Father, the Hail Mary, and the Glory Be. It would also encompass more extensive practices such as the individual recitation of the Rosary and the making of the Stations of the Cross. These standardized prayers, both public and private, must always be complemented by the personal, intimate prayers of the individual Christian communicating with Christ, one heart to another.

The way to tell if a particular prayer style is working is by the results it delivers. "Every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit" (Mt 7:17). If, over the long term, the young adult finds himself or herself growing in the love of God and the love of neighbor, then the form of prayer is efficacious. If not, he or she may need to try something else. Through good and bad times in prayer, the Christian needs to remain resolute in the faith, hope, and love of God, for these virtues are the foundation and wellspring of our life with God. With God, it is always the case that "operators are standing by!" The important thing in all this is to remember that prayer fosters and strengthens a real relationship between God and the individual human being.

Given that each person can participate in a personalized prayer relationship with God, there are certain spiritualities in the Church, often linked with various religious orders, with which a Catholic may identify and from which he or she may derive insight and strength. For instance, Benedictines prefer contemplative prayer along with solemn public liturgy. Franciscans have a devotion in prayer to the humanity of Christ. Dominicans have been known for their devotion to the Marian Rosary. The Jesuits practice the prayer of imaging and discernment taught by St. Ignatius of Loyola.

One key to assisting the prayer life of young adults is for their minister to have a good prayer life himself or herself. Do not pretend to be a mystical guru - that causes more harm than good. But do try to be a gentle encourager and enabler. Pray for the young adults whom you serve. Begin and end meetings with prayer. Pray with those who are struggling or in need of aid.

Discussion Questions for Young Adults

1. What does prayer mean for you? Is it a matter of forced necessity, of exciting love, of pious devotion, of pain, of joy? What do you "get" out of prayer? What do you "give" in prayer?
   
   
2. What is your favorite prayer? What is your favorite way to pray? Why?
   
   
3. To whom do you pray: to God the Father, to Jesus Christ, to the Holy Spirit? Do you have a devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, to another saint, to your guardian angel? Why do you have a preference?
   
   
4. As a communal group, Catholics pray both publicly (such as by participating in Mass) and privately. Are you able to find a balance between such public and private prayer? If so, how?
   
   
5. When you think of deepening your relationship with God, what image do you have? How does this image differ from your image of what it means to pray?

Activities

1. Ask the young adults in your group to organize a prayer service. If possible, organize a number of prayer services at different times and utilizing a variety of styles. Experiment and see what works best.
   
   
2. A valuable activity in young adult ministry is to sponsor retreats for young adults.
   
   
3. Incorporate special young-adult-oriented talks and discussion groups. Oftentimes, however, in the midst of all this, little time is left for private prayer and silence. Organize a silent weekend retreat for young adults. This may be a stretch from the usual hectic quality of most young adults' lives, but it can be a powerful and sublime experience whereby the young adult grows closer to God.
   
   
4. In conjunction with World Youth Day, various Catholic groups volunteer to run prayer services in selected venues. Here young adults can discover new modes of and inspirations for prayer. If a particular prayer experience was important or influential for the group in Toronto, continue it back home.

Further Resources
"Part 4: Christian Prayer" of The Catechism of the Catholic Church


G. Live Life to the Full:
The Gospel of Life

Then God said: "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and the cattle, and over all the wild animals and all the creatures that crawl on the ground." God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them. . . . God looked at everything he had made, and he found it very good.
- Gen 1:26-27, 31

Pope John Paul II challenges young adults to live life to the full. This means that they should live the good life themselves and that they should help others to live the good life.

Sadly in our times, there are countless defenseless persons who are deprived of life itself. Among these are the unborn in the womb subjected to abortion, the aging subjected to euthanasia, and the condemned criminals subjected to the death penalty. As occurred on September 11, even mature adults can become innocent victims in just a short moment.

Beyond these direct acts of taking human life, artificial contraception, in which the natural processes of reproduction are intentionally stymied, also contributes to a mindset which rejects viewing every human life as a gift of God. Conversely, certain fetal tissue research and the possibility of human cloning, in an attempt to create human life, actually violates the dignity of human nature and the human reproductive process.

In response to all of these threats of death, our Catholic faith urges us on to life, its proclamation, and its fulfillment. Pope John Paul II has called for the creation in our time of a "culture of life" (Evangelium Vitae, 77).

Given the particular energy and zeal for life which young adults possess, and the fact that the Gospel of life fundamentally involves the family - the structure which married young adults are beginning to experience - Catholic young adults are in a unique position to support the Gospel of life. While such a sea change in moral and cultural thought will not happen overnight, young adults, in their words and actions, can lay the foundations for the authentic future of life.

