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Is the Catholic Church losing youth?

Catholic parishes that have a sense that they are losing the young are probably correct. Not knowing what else to do, they are still instituting Life Teen programs that provide an opportunity for young bands to play popular music at Mass, some of it easily mistaken for a teenage jam session. They are also working to further make their educational programs more relevant to the lives of teens. What they do not realize is that it is precisely this sort of pandering that could be the source of the problem. In any case, it is obvious enough that this is not working. Cause and effect is impossible to prove in social science, but it just cant be purely coincidental that the meltdown of Catholic youth participation began its total meltdown around the same time that parishes started this trend toward treating them as a special segment within the Church that needed anything but clear teaching, solid doctrinal instruction, and solemn liturgy. The post at Chant Cafe then goes on to a very long list of data that shows how Catholic youth have a demonstrably weaker faith than their protestant, or Muslim peers. In fact, Catholic youth are often less knowledgeable about their faith than those of other sects, or atheists! Chant Cafe continues: The survey also reports that only 19 % of U.S. Catholic teenagers attend mass on a weekly basis and that 40% never attend. [I have presented similar statistics to various authorities in the Church on certain issues. The response is typically that it is the fault of the parents, the culture, TV, rock music, PopTarts, etc. - anything except any possible failing on the part any parish or diocesan structure. Until this mentality changes, the Church will continue to bleed young people. Don't they know the children are our future! I said that in my Helen Lovejoy voice!] Truly, these are catastrophic findings. It means the loss of an entire generation, all accomplished in the name of winning them back. Those in charge dont often see the connection because those who leave are gone and they go without explanation. Those who stay are the ones who dont mind the pandering, the cheesy music, the fluffy teaching. Intelligent kids who can recognize that they arent be treated as emerging adults take off never return. The researchers summarize: It appearsthat too many U.S. Catholics have through inertia continued to rest assured that old organizational structures were taking care of their children when in fact they increasingly have not been. And so many or most Catholics teenagers now pass through a Church system that has not fully come to terms with its own institutional deficit and structural vacuum with regard to providing substantial and distinctive Catholic socialization, education, and pastoral ministry for its teenagers.

Of course most of the policies that are driving kids away are being put in place by people in the 40s, 50s, and 60s who cant remember what it was like to be young and have older people attempt to spoon feed you and attempt to re-create a shoddy version of the secular culture that already envelopes the young. If the Church has nothing different, nothing challenging, nothing intelligent, and nothing fundamentally radical to offer, why bother? The youth see this even if their parents do not. Is there hope? Absolutely. No group is as hungry for good liturgy as that which has been utterly starved for access to solemnity. Many people who have looked at the Simple English Propers carefully have concluded that the group most likely to feel drawn toward its solemnity and sacredness are the emerging adults. The Life teen groups are precisely the ones that will be drawn to the sense of liturgical accomplishment that singing these chants will elicit in their hearts and minds I think many religious directors and youth ministers would be surprised at how young people would respond to more solid catechesis, more traditional liturgy, and glorious Church music, instead of bad Christian-pop. It wont keep some youth from leaving, but I think it would help. I know a family member who was way into Life teen in high school, and who is now very involved in the Faith at a major state university (cmon, this should be EASY!). She described to me recently that shes very into her Faith primarily because of the excellent program at St. Marys , and mostly in spite of Life Teen, which, she says, was pretty bad. Thats just one tiny bit of evidence, but its interesting to see her really throwing herself into the Faith now that shes in an orthodox environment, and finding the former Life teen rather deficient. Thats just one example, but the very sad part is, most young people dont happen to fall into a very orthodox environment after leaving home, and are thus lost. I have written nothing but books today! Comments 1. Mary - July 14, 2011 Most of the youth ministers dont know the Faith either, so how can they come close to teaching the Truth? I think you touched on this in your recent post about the problems with our diocesan catechetical formation programs (train the trainer sort of programs).

The ministers are so wrapped up in making it fun that they have forgotten what it is they are supposed to teach. It amazes me, these same youth are about to go away to college, or into the real world, and were still treating them like children, playing games. These youth have been fed baby food for some time and are, no doubt, ready for a little meat and potatoes, and were not giving it to them. Is it no wonder our youth never grow up??? And why they are so easily persuaded to check out the other faiths?

