1. A teen shows up at your youth meeting one night and no one talks to them. Big Deal? or No Big Deal?

2. The internet goes down and you can’t show the youtube video you planned to show at the Life Night. Big Deal? or No Big Deal?

3. After Mass a teen introduces you to their parent who had been away from the Church for the past 10 years. Big Deal? or No Big Deal?

4. You get called out by the Church’s janitor in a staff meeting for not putting the chairs back in the right closet after Bible Study. Big Deal? or No Big Deal?

5.   Three teens this year have approached you about becoming Catholic and they all just entered the RCIA at your parish. Big Deal? or No Big Deal?

6. The bus broke down on your way to your mission trip, delaying your arrival by 2 hours. Big Deal? or No Big Deal?

7. A teen comes up to you after a time of Eucharistic Adoration on your retreat and tells you for the first time they believe in God. Big Deal? or No Big Deal?

8. The retreat t-shirts come in printed on the wrong color shirt. Big Deal? or No Big Deal?

9. A teen tells you they are struggling with an eating disorder. Big Deal? or No Big Deal?

10. Your announcement doesn’t get printed in the parish bulletin. Big Deal? or No Big Deal?

11. One of your teens is asked to give their testimony at all Masses next weekend. Big Deal? or No Big Deal?

One of the ways to get side tracked in ministry is when we become confused what is a big deal and what is not. If we get distracted by the no big deals and turn them into big deals, we risk losing our peace.

So what is a big deal for you? What is no big deal for you? Being able to discern can make a huge difference in how you approach ministry at your parish.

(Answer Key – All the odd numbered examples are “Big Deals” – the even numbered are most likely “No Big Deals”)