Considering the pervasiveness of disrespect for human life, it will not come as a surprise if some Catholic young adults have fallen in these areas of morality. They obviously need to be loved, consoled, and, if they do not understand the nature of their actions, led to a deeper understanding of these actions within the Catholic mindset. This requires much tact on the part of the young adult ministry leader.

Despite the great controversies in society over these issues, we Christians have, through grace, the confidence and joy to participate in the work of Christ in the restoration and fulfillment of life.

Discussion Questions for Young Adults

1. As a young adult today, you have been raised in a culture which, by and large, accepts the use of legalized abortion, euthanasia, and capital punishment. What effects has this had on you personally? Do you feel that you are living in a "culture of death," as Pope John Paul II has described it (Evangelium Vitae, 12)?
   
   
2. What do you think it would take to create a "culture of life" in our society? What would such a culture look like? What part can you play in bringing this about?
   
   
3. Typically the practices of abortion, euthanasia, and capital punishment have been described as the "usual suspects" against a culture of life. What other things inhibit a culture of life? What other aspects of our normal everyday behavior detract from the good life which God wants for us?
   
   
4. Have you personally ever had to deal with a situation which entailed "life" issues? For instance, talking with friends or family about using artificial contraception, obtaining an abortion, assisting in suicide, etc.? How did you deal with this situation?
   
   
5. The Church teaches the need for a married couple to embrace both the life-giving and love-giving aspects of sexual intercourse. How is this teaching connected to the Gospel of life?
   
   
6. How did the events of September 11 threaten the culture of life? How can our response to these events build up the culture of life rather than continuing to tear it down?
   
   
7. One of the symptoms of a culture of death is when human beings are treated as objects rather than as persons, as occurs with racism. Have you ever encountered or witnessed racism? How can young adults work together to promote the Gospel of life in this area?

Activities

1. For an exciting road-trip, plan on traveling to Washington, D.C., for the March for Life held on January 22 each year. This is the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision. Annually tens of thousands of pro-life supporters, most of whom are young people, march through downtown Washington. Diocesan pro-life offices can provide more info.
   
   
2. The effects of abortion on the persons involved are wide-reaching. Various Catholic groups have been established which minister to those suffering from post-abortion trauma. The most well-known of these is called Project Rachel. Invite a speaker from Project Rachel to speak about the effects of abortion and the importance of promoting healing.
   
   
3. For young married couples, consider sponsoring a series of talks on natural family planning (NFP). The practice of NFP is little understood, but can be a key tool in strengthening the love of a married couple.
   
   
4. Rent a copy of the movie "Dead Man Walking" and hold a movie and pizza night for young adults. Afterwards, have a discussion on the issues raised by the movie.
   
   
5. There are many new developments in the area of biotechnology. If used well, some of these developments can promote a culture of life. In other cases, these developments can be applied in a way to the harm the dignity of life. Work with a local university or hospital, invite a panel session of ethicists or moral theologians to spark a discussion of current topics.
   
   
6. Sponsor pizza and discussion night on a topic of violence that has affected your local community. Begin and end the dialogue with prayer, asking for God's help in building a culture of life amidst this violence.

Further Resources
The Gospel of Life (Evangelium Vitae) by Pope John Paul II

Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities: A Campaign in Support of Life by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Living the Gospel of Life: A Challenge to American Catholics by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops


H. Has Anyone Ever Told You that Your Body is Incredible?
The Human Body

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
- 1 Cor 6:19

Most Catholic young adults are very "body-conscious." They are concerned about their physique and their physical health. It's natural to want to take care of our bodies. Flesh and blood are integral to our nature.

Oftentimes when we talk about the use of the body in a religious context, it somehow involves sexual relations. But we need to go beyond this. First and foremost, the body must be seen as a good and beautiful gift from God and as part of our very being and personhood. As such, the body is our physical instrument in which to serve God. As the Christian is sanctified by the grace of Christ, so too the body takes on a new life and dignity. As Pope John Paul II wrote to young adults before World Youth Day 2002, "through Baptism, our whole being has been profoundly changed, because it has been ‘seasoned' with the new life which comes from Christ (cf. Rom 6:4). The salt which keeps our Christian identity intact even in a very secularized world is the grace of Baptism. Through Baptism we are re-born. We begin to live in Christ and become capable of responding to his call to ‘offer [our] bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God' (Rom 12:1)." Through Baptism as well, the Holy Trinity dwells within the Christian. The body is elevated to a new holiness.

While many young adults may know certain elements of Catholic teaching which describe what they cannot do with their bodies (e.g., no sexual relations outside of marriage, no homosexual activity, no mutilation of the body), the context for this teaching is rarely understood. The body must be viewed from the positive perspective of what we can do with it. The primary attitude must be that the body is oriented towards the service of God. Bodily practices which are morally wrong entail a deficiency towards the body. They sell God and the person short. They are a form of manipulation.

