From staff reports
The Diocesan Year of Youth recently declared in a decree issued by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., will kick off officially at St. Mary Parish, Barnegat.
On June 12, Bishop O’Connell, C.M., decreed the diocesan Year of Youth to coincide with the Synod of Bishops on Youth, Faith and Vocational Discernment in October, and with the worldwide gathering of young people with Pope Francis in January 2019 for World Youth Day in Panama.
It was announced that summer events including the two Mission: Jersey service project opportunities in July would lead up to the Oct. 14 Year of Youth Fest. The location was recently finalized.
A resource packet from the diocesan Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries will soon be distributed that will include everything parish pastors, Catholic school principals, directors of religious education, youth and young adult ministers and campus ministers need to prepare for the Year of Youth.
Included will be a resource book, Year of Youth poster, official prayer cards, a DVD of the Bishop’s Year of Youth video and an order form for additional materials – all of which are available in both English and Spanish. A special Year of Youth banner can also be ordered.
The resource book “will contain information on the goals and the motivations for the Year of Youth, along with information on the diocesan events for youth and young adults that will take place throughout the year,” said Dan Waddington, director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries. “Most importantly, we hope [it] will support parishes and schools as they work to make the Year of Youth come alive in their communities.”
Waddington said the resource book will be broken into sections that include ideas and opportunities to engage the entire parish in the Year of Youth.
“There are universal prayers for the Year of Youth based on the liturgical seasons as well as special Year of Youth events,” he explained, “as well as opportunities inspired by the Year of Youth for adults.”
Among these events are the Senior Spirituality Day slated for July 18, hosted by the Office of Pastoral Care, which will have as one of its focuses the role of seniors in handing down the faith.
Community building, works (serving others), prayer and faith formation events are also planned – among them, Mission: Jersey, a service project for high school students set for July 12-15 in St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square, and July 29-Aug. 3 in St. Theresa Parish, Tuckerton.
In a letter written for the resource book’s introduction, Waddington said, “There are many important goals for the Year of Youth, but for me, the most important will be to intentionally give our young people the opportunity to dive deeper into their relationship with Jesus and empower them to live their faith as important members of parishes and communities.”