Passion of Christ

Lent is an important time of the year for youth groups.  There are plenty of activities already planned in most parishes, so try and tap into them.  Many times priest are busy with confession, so try and make use of the available confession times.  Also, think about planning a Passion Play for the parish; however showing the Passion movie is also important.

7:00-7:15pm  Arrival
7:15-7:20pm Prayer
7:20-7:30pm Welcome
7:30-7:45pm St. Patricks Day Music/Band
7:45-8:00pm St. Patrick Presentation
8:05-8:25pm Pizza, Drinks, and Irish Treats
8:25-8:55pm Adoration
9:00pm Complete

7:00-7:15pm  Arrival
7:15-7:20pm Prayer
7:20-7:30pm Welcome
7:30-7:45pmPictionary
7:45-8:05pm Confession Explanation
8:05-8:25pm Pizza and Drinks
8:25-8:55pm Adoration and Confession
9:00pm Complete

Holy Thursday

Ask the pastor to include the Youth group for getting their feet washed.  Afterwards go out and visit other Churches or take them out for pizza.

Good Friday

Organize a trip to the seminary for Stations of the Cross.

More Catholic Tips

St. Patrick

Most people think of St. Patrick’s day as a day to party, however St. Patrick is an incredible saint and role model for young people.  Dive into his life because the teens will benefit greatly.

Confession

Like St. John Bosco said, “The three spiritual fountains are the Eucharist, Mary, and frequent confession.

Holy Thursday

Holy Thursday was tough to plan, but after it was done I was glad I did it.  The teens and parish really benefited from the participation.

Adoration

A youth minister recently commented on How to Attract Youth To Youth Group, asking the question, “How do you start Adoration with teens who are…well uninterested.”

Great Question.  More Catholic Parishes should be asking the same question for the entire parish.  “How can we invite more people to spend time with the Lord in adoration.” Because proper preparation for Mass is essential to entering into Full, Active, Conscious participation.   Basically, our Lord is waiting to heal and strengthen souls.

Adoration with Teens

The first obstacle most Youth Ministers face in adding adoration to the youth nights is adding it into parish life.  Many parishes do not have perpetual adoration, so a priest, deacon, or delegate person must expose the Eucharist.  Secondly the majority of teens have never been exposed to Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.  It’s tough.

So, don’t expect teens to rejoice when placed in adoration the first…or multiple weeks…time.  It is a great unknown.  It took be over 3 months before I introduced 30 minutes of weekly adoration to my teens.  And it took another 3 months before they “entered in.”

However, from Church documents and my own experience I know that spending time with the Lord was beneficial for their souls.  SO, I would gear everything in the youth night evening to work towards adoration.

Let Jesus Work in Adoration

We are coworkers in the vineyard.  Get the teens to adoration, help the pray, and realize Jesus is greatly effecting their souls.  Grace is pouring out.  It probably won’t look like a Franciscan University Conference, but the same thing is happening.

5 Ways to Promote Adoration

1. Outside Source – Bring in a worship leader to introduce the Teens.  A local Martin Domain.
2. Short Periods of Time – 15 minutes, then move up to 30 minutes.  Explain to the teens and lead them in prayer.  If you can’t do music (Yes you can do Latin if you like that), pray the rosary, read scripture, listen to the Lord.  Many times you have to lead the teens.
3. Don’t Expect Tears – The miracle is 25 young people are in front of Jesus.  We don’t know what He is doing to their hearts
4. Catechize on Adoration – Faith and Reason go hand in hand.  I used to talk about Eucharistic Miracles and other great miracles associated with Adoration.
5. Go on Retreat – Sometimes getting away from the world and experience Jesus with other young people gives teens the courage to open their hearts to Jesus.

Remember, results don’t happen overnight, and often they are unseen.

Music Ministry Team

Jesus

Before I started Adoration with the teens I spent 4 weeks meeting in the Church practicing the Praise and Worship music.  So, about 10 of them learned the songs, and enjoyed praying to our Lord through song.  That also helped me get some singers and musicians together.

