Renewing the Vision

World Youth Day pilgrims cheer as Pope Francis leads the July 30 prayer vigil at the Field of Mercy in Krakow, Poland. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Renewing the Vision: A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry, approved as a statement of the United States bishops in June 1997, builds upon the tradition begun by the 1976 document by the bishops, A Vision of Youth Ministry. To respond to the challenges and opportunities of the present age, the Catholic bishops of the United States have given the Church this pastoral framework as a blueprint for the continued development of effective ministry with youth and adolescents in local communities of faith.

**See below for links to the online text of Renewing the Vision.**

3 Goals, 7 Themes, 8 Components

Three Goals for Ministry with Adolescents

First, empowering young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ; second, drawing them into responsible participation in the Catholic Church; and third, fostering their personal and spiritual growth.

"For I know well the plans I have in mind for you... to give you a future full of hope"
- Jer 29:11

Three interdependent and equally important goals guide the Church's ministry with adolescents. These goals state what it means for the Catholic community to respond to the needs of young people and to involve young people in sharing their unique gifts with the larger community. They express the Church's focus for ministry with adolescents, while encouraging local creativity in developing the programs, activities, and strategies to reach those goals. (RTV, page 9)

Seven Themes of a Comprehensive Vision

A comprehensive framework for youth ministry must be (1) developmentally appropriate, (2) family friendly, (3) intergenerational, (4) multicultural, (5) have community-wide collaboration, (6) have strong leadership, and (7) have flexible and adaptable programming for young people.

"We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works. We should not stray from our assembly... but encourage one another."
- Heb 10:24-25

The comprehensive approach is not a single program or recipe for ministry. Rather, it provides a way for integrating ministry with adolescents and their families into the total life and mission of the Church, recognizing that the whole community is responsible for this ministry... The themes provide a continuous thread that ensures that ministry with adolescents utilizes all available resources and is all-inclusive. (RTV pages 19, 20)

Eight Components of a Comprehensive Ministry with Young People

An integrated approach to youth utilizes each of the Church's ministries - (1) advocacy, (2) catechesis, (3) community life, (4) evangelization, (5) justice and service, (6) leadership development, (7) pastoral care, and (8) prayer and worship.

"As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ."
- 1 Cor 12:12

These ministry components describe the "essence" of ministry with adolescents and provide the Church with eight fundamental ways to minister effectively with adolescents... These components provide a framework for the Catholic community to respond to the needs of young people and involve young people in sharing their unique gifts with the larger community. They provide a structure for the Church's ministry with adolescents, while encouraging local creativity in developing programs, activities, and strategies for each component. A comprehensive ministry with adolescents provides balance among all eight components. (RTV page 26)