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November 23, 2022
Last month the CCCB shared a letter to all young Catholics in Canada. The letter ended with three main points that are important for young people to hear from our Church and our Pastoral teams:
Young people, you are:
- Important to us!
- Important to your family & friends!
- Important to the world!
These points are nothing new per se. Yet, could you imagine what would be different if we, as a Church, lived out these three main points in our communities? I invite you to reflect on some questions to apply this to your own community.
1. Are young people important to us as a Church?
There are many opportunities to show them and tell them they are important. How is your Family of Parishes showing young people they are important? Consider embracing some new ideas to reach out to young people.
Idea: High School exams are coming up in January. A parish community could put something together to give to all the high school students to tell them we will be praying for them or include them in the Prayers of the Faithful during weekend Mass so the whole faith community is praying for and thinking of them as they go through their exams.
2. a) Are we supporting families as they grow in faith together?
Parents love their children and want their children to succeed. The Church has the opportunity to accompany families on their faith journey together. Do we make the most out of the time within our Sacrament preparation programs, family, or youth events to provide moments of encounter for families?
Idea: Include an evening mini retreat for parents and children together to share the love of Jesus with one another, through prayer and fun activities.
2. b) Are we supporting young people as they are growing in friendship with peers?
Our Church communities can help ensure that friendships of young people are healthy and in line with good morals & values.
Idea: Your parish could provide experiences where young people can share with one another, like a teen retreat, fun social night, or workshops on how to handle stress & anxiety well, integrating mental health and faith.
3. Can we help young people recognize their importance to the world?
Young people have a voice, and they want that voice to be heard. Do we listen to them? Do we want to hear what is going on in their lives? Do we provide a safe space for them to share, to give of their time & talent to help the community?
Idea: While it is valuable to offer service opportunities for young people- whether it be shoveling snow for the elderly that live in the community or having young people help in organizing a “feed the hungry” campaign, it is equally important to ensure there are young voices on committees that are appropriate for their age group. For example, include some teens on the parish picnic committee and let them share ideas and take on responsibilities, or invite them onto the PPC. Wherever they are present, let their voices be heard!
This letter was born out of a synodal process with young people. In our own synodal conversations in the Diocese of London, many of the responses were about bringing youth & families back to Church. I encourage all parish teams to take this letter and prayerfully read it. Bring it to your parish councils or youth commissions. If you have a youth group, have a night where the young people can reflect on the letter and answer the questions that are provided.
As a Church we are called to walk with and accompany the young people that are in our communities, not just the ones that attend mass each week. This letter is a great motivator for Families of Parishes to remind their young people that they are important to the Church and to the world.
Important Dates in December 2022
Click the links for more information about the saint or occasion.(S=Solemnity, F=Feast, M=Memorial, OM=Optional Memorial)
7 - St. Ambrose (M)
12 - Our Lady of Guadalupe (F)
13 - St. Lucy (M)
14 - St. John of the Cross (M)
25 - Nativity of the Lord
26 - St. Stephen (F)
27 - St. John (F)
28 - Holy Innocents (F)
30 - Holy Family (F)
Great Things We Found On The Internet This Month:
- Church has a 'crisis of welcome' - America Magazine
- Gen Z, Mental Health & Faith- Springtide Research
- A Home Full of Gen Z - Unleash the Gospel
- Self-Care for a Youth Minister - Life Teen Blog
- Keeping Teens Engaged after Confirmation - Marathon Youth Ministry Blog
We want to hear more Good News Stories from across our Diocese.
- Have you experienced a time that you felt welcomed, cared for, loved, or well-served in your parish or within a Catholic community?
- Is there a moment where you witnessed the vision of the "Diocese of London: Being a Mission-Oriented Church that Forms Disciples of Jesus" being lived out?
- Have you experienced a meaningful and joyful liturgical celebrations?
We want to hear your story! We know that God is working wonderful deeds in the Diocese of London. Often, the Good News stories that happen in our parishes and communities go unnoticed. Not only can recognizing these moments help empower the people involved in them, it can also help us to reach people outside of our parishes and communities. We have created a form to collect these stories from staff, parishioners, and visitors. Find the form at www.dol.ca/story.
In order to encourage people to share their stories, we're offering 5 Tim Horton's $25 Gift Cards. The prizes will be awarded by a random draw and every story shared is eligible for one entry to the draw. The draw is open to all parish staff, parishioners, and visitors to the Diocese of London. This giveaway is extended until January 31, 2023. Winners will be contacted by a member of the Pastoral Services Team.
Joe Bezzina - Director of Pastoral Services
Claire Bondy - Director of Ongoing Formation & Lay Ecclesial Ministry
Chrisandra Skipper - Pastoral Services Coordinator
Christine Coyle - Family and Youth Ministry Specialist
Olwyn Supeene - Administrative Assistant
Outreach Ministries: Refugee Office
Migrant Ministry
Ministry for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Holy Family Retreat House
Diocese of London Pastoral Services:
1070 Waterloo St
London, ON N6A 3Y2
Canada