Wednesday Night Adoration

The best practice you can start is having an additional holy hour with your core teens and college volunteers.  These nights are for those who are really into praise and worship, and committed to praying for the youth group’s success.  One I started this my youth group grew in deeper love for the Lord.

More Help

How to Lead Worship for Eucharistic Adoration

Playlist of Worship Songs

Benefits of Praise and Worship

February Youth Ministry

February  Youth Ministry Lessons.  Yet again another sample free youth ministry lesson.  Mix and match.  Add your own ideas.   Just don’t complain that running a youth group is too hard for you.

7:00-7:15pm  Arrival
7:15-7:20pm Prayer
7:20-7:30pm Welcome
7:30-7:45pm Pictionary
7:45-8:05pm Pope John Paul II Video
8:05-8:25pm Pizza and Drinks
8:25-8:55pm Adoration
9:00pm Complete

7:00-7:15pm  Arrival
7:15-7:20pm Prayer
7:20-7:30pm Welcome
7:30-7:45pm Charades
7:45-8:05pm Pope John Paul II Video
8:05-8:25pm Pizza and Drinks
8:25-8:55pm Adoration
9:00pm Complete

7:00-7:15pm  Arrival
7:15-7:20pm Prayer
7:20-7:30pm Welcome
7:30-7:45pm Indoor Soccer
7:45-8:05pm Pope John Paul II Video
8:05-8:25pm Pizza and Drinks
8:25-8:55pm Adoration
9:00pm Complete

7:00-7:15pm  Arrival
7:15-7:20pm Prayer
7:20-7:30pm Welcome
7:30-7:45pm Indoor Basketball
7:45-8:05pm Pope John Paul II Video
8:05-8:25pm Pizza and Drinks
8:25-8:55pm Adoration
9:00pm Complete

Divine Mercy Sunday

Divine Mercy Sunday is still far off, but start preparing your group for it.  John Paul II had such an important role in the event.  Take advantage of it.

Cold Outside

Games in the gym work best in the winter.  Carry a stereo with an iPod in with you for music.  I usually lead the games to keep them going fast.

Make sure you reserve the gym from CYO.

Adoration

At this point in the year, the teens usually understand adoration more and enjoy going on a regular basis.  Many of the teens tell me how it is an important part of the night.

Pope Video

There are many great John Paul II videos.  I like the made for TV movie (2005 on CBS).  It works great a series of 20-25 minute clips over a 4 week series.

I usually start the video and end with commentary.

Monday, January 11, 2010 at 8:00 AM

Click Here

Don’t forget to sign your youth ministry group up for the best Catholic summer conference.  Your teens will encounter the Lord and their lives will be transformed through the Eucharist, Mary, and Confession.

When you sign-up try and get a priest to go with you, don’t forget about chaperons, and bring has many teens as possible. Franciscan University does an incredible job at organizing this event.  The hard part is getting your teens there.  Once you get there it’s easy.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Beatitudes of Franciscan University of Steubenville are a male Catholic a cappella group, whose mission is to spread the Gospel through music and comedy.
I had them come to my youth group once and the made a great impact on the youth.  If you need help with a retreat or an evening of fun, ask them to come.

This is the best Catholic summer conference for youth.  Mark this on your calendar and bring your youth group.

It will enliven your youth, strengthen your core team, and promote vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

Opening Meeting
7:30-8:30 Eucharistic Procession and Adoration with Music and Speaker
8:30-10:00pm Party with Guitar Hero, DDR2, Music, and Food

7:00-7:15pm  Arrival
7:15-7:20pm Prayer
7:20-7:30pm Welcome
7:30-7:45pm Pro-Life Presentation
7:45-8:15pm Wiffle Ball (I like to use the gym)
8:15-8:35pm Pizza and Drinks
8:35-8:55pm Adoration
9:00pm Complete

January 22 Pro-Life March in Washington DC

7:00-7:15pm  Arrival
7:15-7:20pm Prayer
7:20-7:30pm Welcome
7:30-8:15pm Generation Life Presentation
8:15-8:35pm Pizza and Soda
8:35-8:55pm Question and answer with prizes
9:00pm Complete

X-Box Games
Setup a projector with sound equipment.  Ask one of the teens to bring the Play Station or x-box.
Make sure to advertise that this is going to be at the event or else it is a waste to use it it.

