Providing young adults the means
to find among their peers the necessary support and encouragement as
they journey through life and
fulfill their mission to the world
is essential for the spiritual and moral growth of the young adult.
Young adults express a need for support from
relationships with others who are
their own age or are in similar situations. We urge pastors
and other church leaders to develop specific
opportunities for young
adults to be together. While it may be helpful to have someone
from the parish or campus staff as a point of contact,
young adults should be the
organizers and leaders of these efforts. We know from
experience that they are effective ministers, especially among
their peers. Today, a sizeable
number of men and women remain single during their late teens,
twenties, and thirties. It is important for the
Church to have an appropriate
ministry with single Catholics. Many single people speak of
feeling left out of parish life when the focus is solely
on families.
Single young adults can be a rich
resource of time and talent for the local faith community and can
partake in the church's ministry by:
- Participating in the
parish's liturgical, catechetical, social justice, and
youth ministries.
- Planning social and
spiritual activities for people in similar life
situations. Some singles may wish to form a small
Christian community for prayer, scripture study, and
community service.
- Planning a retreat or
discussion group with topics of interest to single
people such as dating, sexuality, loneliness, careers,
and volunteerism. The content should view these issues
through the "lens" of faith and provide adequate time
for discussion and sharing of personal stories.
- Discussing with the
organizations and ministries of the parish how they can
welcome and involve single men and women in their
activities.
Programs to Assist Newly Married:
Christian marriage preparation is described as a "journey of
faith that does not end with the
celebration of marriage but
continues throughout life." Follow-up ministry with newly
married couples develops what was begun in marriage
preparation.
Newly Married couples are encouraged to:
- Attend newly married couples
support group in the parish, or hosting an anniversary
dinner for couples married in the past year. This shows
an ongoing concern for the couples and helps to keep
them connected during the early years of marriage, when
the divorce rate is highest.
- Continue the mentoring
program that began during the engagement process through
the first year of marriage. Especially if you remain
living in the same area.
- Invite other married couples
to participate in a parish ministry or activity.
- Sponsor discussion or
educational groups to consider issues relating to
maintaining a marriage. Some themes might include
changing relationships in the families of origin,
managing a household, finances, communication,
disagreements, and understanding of the theology of
marriage.
- Invite those celebrating
anniversaries to renew their marriage vows at special
Sunday liturgies during the year.
- Inform their new parish when
newly married couples move from the parish.
- Provide couples who are
struggling in their marriages with information about
marriage counseling.
- Create educational,
spiritual, and social opportunities where young married
couples can be with each other. This can include the
formation of small Christian communities.
Encouragement for Families with Young Children
Young adults who are
starting a family are entering a world that is quite
unfamiliar to them. Finding support and affirmation
from family,
friends, and the church community
can enable them to adjust to these new experiences, which are both
joyful and stressful. In this manner the
church supports parents as the
primary evangelizers and educators of their children.
Young adults with families may engage in the following:
- Develop a support group for
parents of young children. Identify times and
places that are convenient and accessible. Provide the
opportunity for child care during activities and
programs.
- Coordinate an informational
Q & A session with experienced parents to mentor young
couples who are having their first child.
This can be especially helpful for those without family
in the area.
- Design a retreat for new
parents, centered on the gift of life.
- Identify liturgical
opportunities throughout the year to celebrate
parenthood and families, for example, Baptism of the
Lord (January), Holy Family Sunday (December).
- Develop a special prayer
booklet with prayers and family-centered home
activities for meal times and evenings.
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