Welcome 11:00 Session 2 Guiding Youth in Discernment 12:15 p.m. - PDF document

2/16/2018 Schedule 9:00 a.m. Welcome and Gather in Prayer 9:20 Session 1 – Accompanying Youth Today / Becoming a Faith Companion 10:45 Take a Break Welcome 11:00 Session 2 – Guiding Youth in Discernment 12:15 p.m. Have Lunch and Break 1:00 Session 3 – Helping Youth Pray Session 4 - Empowering a Community that Accompanies 2:15 Gather for Closing Prayer 2:30 Conclude Companion To name a friend as a companion is to quite literally name another as “the one who brings to you, or who is bread for you.” It is the highest compliment you can bestow upon a person. This is a person who sustains you. John Flaherty Catholic Collective 1

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2/16/2018 Companion “the one who brings to you, or who is bread for you.” Reflecting on Companions Share with your partner about someone who is your companion, someone who is bread for you. How does this Prayer Response: person lead you to Christ? Nourish Us Loving God Session 1 Accompanying Youth Today – Becoming a Faith Companion 3

2/16/2018 Accompaniment Unleash the Gospel Accompaniment of those being evangelized “Accompanying young people is an essential part of unleashing the Gospel. requires going beyond a When Jesus walked with the two disciples on preconceived framework, the road to Emmaus, he did not immediately encountering young people begin to instruct them. Instead he first where they are, adapting to listened to them and allowed them to share their times and pace of life their hopes and disappointments, winning and taking them seriously.” their trust. He met them where they were in their faith and helped them to go further. accompaniment Accompaniment • We share bread with • A perspective not a program • We don’t judge • We can develop strategies • We walk along side (not pulling or pushing) and programs that help • We listen to questions • It’s about Immanuelization • We recognize where God is working – lead them to the holy 4

2/16/2018 Go where youth are Going out • We accompany youth where going beyond our usual they are , and take them activities. seriously. • Avoid everything that • Making a choice for faith makes the Church requires a journey beyond outdated and makes our ordinary means of people feel hemmed in ministry. • Accompanying youth as • Because the proposed they face challenges message involves the freedom of young people, • Going to where youth communities must engage are – technology, young people in creative, sports… personal ways. Theresa Wiseman's four attributes of empathy: Seeing • Spend time with youth • To be able to see the world as others see it • Listen to them • To be nonjudgmental • Respond to their experience, their story • To understand another person’s feelings • Empathize • To communicate your understanding of that person’s feelings Our crosses become bridges Calling • Awakening youth • Asking questions without pre-determining the answers. 5

2/16/2018 Which young people? Who accompanies? • A responsible community “All young people • People of Reference without exception” (adults who work • Youth already joined through with youth.) baptism. • The family • Beyond that, the Church is • Shepherds of souls geographic (Pastors, Bishops, Vocations ministers) • We have a special call to reach marginalized youth • Teachers implications People of reference “The role of credible adults and their • We accompany youth and help the cooperation is basic in the course of human community accompany their young development and vocational discernment. This members requires authoritative believers, with a clear human identity, a strong sense of belonging to the Church, a visible spiritual character, a strong passion for education and a great • We need to see what God is doing with capacity for discernment.” young people so we can join and • Focus on God’s work within the young person support this conversation. and their free response – avoid manipulation or coercion. • People who work with youth need training and support. implications implications • Programs and pastoral activities are intended • We need to reimagine our role – to initiate the process of accompaniment. see young people in new ways and “Pastoral activity with young people, which is be intentional. called upon to start processes more than to dominate spaces, shows, above all, the importance of service to the human growth of each individual and the educational and formative resources that can support it.” 6

2/16/2018 Accompaniment – Paradigm for Ministry • Begins with the young person. • Surrounds children and youth with love and care. • Empowers lots of faith companions. • Calls youth to prayer and discernment. • Supports young disciples in witness and service. Prays Big Picture Connects Listens God is calling each young person to the fullness of life. A Faith Empathizes God has been dreaming of each Companion young person. Cares God began a conversation. Witnesses Our job is to align ourselves with this conversation. Calls We do this by accompanying the young person. Faith Conversations Engaging the second voice… Recall a faith A Faith Companion helps young people to listen conversation you’ve with the ear of their had with a young heart and to engage the person. second voice for the • What was hard? experiences of situations of their life. • What was easy? • What worked? Experiencing life through • What doesn’t work? the lens of faith 7

2/16/2018 Judgement Adultism Watch For Coercion Lecturing The Process of Accompaniment Moving away from the kid table… Kara Powell and Chap Clark – Fuller Institute 5 to 1 instead of 1 to 5 Becoming a Community Parent that Accompanies Begin with the parish or school as a whole Youth Assess territory for making connections Grandparent Ministry Empower all of the contacts Leader Young • Parents / Aunts / Uncles / Grandparents Person • Ministry Leaders / Catechists / Teachers / Coaches / Group leaders • Sponsors / Godparents • Peers Transform or eliminate existing programs Uncle Create new programs paying particular CYO Coach Godparent attention to outreach 8

2/16/2018 Puzzle Piece Exercise – Utilizing Faith Be new! Companions in My Community • Ways to Invite Faith Companions Precisely because the proposed message involves the freedom of • Places to find / connect Faith Companions young people, every community • Ways to support parents and family members as Faith needs to give importance to creative Companions ways of addressing young people in a • Ways to Support Youth as a Faith Companion personal way and supporting personal development. In many • Support for Faith Companions cases, the task involves learning to • Training for Faith Companions allow for something new and not stifling what is new by attempting to apply a preconceived framework. Check this out 9