Youth & Young Adult


Definition of Catholic Young Adult Ministry:

Young adult ministry is a special effort by the members of the church to actively invite and welcome young adults (18 to 30s) into the life of the Church, understand their life situations to respond effectively to their needs and concerns, and recognize and encourage them to share their gifts with the body of Christ. (Sons & Daughters of the Light, USCCB, 1997)

Definition of Catholic Youth Ministry:

Youth ministry is the response of the Christian community to the needs of young people (7th – 12th grade) and the sharing of the unique gifts of youth with the larger community. (Renewing the Vision, USCCB, 1997)

Definition of Vocation:

“The calling or destiny we have in this life and hereafter. God has created the human person to love and serve him; the fulfillment of this vocation is eternal happiness (Catechism of the Catholic Church “CCC” 1, CCC 358, CCC 1700). Christ calls the faithful to the perfection of holiness (CCC 825). The vocation of the laity consists in seeking the kingdom of God by engaging in temporal affairs anddirecting them according to God’s will (CCC 898). Priestly and religious vocations are dedicated to the service of the Church as the universal sacrament of salvation.” (cf. CCC 873, CCC 931)

Goal 1: Establish a framework of standardized programming, resources and opportunities by which to develop a continuum in ministry with a holistic climate and culture which instills the core teachings and practices¹ of the Church², and encourages young Catholics into a vibrant relationship with Christ, invigorated in their faith, leading them to be active disciples evangelizing their peers and communities.

Goal 2: Theologically trained and pastorally equipped ministers who are able to assist and form youth and young adults in negotiating the culture in which they live while understanding and actively living out the teachings and faith of the Church.

Goal 3: Parishes will as necessary utilize the various resources to achieve the standards provided by the Archdiocese of Detroit as they coordinate ministry to youth and young adults within their parishes, vicariates and regions.


It is recommended that Families & Individuals will:

  1. Become living models of faith for the young people in their lives by strengthening their own knowledge of and relationship with Christ, equipping themselves to accompany young people as they negotiate living an active and true faith in Christ.
  2. Recognize that the Sacrament of Confirmation is not a “graduation” from Church rather a deepening of their relationship with Christ, and encourage young people to remain active participants in their youth or young adult ministries and their faith communities.
  3. Create a home environment embracing virtuous living that is distinctly Catholic and Christcentered, which places a higher priority on faith formation for the family, especially youth and young adults.
  4. Encourage youth and young adults to become involved in their parish in any of the many areas including evangelization, community service, prayer and worship or leadership, actively living their faith in the community.

It is recommended that the Schools/Parishes will:

  1. Assure young people are incorporated in all activities and facets of parish life³ and encourage collaboration among parish ministers and volunteers to provide a seamless holistic experience of faith formation, helping to ensure that no young member gets “lost” from one parish ministry to the next, creating an environment that equips young Catholics with the knowledge and skills needed to proclaim the Gospel.
  2. Offer doctrinally sound resources to parents and families that help build strong foundations of faith in the home, leading to an active practice of the faith.
  3. Ensure that ministers in schools and parishes who are theologically trained and pastorally qualified to effectively address the stages of faith development in young Catholics.

It is recommended that the Regions/Vicariates will:

  1. Collaborate across parish boundaries to maximize the spiritual and financial resources entrusted to them for the evangelization and catechesis of youth and young adults.
  2. Reinforce the message to parishes, families, young adults and youth that religious education, faith formation, and Christian service do not end with Confirmation, but require a lifelong commitment.
  3. Where necessary, utilize materials provided by the AOD to address any weak areas of
    ministry in the region/vicariate.

It is recommended that the Archdiocese will:

  1. Articulate and provide standardized materials and objectives for youth and young adult
    ministry, while remaining flexible to meet the needs of individual communities, and annually
    assess ministry programs.
  2. Provide theological and spiritual formation and resources for ministers to become welltrained, vibrant witnesses and conduits of the faith and teachings of the Church.
  3. Provide a network to assist parishes, young adult and youth ministers to collaborate with one another in order to maximize financial and spiritual resources.

It is recommended that the Archbishop will:

  1. Recognize the limited resources of parishes and locate funding for certified and trained lay
    ecclesial ministers and vibrant ministry programs, encouraging all stakeholders, especially
    Pastors, to be well versed in comprehensive ministry to young people and more actively
    involved in ministry to youth and young adults.
  2. Make himself and the Bishops of the Archdiocese more available to interact with the young people of the Church to reinforce a feeling of commitment from the hierarchy to the young Church.

¹ Instills the core teachings and practices as contained in the CCC
² RTV pg 29
³ We, as members of the church, must actively invite and welcome young adults into the life of the Church. “Sons and Daughters of the Light (1997), USCCB,“ Introduction