The Family Network in Youth Ministry - Bridging the Gap

By Juan Rodriguez 

In my work as a Youth Minister, I learned that we can’t work alone - we need parents or guardians to help in encouraging the youth we serve to be a part of the Community. Easier said than done - there is no easy answer to this question we have in our minds, “How do I motivate families to believe in the work of our Parish Youth Ministry?”

Some may have answers. Others may have the “Golden Egg” that can make the difference. We can all agree that not all plans work the same.

I am reminded of my studies in Wing Chun that Bruce Lee said, “Be formless like water...” What does that mean?


There may be a common method of outreach, or we can imagine combining newer methods with common methods to reach families. Imagining Bruce Lee’s point with a Catholic perspective, I must “become a beacon of hope that individual families need.” No method would suffice alone - “I am” called by God to do the outreach. We must find a way to reach the hearts of Parents and Guardians. To become that Hope, Christ taught us the value of being the “Light” (Matt 5:14-16), a word that symbolizes us becoming Him in our world which struggles to make it to Heaven. Like water, the light we shine must fit in that families situation. Together, I believe we can make a connection, help shake off the fears, doubts, and suffering that a family experiences. As human beings, we all have to go through the journey, but its our “Communion” that can bring us back to being a Spiritual Family.

BE LIKE WATER AND LIGHT

In my journey as a Youth Minister, Director of Faith Formation, and a Pastoral Leader, I’ve experienced awesome moments serving youth - being the best guide I can be - I can’t take on the parents role of being their guide, but I can truly understand the importance of it. So, I will strive to reach parents at their hurting points to convince them that “we’re in this together.”

For a couple of years, I’ve seen children and teens receive Communion and Confirmation, then leave Christ, not knowing Him. We all sit with these questions: Is it me? Is it the parents? Is it the Church? We have to find and fix those broken connections, putting forth a safe “net” that can embrace families to experience the joy of being in Christ? I believe we can do this mission. I’ve seen Youth Ministers and others in different ministries of the Parish, bring families to Christ.

Inspired by “Renewing the Vision”(RTV), a document written by a team of Religious Leaders and experienced Lay Leadership, they offered ideas for us to test. These leaders highlighted one of those “Old Faithful” institutions - The Family Community - or as the Church calls them, “The Domestic Church”. The authors of “RTV” tell us, “We believe that family life is sacred because family relationships confirm and deepen family members’ union with God and allow God’s Spirit to work with them.” (Pg 11) RTV goes on to tell us the family, “their growth in faith and active participation in Parish life can encourage the entire family to make the Catholic faith Central in their lives.” (pg 12) Taking this message, and testing it out at Queen of Angels, I saw ministry develop. I like to offer you three ideas you can use or modify to fit your Mission and Outreach:

1. If you are running a Youth Group or Ministry, make sure you are working closely with the Director of Faith Formation. For me, Faith Formation is the Mother of Youth Ministry, because she brings together youth to know Christ by way of the Sacraments.

2. With the permission of the DRE, ask for permission to gain the contact information of families in the Program. Full Name, Address, Phone numbers, and emails.

3. If you have a group meeting, activity, or an event, send a letter, an email, a text, and follow up with a call. Repeat until you make the connection. Give them something you believe in - that’s worth offering and life changing. Be consistent!


“RTV” reminds us that the “important tasks of the Church today is to promote the faith growth of families by encouraging families to share, celebrate, and live their faith at home and in the world.” (pg 12) The Director of Faith Formation and Youth Leader or Youth Minister can be the best “Tag Team” in the Churches Mission to Families. Together, we can invite Parents to be the first to encourage their children to find value in the Gospel Message. Even other Parish groups and Ministries can join in this Mission, which can strengthen their work. The message we give is always rooted in Christ, but I also believe it is rooted in the Patron Saint or Devotional name of a Parish, which gives purpose and drive to “cast the net and catch.”

Try it. All it takes is practice. Consistency and persuasion is crucial to keeping a Youth Group or Ministry alive - bring the whole family closer to Christ.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Juan Rodriguez is the Founder of the Youth & Young Adult Apostolate - Defenders of the Holy Trinity. He is a Youth Minister Consultant, using the document of Renewing the Vision, and creating an interpretation for a Parish Level development of Youth Ministry called Renew Your Vision. He was the Pastoral Associate, Director of Faith Formation, and Youth Minister at Queen of Angels Church in Sunnyside, NY. Now he is the Director of Faith Formation at St. Patrick's in Bay Ridge, NY. Married to his beloved Bertha M. Peralta Rodriguez, and the father of Liliana Maria Rodriguez. Juan is a lover of fantasy stories, dungeons & dragons, culinary arts, cigars, handball, and mixed martial arts. 


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Renew Your Vision