How to Start Adoration with Teens
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
- Outside Source – Bring in a worship leader to introduce the Teens. A local Martin Domain.
- 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.
- 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
- Catechize on Adoration – Faith and Reason go hand in hand. I used to talk about Eucharistic Miracles and other great miracles associated with Adoration.
- 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
Benefits of Praise and Worship
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