So, for instance, the Church wants married couples to have sex - good sex, that is, sex that is open to both the procreative and unitive functions which are inherent to it. The various teachings of the Church on sexuality are designed to protect the value and integrity of our human sexuality. Inappropriate sexual activity is immoral because it distorts a beautiful gift of God.

For Catholic young adults, whether they be single or married, a renewed sense of the value and integrity of the human body will contribute much to their personal growth in holiness, social interaction, self-esteem, etc. As Pope John Paul II has articulated, a Christian theology of the body is an essential element in the creative, healthy, and holy use of our physical nature and our physical world.

Discussion Questions for Young Adults

1. What does society think of the body? How does this understanding fit with daily life?
   
   
2. How does your faith influence how you view your body? How does it influence how you treat your body? How does it influence how you view and treat the bodies of other persons and how you interact with other persons in general?
   
   
3. For single Catholic young adults, what are appropriate styles of dating or courtship? How do you respect your own body and that of your boyfriend or girlfriend?
   
   
4. For married Catholic young adults, what does it mean that you have given yourself totally to your spouse? If your body is fundamentally ordered to the service of God, what does this mean that you also give your body to your spouse? What are the extents and limits of the bodily dimension of your marriage?

Activities

1. Near the beginning of his pontificate, Pope John Paul II outlined in a series of short lectures a "theology of the body" (published by the Daughters of St. Paul under the title The Theology of the Body According to John Paul II : Human Love in the Divine Plan, ISBN: 0819873942). Take some of these lectures and use them as the basis for a discussion group about the human body and its role in our lives.
   
   
2. Given that so many questions arise about the body in the context of dating and marriage, sponsor a lecture series on this subject geared towards young adults.

Further Resources
John Paul II's Theology of the Body by Mary Shivanandan


I. The Human Instruments of God:
Service to the Poor

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well," but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
- Jm 2:14-17

One of the innovative features of World Youth Day 2002 in Toronto is its inclusion of social service opportunities on some of the weekday afternoons. This is an important reminder that the Christian life is fundamentally outward-focused: first, to God, and second, to our neighbors.

Americans tend to be an activities-oriented group of people. In young adults, this trait can be heightened even more. They want to do something, make a difference, change the world. The energy is there; it just needs to be tapped and channeled. Social service is one of the primary vehicles by which young adults can live out their Catholic faith.

Christians have the added knowledge that their service to other human beings is a service to God. This is powerfully described by Jesus in the Gospel of St. Matthew:

"Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?' And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.'" (25:34-40)

In serving our neighbors, our actions take on a transcendent character and we serve Christ.

Such service to our neighbors represents a radically counter-cultural ideal. Much of society sees the poor, the suffering, and the marginalized as a drag upon society. Oftentimes it seems that, at best, society merely tolerates such poverty. At worst, society uses destructive means to root out such "meaningless" existence. For the Christian however, the poor are not a problem to be fixed; they are persons to be loved. It is within this context that the Church calls for a "preferential option" for the poor. Rooted in the virtue of love, which is itself a gift from God, the Catholic young adult can give life to others and thus be the very instrument of the mercy of God.


Discussion Questions for Young Adults

1. What is social service? To whom should you give service in our society? Who needs help?
   
   
2. What is your responsibility to the poor, the suffering, the marginalized? What can you do for them? What should you do for them? What is the difference?
   
   
3. What is the most effective means of serving the poor in this day and age?
   
   
4. How do certain social policies and systems create or perpetuate poverty? In what ways can you respond to these forces?

Activities

1. Organize a regularly-scheduled day for young adults to work together on a service project. Make it a day of fellowship, but also of true charitable work. After the project, include time for theological reflection upon the experience.
   
   
2. Catholic social teaching has been extensively developed over the last hundred years and contains great riches, but is relatively unknown. Study some of this teaching in a small group setting and seek to understand how this applies to our world and culture today. A good place to start would be Pope John Paul II's encyclical Centesimus Annus.

Further Resources
On the Hundredth Anniversary of Rerum Novarum (Centesimus Annus) by Pope John Paul II

Everyday Christianity: To Hunger and Thirst for Justice by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Seven Key Themes of Catholic Social Teaching by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

USCCB Catholic Campaign for Human Development

Catholic Relief Services

Catholic Charities USA


J. Giv'n It All to the Lord:
World Youth Day and Vocations

If any of you, dear young men and women, hear the Lord's inner call to give yourselves completely to him in order to love him "with an undivided heart" (cf. 1 Cor 7:34), do not be held back by doubts or fears. Say "yes" with courage and without reserve, trusting him who is faithful to his promises. Did he not assure those who had left everything for his sake that they would have a hundredfold in this life and eternal life hereafter? (cf. Mk 10:29-30).
-Pope John Paul II, Homily at the Closing of
World Youth Day 2000

World Youth Day has become a powerful seedbed for vocations to the priesthood, consecrated life, and lay ecclesial ministry. Whether it is because those who have already sensed a call choose to attend World Youth Day out of their strong faith life, or because World Youth Day awakens young adults for the first time to the special call of God, World Youth Day can be a moment of life-changing discernment.

