April Jubilee

Celebrating the Jubilee of Youth and Adolescents

The Archdiocese of Dubuque is celebrating the Jubilee of Youth and Adolescents in the month of April. Faith formation programs across the archdiocese are doing some amazing things to cater to the ministry needs of our young population, in addition to programming being offered by the Youth and Young Adult Ministry department at the Archdiocese of Dubuque Pastoral Center. April’s Jubilee is the perfect time to recognize and celebrate these efforts, as well as the young people in the Archdiocese of Dubuque.

“There is probably no greater representative population for “Pilgrims of Hope” than today’s young people,” Kevin Feyen, Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry says. 

“Young people are on a journey of self-discovery, asking a lot of meaningful questions, trying to figure out who they are, and who God is. In that regard, they are very much pilgrims. We also know that the faith of young people is not a sure thing. A lot of our teens will struggle in the faith and may drift away from their Catholic identity. That is why we need to be a people of hope.”

Kevin emphasizes that one of the greatest gifts we can give young people is ownership over their own faith, and confidence that the Church will not abandon them if they get it wrong from time to time. 

Part of Kevin’s role with the archdiocese is to provide programs for adolescents that help them to explore their faith. For instance, his team hosted an event for high school teens called “EPIC – EmPowering Iowa Catholic Teens” on March 29. On March 30, the Iowa Catholic Youth Conference for middle schoolers hosted over 450 young people from Eastern Iowa for a high-energy day for those in grades 6-8. The Youth and Young Adult Ministry team is also in the midst of planning a trip to Indianapolis for the National Catholic Youth Conference. Over 800 young people and adults have already signed up for that optional experience. In addition, parishes are organizing summer trips to do service, attend Catholic conferences, and even travel all the way to Ohio for Damascus Camp. Young people are choosing to take these next steps in their faith journeys to participate in these experiences. 

“For those of us who work with young people and are cheering for them to grow as disciples, one challenging aspect of the Jubilee is letting the land go fallow. Too often we lean too heavily on our teens,” Kevin reflects.

“We place a lot of expectations for learning, serving, and leading others. When we ask young people what they want from the Church, however, their answers are rather simple: love. They want us to listen to them, to let them be kids, to assure them that they are safe and will not be judged. Maybe we in ministry can do our best this year to take the time to focus on helping our teens to be fertile soil in which God can take root. We do that by modeling authentic Christian love for them as a primary means of evangelization.”

Kevin also speaks about how a challenge for today’s young people is loneliness. There is a false sense of connection being provided by social media, but online friends and followers are not the same thing as being a part of a community. Therefore, young people are hungering for authentic acceptance and connection.

“We have work to do to ensure that our parishes are embracing that desire. Parish leaders often report that their greatest hope is more youth involvement. Interestingly, that is what young people want, too,” Kevin surmises.

Faith formation and youth ministry programs across the Archdiocese are working to do just this. At the Church of the Resurrection in Dubuque, Melissa Tucker and Brian Nilles collaborate to provide unique programs that cater to the specific needs of today’s young people.

Melissa is the Coordinator of Youth and Young Adult Faith Formation at Church of the Resurrection.

“I believe that some of the most important aspects of working with youth and adolescents in the Catholic Church today is keeping the materials and lessons exciting for them. Including them in the teaching of the lessons gives them a better understanding of what is being taught to them about their Catholic faith,” Melissa says.

Resurrection Parish offers Children’s Liturgy of the Word, Summer Youth Faith Formation (YFF), Homeschool YFF, School Year YFF, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Youth-led Masses, children’s choir, family events during Advent and Lent, family game and activity nights, and Vacation Bible School. All of these offerings are intended to create a fun learning environment for the students.   

“The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program is new to our parish within the past year but is such a wonderful hands-on program for the students. Our program right now is a level 1 atrium where we offer classes to students ages 3 -6,” Melissa explains.

“In the atrium, students are offered work adaptations of life skills as well as adaptations of the Mass at a level where they can learn about our Catholic faith and get a better understanding of how and why we do what we do in Mass.  We have heard wonderful feedback from our parents with what the students are learning.”

Brian Nilles is the Youth Ministry Coordinator of all 6th – 12th grade students at the parish.
“Working with both middle and high school students is an advantage of knowing what each group is doing and how we can have the high school students take a leadership role with the middle school students,” Brian says.

High school students at Resurrection take a leading role and help to run their own group by operating their meetings, setting up activities for the year, recruiting other students, and being visible in the Parish. Every Lent, the middle and high school students plan a living Stations of the Cross. Other favorite activities include a haunted house and parade float at Halloween, and a concession stand operated during the parish festival.

There is also a program for middle school students that allows students to come together, no matter where they go to school.

‘“Foundation” is our middle school youth ministry program that invites all 6th, 7th, and 8th graders from the parish, regardless of where they attend school, to participate in fun activities and learning about their faith while building community with others that are the same age.

This is a free program that meets two times a month during the school year,” Brian explains.

In Ames, Kayla Stinga is the Director of Youth Ministry for St. Cecilia and St. Thomas Aquinas parishes. She works primarily with high school students and coordinates their small groups, large group events, Sunday evenings, trips, retreats and the Confirmation program.

“When I meet 9th grade students in the fall semester of their 1st year in high school, I tell them three things about why I am here for them. One, this is your faith, and I want to help you own this faith. Two, I want you to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, so I will help you develop or deepen this relationship. And three, I care about you, so what are your interests/hobbies?”
 
Kayla believes that the most important aspects of working with youth today are to be authentic and honest with them, to show them you truly care, and to help them be seen and loved.
 
She explains how their Confirmation Retreat for Confirmation Candidates in their second year of preparation is one of the unique programs at St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Cecilia. During this retreat, participants and leaders go to a camp nearby for the whole weekend, from Friday night to Sunday afternoon. The set up of the retreat mirrors the life right before and after receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation/the Holy Spirit.
 
“This retreat really helps the students encounter Christ like never before in most of their lives. They usually are filled with the Holy Spirit and have a great time from this retreat,” Kayla says.
 
These are just a few examples of the work that is being done across the archdiocese to evangelize to the youth in our communities. At the end of the day, every parish and archdiocesan effort truly matters when it comes to offering young people a safe place to gather, ask questions, and grow in their faith.
 
“There is an old expression in Youth Ministry: Whoever wants this generation the most will get them. Young people are pulled in many different directions. They will go to the place where they feel most alive and most acknowledged. There is no reason why that can’t be their home parish,” Kevin says.

“We just have to be sure we’re putting in the effort and letting them know how much we really do value them, embrace them, and have a place for them.”