Those of us who have been in youth ministry for a while certainly know that we did not respond to this call because of its fantastic pay and schedule. If you did, then someone was feeding you a line about your job description. Seriously though, we said yes to this ministry because of our love of the faith and of young people.

Most of the youth ministry leaders that I know or have spoken with over my past twelve years in youth ministry tell me that they follow the academic year for planning groups and events. Typically, the summers lie fallow from a lot of organized groups or activities. This is actually a healthy thing as we need to take the time to recharge. However, when we look at our lives as ministers, do we just try to survive each year in youth ministry or make a conscious effort to live out the seasons of our lives in a way that is an example to young people about our faith tradition?

Living Out the Seasons through Ministry

The seasons that I am speaking of are the seasons of the liturgical year. As ministers do we bring young people into a deeper understanding of the liturgical year and our tradition by the example of our actions and rituals depending on the particular liturgical season? During Advent are we giddy with anticipation of the coming of the Lord? Do we proclaim ‘Emmanuel’ and ‘prepare ye the way’ or do we race right to Christmas? During Lent are the young people able to see that we are searching deep within ourselves by our prayer and actions? Do they see us washing the feet of those in our families, our parish communities, and the greater community through our service to them? During Easter do the young people see the incredible hope that we have in the resurrection and how that event brings a new resurrection in each of us? What about ordinary time? Do we just see this particular season as a time that is not as important as Advent, Christmas, Lent, or Easter? Or, do we live our lives in ordinary time where we experience the wonder of the original meaning of Sunday as the Lord’s Day?

Life of a Youth Minister

Being a youth ministry leader comes with great challenges. There are so many times where I go through an entire week and it seems like such a blur. Our schedules can become ridden with youth groups, social events, attending sporting events, birthday parties, graduation parties, family engagements, certification courses, etc. It can be difficult to be focused on how we live out and experience the specific liturgical seasons as ministers. However, it is definitely something to keep in mind and to strive for as it is the example of our lives that can often be the greatest catechetical tool. Young people are hungry for ways to bring faith filled meaning to their lives. By focusing on the richness of the liturgical year and living our lives as an extension and expression of those seasons, we are able to lead by example and give youth a concrete way to bring that meaning into their own lives.

So, as we continue through Advent, and enter into the Christmas season, how does your life reflect what we believe? Is it impacting the way you minister to young people? I know writing this article has challenged me to think about doing some things differently. I hope it has done the same for you. May God richly bless each of you and the ministry to which you have been called!