To Be a "Living Example of Discipleship"

This great article by Fr. Damian Ference really hits the nail on the head about encouraging young people to answer the call of Christ in their lives.  Here is an excerpt:

For a parish youth group to be what it is supposed to be, the first priority of the group must be to make disciples of young people who do not know Jesus, and to make stronger disciples of the ones who already know him. Such a suggestion seems quite basic and even simplistic at first glance, but this is precisely the point. Far too often we as a Church have failed with the most basic principle of discipleship while loading up on service projects and social activities, and the parish youth group becomes just one more line on a young person’s college résumé, without ever calling that young person to real conversion. 

Read the rest here.

I completely agree with Fr. Ference's diagnosis.  The first priority must be to help people fall in love with Jesus.  The most successful activities at CCM have been the ones that show students the mercy and love of God for them through prayer and catechesis.  Young people (and not so young people for that matter) need an encounter with the living Christ!  This is what really matters!  As Fr. Ference points out, "It is true that young people tend to stay out of trouble while socializing with peers from the parish, and that service projects help build character and allow young people to move beyond themselves, but without being disciples, such activities never allow for true transformation and human flourishing."  Young people need role models who are on fire with the love of God - disciples.  They need people to take a vested interest in them and who will teach the fullness of truth.  If given opportunities to encounter Christ, then things like service and social activities will naturally flow from that, but on their own they are empty time-fillers.  Vocations increase when people are given the opportunity to fall in love with Jesus and experience his mercy and love.  When we allow Jesus to transform our own hearts, the love and mercy of God will show forth with power throughout the world.   Thank you Fr. Ference for this amazing article and reminder.

Hats off to Emily Bissonnette for the link.