2. Agellius - July 14, 2011 I can attest to this. My older son attended a diocesan Catholic grade and middle school, then transferred to a private, independent (non-diocesan), parent-run high school. He said the difference was night and day. He says ne of the best things about the high school is that it teaches *substance* in religion and theology classes, as opposed to the how do you feel about and what does this mean to you blather he was getting in the diocesan school. He says he has discovered many of the treasures of the Church which his old school had left hidden, such as the Church Fathers and St. Thomas Aquinas. And finally, he said he has discovered Gods beauty through the dignified and well-performed (by the school choir) classical music used at Mass and performed in school concerts whereas school concerts in his old school usually consisted of Broadway show tunes or Beatles songs and the like nary an Ave Maria to be found. My sons faith has come alive at this school. When you treat the faith seriously and reverently, and teach its substance rather than emotional fluff, kids respond. It gives them what they hunger for, though they may not even know it themselves. DOES ANYBODY HEAR US??!! Paul Harrigan: Evangelizing Catholic Youth Through Song

By Hope Frances Keeping Catholic youth alive in their faith is often challenging as they confront the growing pains of adolescence and the pressures of the world today. Catholic musician Paul Harrigan uses his music ministry to reach out to teens and encourage them to keep their fire for the Lord alive and burning bright. His passion is evangelizing through his music to youth and young adults. "Young adults are the future leaders of this world, and the world has many very attractive

allurements that will take them away from God and their faith. I think we need to reach out to them at this stage in their lives because it can be a time of rebellion against authority, especially parents," Paul said. Singing Gods Good News Paul sings the good news of the Lord with his band Holywood as well as solo acoustic sets. "Holywood is a hybrid band. Henryk Chrostek is the lead guitar player who also plays in Light In The Lord at Holy Redeemer Church. Also in the band are bass player Mike Perry and drummer John Severino." "Having grown up in a family of ten kids, (eight boys) my musical taste draws from an eclectic pot to be sure. I would classify my music as pop, rock, praise & worship Holy Spirit driven!" The most profound experience for Paul and Holywood was the invitation they received to play at World Youth Day in Cologne, Germany last year. "We felt it was an incredible blessing for us to be invited to participate in the event that bears the legacy of John Paul II. World Youth Day was created by the late pontiff in an effort to join together the youth of the world in celebration of their faith. He felt the youth was the future of not only the church, but of the world." "We performed in a venue called Leverkusen. Some of our military stationed in Germany were there with their families. Youth from different places throughout the world attended the concert. We also performed in concert for an audience that gathered to hear Jim Caviezel's testimony and view a special screening of 'The Passion of the Christ.' We had the grace of performing live, impromptu concerts in Cologne at the beautiful cathedral - The Dome. On the steps of the cathedral were thousands of youth that were on fire for their faith." "In addition, we broke out the guitars on the train. We ministered hopefully to some people who may not otherwise have been exposed to Catholic-Christian music." Of his band Holywood, Paul said the members have been "absolutely phenomenally faithful to the music and to the ministry." Their most recent concert was held at Holy Redeemer Church in Montrose. They kicked off the new youth program at the church with parishioners ranging from 8 - 80 years old in attendance. Paul can also be found singing and playing percussion there every Sunday at their youth mass. Radio Ministry Paul also reaches out to the youth through the powerful medium of radio. He is a co-host, along with Eddie Perez, on a one-hour show through El Sembrador Catholic Radio entitled Generation Connexion. The program is broadcast live every Wednesday from 6 - 7 pm. "It's designed to bridge the gap between youth and the older generations. We talk some religion,

some politics, entertainment and life in Southern California and in the United States. Again, it's a way to evangelize and share our faith and love for Christ and His church. I play a couple of acoustic songs, which is fun. I'm writing some new songs to present to the youth in that forum." "There's a trust that develops between the listener and the radio personality and that can be really beneficial when you're trying to get the message across, especially to some impressionable youth." Blogging the Youth Judging from the positive feedback of the Generation Connexion blog featured on this website, Paul is definitely reaching the youth. "Young people have written to us through the blog on Parishworld.net. They have said that they really enjoy what we're doing and it encourages them. I think that's the real test - when you hear from the youth themselves writing to us and telling us that we are making a difference in their lives and in their world. That really is an awesome thing to hear." Paul is also involved in ministering to the youth through a confirmation class at a local parish. " The idea is to try and introduce these kids to Catholic-Christian music they haven't really heard before or if they have, they don't listen to it regularly. We just enjoy going there and showing our love for Jesus Christ and His church through song." Paul knows the importance of keeping kids alive in their faith as they move towards adulthood. He shares his faith and love for Jesus Christ with Southern California youth through song - from the heart and the depth of his soul. He hopes to "keep reaching out and evangelizing youth that it's cool to be Catholic." Once again proving thatGod shines brighter than all the stars in Hollywood.

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