CALLED TO BE CHURCH

 

 

            THE CORE TEAMS OF OUR LOCAL PLANNING GROUP MET ON JUNE 4TH TO CONTINUE OUR DISCUSSION OF LIFE-LONG

            FAITH FORMATION.  THE FOCUS WAS ON YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY.  THE GOALS OF THIS SESSION WERE:

 

            GOAL 1:  To deepen our understanding of the experience of young adults in our parishes today.

 

          GOAL 2:  To determine the immediate and long range attitude/actions for ministry to young adults.

 

            What currently exists in the planning group to welcome and engage young adults in the life of the parish?

 

                        ●  Social hour after Mass (indirectly engages them)

                        ●  Participation in Liturgical ministries:  Lectors, Eucharistic ministers, Ushers, Greeters, Music Ministers

                        ●  Participation in Diocesan Pilot Program for young adults

                        ●  Young adults serving on Pastoral Council

                        ●  Pursuing the formation of Post Confirmation groups

                        ●  Focus not on “getting them to attend church” but supporting them in their searching and encouraging them

                             to feel free to come back

                        ●  Updating parish website to be more inviting to young adults

                        ●  Young adults reach out and invite their peers to be involved

                        ●  Bible study

                        ●  Marriage preparation

                        ●  Engagement ceremony at liturgy

                        ●  Pre-baptism class

 

            List any additional actions the local planning group could take to welcome and include young adults

 

                        ●  Smile and greet them in a friendly manner on the way into church

                        ●  Don’t talk down to them

                        ●  Offer more relevant homilies

                        ●  Don’t judge young adults

                        ●  Work on ways of welcoming diverse groups, i.e. different races, cultures, lifestyles and sexual orientations

 

            What are the TOP SIX practical responses to the needs of young adults as expressed by the local planning group?

 

                        ●  Focus not on “getting them to attend church,” but supporting them in their searching and encouraging

                             them to feel free to come back.

                        ●  Invitation to become involved in the diocesan Pilot Program for young adults

                        ●  Invite young adults to participate in ministries across the board

                        ●  Develop and expand post-confirmation groups

                        ●  Relevant parish web page

                        ●  Personal “draft” of target group to assist in ongoing programs for young adult age groups

 

            WHAT’S NEXT?

 

                 A MEETING, OPEN TO ALL PARISHIONERS, WILL BE HELD ON MONDAY, JUNE 18TH AT 7:00 P.M. AT

            HOLY TRINITY PARISH CENTER.  WE WILL DISCUSS IN MORE DETAIL WHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED

            IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THE PROCESS AND WHAT WE HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE COMING

            MONTHS.  WE WILL ALSO DISCUSS SOME MODIFICATIONS IN MASS SCHEDULES FOR THE PARISHES

            OF COHOES, INSURING THAT THE SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF ALL PARISHIONERS  WILL BE MET.

 

                 THE NEXT LOCAL PLANNING GROUP WILL MEET AGAIN ON MONDAY, JULY 2ND AT 7:00 P.M. AT

            SAINT JOSEPH’S PARISH HALL.  THE DISCUSSION WILL FOCUS ON “THE SERVICE MINISTRY OF THE

            CHURCH.”  PLEASE CONTINUE TO KEEP THE PLANNING PROCESS IN YOUR PRAYERS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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