Any one of the diverse experiences of WYD may be the occasion for insight into one's vocation. For some young adults, it might be the challenge of the Holy Father to live out the Gospel in a radical way. For others, it might be meeting a particular priest, sister, brother, or consecrated layperson. Some may be touched by the preaching of the catechesis workshops or by participation in the Sacraments of Holy Eucharist or Reconciliation. Some may not know what exactly inspired thoughts of dedicating themselves to God as a priest or consecrated person, but just know that they have this thought on their minds and in their hearts.

Such thoughts may be only temporary. In the emotional "high" of WYD, one may feel an impulse to give everything to God as a priest or religious. The feelings may pass within a month or two.

But many other cases may truly reflect a calling from God. For these young adults, the process may be alternately exhilarating, scary, peaceful, and depressing. Support given by fellow young adults can be enormously helpful at this point.

Some young adults may feel a vague attraction to do more with their lives after World Youth Day. They know that God wants them to do something, but they cannot put their finger on it. In this case, you may wish to propose to them that God may be calling them to a particular vocation in the Church. Or this could mean that God is asking them to use their talents in a different way than their present walk of life.

Given the particular nature of each vocational call, the best advice for young adults is for them to get in touch with an experienced, wise, and prudent priest or religious who can help them in the discernment process.

For modern young adults, one of the best and most frequently chosen options for help in discerning a vocation is to browse the Internet. Most dioceses and religious communities have their own websites now (often packed with information). For those who feel a general call to serve God as a priest or religious but do not know where to turn, there are also various listings of vocation opportunities.

Some people could find a tension in young adult ministry between the mindset of clerics and religious, and the laity. But young adult groups and ministry are not merely vocations clubs nor dating services nor singles groups. Competition need not exist between persons attracted to different vocations in the Church. Instead, authentically Catholic life involves people from various callings and interests who meld together in a cohesive whole serving God.

In working with Catholic young adults, the minister should broach the subject of priestly, religious, and lay ministry vocations every once in a while and with openness and sensitivity. In a world in which these vocations are little understood, speaking about them in a positive forum can be a way of letting young adults know all the life options which are open to them and to which God may be calling them.

Discussion Questions for Young Adults

1. Did you meet any young priests, seminarians, and religious at World Youth Day? If so, how were they like you in spirit, attitude, or life? How were they dissimilar to you?
   
   
2. Have you ever asked God what He wants you to do with your life? If yes, what has God said? If not, are there any reasons why you have not asked? Try asking God when you pray later today.
   
   
3. How do those with vocations to the priesthood or consecrated life in the Church affect your faith life? What support can you give to these men and women who have given their lives to Christ in this way?
   
   
4. How can full-time lay ecclesial ministers participate and aid in the work of the Church?

Activities

1. Invite a young priest, seminarian, religious, or lay ecclesial minister to speak to other young adults about his or her individual vocation. Another possibility is to ask the diocesan vocations director to speak.
   
   
2. The presence of priests and religious in today's society is decreasing because of various factors, to the extent that many young adults do not really know how priests or religious live. Visit a seminary, convent, monastery, or other such location in order to come to a better understanding of these vocations in our midst.
   
   
3. Get your young adult group involved in efforts to understand and promote vocations among the young. See, for instance, how some young adults in Texas, entitled the Young Serra Community of Houston, are supporting vocations in the Church. Further information can be found in the serraUSA articles A Fresh Approach by Caroline Schermerhorn and Promoting Vocations in the Third Millennium by Michael Murray.

Further Resources
Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests (Presbyterorum Ordinis) by the Second Vatican Council

The Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity (Apostolicam Actuositatem) by the Second Vatican Council

The Decree on the Adaptation and Renewal of Religious Life (Perfectae Caritatis) by the Second Vatican Council

The Consecrated Life (Vita Consecrata) by Pope John Paul II

I Will Give You Shepherds (Pastores Dabo Vobis) by Pope John Paul II

The Lay Members of Christ's Faithful People (Christifideles Laici) by Pope John Paul II

Vocations Online, sponsored by the Vocations Office of the Diocese of Joliet, Illinois




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Secretariat for Family, Laity, Women & Youth
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
3211 4th Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20017-1194 (202) 541-3000