Now that your teen or college age young adult has received the sacrament of Confirmation, isn’t it time to get them more deeply involved in the Mass? It is no secret that one of the best ways for a young person to nurture a greater love for the Eucharist is by a more active participation in the liturgy.
The National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry has sought for many years to encourage greater participation by young people in the Mass. A publication from the Federation, From Age to Age: The Challenge of Worship with Adolescents (1997), started a national dialogue on how to get teenagers more involved in the Church’s celebration of the Eucharist.
Involvement by young people can include such liturgical activities as:
- Extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist
- Ushers
- Ministers of Hospitality
- Lectors/Readers
- Altar servers
- Gift bearers
- Cantors
- Musicians
- Choir members
- Leaders for Children’s Liturgy of the Word
As good stewards of the faith life of teenagers and young adults, let’s identify their gifts and invite them to a fuller participation at the table of the Lord. Get them involved. Make them feel as though they are welcome as mature, responsible stewards of the life of the parish family. They will be enriched by the experience, and so will the faith community.
