We had Confirmation at our parish two weeks ago, and something that our Most Reverend Bishop Cupich shared with the congregation struck a cord in my heart. His sermon which focused on the Gospel reading, Mark 2:1-12. It is the passage where a paralyzed man was taken to a house, and lowered in through the roof by four friends to be healed by Jesus.

Bishop Cupich said to the teens,

“You have had many people assist you on this journey to Confirmation. Such as parents, family members, and youth workers who have done all they could to help you get through the crowd to get closer to Christ. When you still couldn’t get to Jesus, then they took you to the roof of the house, and lowered you in, closer to Him.”

That is when I felt an elbow in my side from my husband. He has witnessed the same thing happen with our Core Team. I had not realized the relentless pursuit of leading teens closer to Christ was a living example of the men in Mark 2.

So many things in our society will block teens from coming to your parish and experiencing Christ. Our goal as youth ministers and Core Members is to have a creative spirit that is committed to doing all we can for the Glory of God.

Here are some suggestions on how to drop your teens in to the presence of Christ:

1. Pray. Every Thursday (2pm EST) the national Life Teen Staff and Life Teen Area Contacts on have a Eucharistic holy hour. Join us! Pray at your church’s chapel or prayer room. Pray for the teens and for the opportunities to rip roof off and lower the teens in.
2. Connect. Build a bridge between church and families of your youth. Mom and dads are the primary youth ministers for their teens. Assist them in anyway you can.
3. Promote. Anytime there is any thing going on, ANYTHING that could give the teens in your parish a “roof top” experience, it is our job to get the word out ASAP.
   • Technology – Text messaging, Facebook or Email.
   • Visual – Creative and catchy fliers, postcards, bulletin inserts
   • Verbal – Do not assume that by hanging posters, mailing fliers or getting it in the bulletin will cause enthusiastic attendance or registration frenzy. A personal invitation is what matters the most. Make a list of teens who don’t come to Life Teen events. Divide the list and assign teens to your Core Team to make sure that everyone gets a verbal invitation. Give the teens an opportunity to respond to your voice or Core Member’s voice.

We must do as the men did for their friend in Mark 2. Go above and beyond to assist our youth and their families to meet Jesus. Does this sound like a Mission Impossible movie to you? Just remember, our Top Agent is Jesus, and it is through Him that all things are possible.