Local Pro-Life Speakers
There are plenty of speakers and videos you can use to talk about the pro-life message.  Stick to how it hurts women and kills a baby since that is what effects the youth the most.  Expand into cloning and stem cells later.

Pro-Life March
Just go with your parish, local pro-life club, or high school.  This is a great day!  Teens always have fun.  Pack snacks, videos, and warm clothes.

Chastity
Generation Life does a fantastic chastity presentation.  Plus you get extra volunteers that night during youth group.  We broke the teens up by gender.  They really enjoyed it.

7:00-7:15pm  Arrival
7:15-7:20pm Prayer
7:20-7:30pm Welcome / Icebreaker
7:30-8:00pm Seminarians Talk
8:00-8:20pm Pizza and Soda
8:15-8:55pm Adoration lead by seminarians
9:00pm Complete

Saturday or Sunday Event
Go to a local soup kitchen and feed the hungry.  Just email signup sheets/permission forms, have the teens meet at the location, and have the parish priest come, too.  This is an event that could combine high school and middle school youth groups.

7:00- 9:00pm Christmas Party. At mine we play games, eat cookies, watch part of a Christmas movie, and just hang out.

Extra Tips

Out-Source – Your schedule is probably busy in December so tap into everything the Archdiocese is doing and your local parish.

Sunday’s with Seminarians – Ask the Vocations Office if you can bring 2 seminarians out to visit your youth group.  The teens are wide-eyed and it is an important message.

Feeding the Poor - Maybe you cannot get to a soup kitchen?  See what else is going on in your parish that you could participate in.

Christmas Party – This is a time to relax, have so fun, and get to know the teens better.  Ask each teen to wrap up a piece of junk and then everyone has to pick a present from the pile.  It’s funny.

This was one of the best months I ever planned as a youth minister.  Once again you see my format of Food, Fun, and Faith.  In addition see how adoration is beginning to be added into the mix?  Come Spring adoration will be part of all the meetings.  I also like to have it on a separate night like Tuesday.

Opening Meeting
7:30-8:30 Eucharistic Procession and Adoration with Music and Speaker
8:30-10:00pm Party with Guitar Hero, DDR2, Music, and Food

7:00-7:15pm  Arrival
7:15-7:20pm Prayer
7:20-7:30pm Welcome
7:30-8:00pm Dodgeball
8:00-8:15pm Divine Mercy Presentation
8:15-8:55pm Tailgate Party and Watch the Eagles (Football!)
9:00pm Complete

7:00-9:00pm  Movie Night “Bella”  This is awesome!!!!

7:00-7:15pm  Arrival
7:15-7:20pm Prayer
7:20-7:30pm Welcome
7:30-8:15pm Theology of the Body by Mission Moment
8:15-8:35pm Pizza and Soda
8:35-8:55pm Question and answer with prizes
9:00pm Complete

Adoration
The time I ran adoration we had over 60 teens show up and I did hardly any advertising.  Ask your parish priest to run the adoration or the Vocations Office.
Make sure you have music and teach them how to pray.  Go to www.youthfortheeucharist.com for more information.

Football Season
I found watching part of the game insured that we didn’t loose a huge crowd to the Eagle’s games.  Plus it was fun.  I bought 50 feet of cable to run the TV outside.

Bella
This movie is awesome and inspirational.   Get the projector, pop the popcorn, and tell the teens to bring a pillow.

Speakers
Mission Moment does a great presentation for young people.
484-995-3486

Generation Life is also a great pro-life chastity organization who can provide speakers.