Are you like Ben Stein from Ferris Buellers Day Off?
Ever wonder if what you are doing is reaching teens? Here is a list of things that I consider to be out of date for Catholic Youth Ministry:
1. Marathon Talks / Teachings –
Teens expect us know that they don’t want to sit and listen to a long talk or teaching (either do adults for that matter). They zone out much quicker these days. Teens are so used to switching gears and topics that they appreciate it when we utilize media and other visual props to bring home a point. Try to keep teachings at Retreats and Life Nights under 10 minutes long and limit the number points in your talk to a maximum of 3 main ideas. Try to engage the teens and give them time to talk as well.
2. Cheesy Skits -
Want to set the wrong tone for a retreat or Life Night – start it off with an awkward and cheesy skit. Teens appreciate the effort but most tell me they would rather get to the main topic and have a talk about Christ and how they can grow in Holiness. We spend so much time setting things up sometimes with crazy skits that we often squeeze out critical time of prayer and small group discussions.
3. Good Ole’ Catholic Guilt
Teens don’t want you to tell them or remind them how messed up they are – they want hope. Teens aren’t so much motivated by guilt these days. We are called to be companions on a journey with teens and encouragers of a strong life for Christ. For example telling them about the freedom of going to confession rather than guilting them into going.
4. Spiritual Muzak -
You know when you are in an elevator or store and there is music always playing. It used to be that we felt we always had to have something going on for the teens to focus. Teens no longer need to always have someone talking or music playing especially during times of Eucharistic Adoration. Today’s teens are being drawn into more contemplation and find it countercultural to be silent. Teens often comment that they wish there would have been more silent times on the retreat or during prayer time. Fight the urge to always provide the equivalent of spiritual muzak for teens.
5. Hand Motions
I know I will take some grief for this one, but I have watched the excited teens be into the motions and the teens who are new and needing to be reached be turned off by many of the hand motions that parishes are encouraging teens to do. I am all about participation, but hand motions are no longer “in” with a portion of teens. Often times hand motions happen spontaneously by a group of teens starting them, by all means allow the Spirit to move. A word of advice – be careful that those moments are coming from the teens and not something we are trying to manufacture. Each community has different charisms – if hand motions are part of that and it is the norm, disregard this out of date item. If you are new and looking to start having teens do hand motions, pray about that and make sure it is what you need to be doing.
That’s my list – Agree or Disagree? Anything else that you would like to add to the list?
Flying to Phoenix – New Blog Posted: Things That Are Out of Date In Catholic Youth Ministry http://bit.ly/bApMbR
Another excellent read from Randy Raus: "Things That Are Out of Date In Catholic Youth Ministry" http://bit.ly/bApMbR
#3. I completely agree that teens need and desire some silence, especially during Eucharistic Adoration. Funny story … We had Adoration at the end of our Life Night a few weeks back and we had some music, prayers, a scripture reading and some silence. One of our freshmen went home and told his mom we spent an hour in Adoration. I laughed b/c we have a little over an hour to do the entire Life Night! Adoration was no more than 15 minutes and the silence was probably less than 5 minutes of that. However, to that teen, it seemed like an eternity. Its crazy how foreign silence is to teens.
Kristin – great example! Thanks for sharing the story.
Great points! First (regarding point 1), there’s an axiom in pastoral work that states, “That which is received is received according to the mode of the receiver.” If teens today have shorter attention spans than they did in the past, we definitely have to adjust the way we present the Gospel if we want them to get the message. However, are we really doing young people a service if we limit our teachings to10-minutes? What will happen to them when they go to college and are expected to sit through hour-long lectures? Most young people can easily sit through a 2-hour movie and more than a few can play video games for hours on end. So, I don’t think limiting teachings to 10 minutes is the answer. Instead, I would focus (as you also mentioned) on developing presentation skills that will capture and keep the attention of the young people… even up to a whole hour! Regarding Good ole’ Catholic Guilt, you make a good point: Teens need to hear positive, encouraging messages. At the same time, I would add that it is definitely not a good thing that “teens aren’t so motivated by guilt these days.” The Holy Spirit’s role in conversion is to convince us of sin and when He does that, our response should be sorrow (guilt) for those sins. My point is simply that part of our job in making disciples should include forming consciences so young people can hear and respond to the Holy Spirit. There’s a danger in youth ministry of wanting to be “buddies” with the young people to the point of not wanting to hold them accountable and call them on to holiness.
David – thanks for the great feedback! I think you bring up 2 good thoughts to consider. I totally agree with not trying to be the teens buddy. Much to consider on the statements about guilt. Thanks for all you do for teens!
Disagree with #3 — we can ALWAYS use some good ole Catholic guilt, just as long as it ALWAYS points toward conversion, Confession, and hope. Never an end in itself, but certainly a part of the package.Would also add #6 – Innovation. We have a treasure trove of Tradition and traditions; it never hurts to “bring forth from the storehouse things old and new” instead of always trying to be creative.
Good stuff, Randy! I am with you on all 5 points (especially the hand motions). And, in that same vein, i would venture to say that there's an era of music that, unless somehow done very well, it's just plain cheesy and DOES NOT reach the teens, except for maybe their funny bones! Either need to stick with classics that traditional with a GOOD, updated take or timely songs that are appropriate for the moment of prayer.
As difficult as it is to hear #1, its so true. I've learn to ween myself from long talks by breaking them up into segments, switching between testimonies, videos, prayer, activities, etc. I guess people don't like two hour lectures like I do! Weird, huh?gomerAMDG
I absolutely agree with this list particularly the hand motions they are so out of date and need to be abolished. Great post!
A good exercise to do with youth is what I like to call an exercise in Sacred Silence. Have the youth put their heads down and keep silent. Instruct them to raise their hands when they think 1 minute is up. It will be truly eye opening.
Agree, 100% we've been noticing these changes for about 2 years
THANK YOU!!!!!!! hand motions are so OVER!
I agree on skits, but EDGE nights this fall had skits built in at least some of the time (example, the fake election skit during the Covenant night). It went OK, but I’m pretty sure we could have skipped it (and the other such skits) without harm.
I’m not sure I agree on the music during adoration point. Again, my experience is with EDGE, so perhaps high school youth are different. I have found that during periods of absolute silence, the middle school kids seem squirmy, but they were silent and focused with music in the background.