As I begin my third year as chaplain at St. John’s College High School, I am increasingly aware of how much I have returned to ministries from earlier in my priesthood since retiring from Catholic Charities in the summer of 2023. Most notably, working with young people.
I have always enjoyed being with and ministering to our youth. For 11 years, I was in charge of the archdiocese’s youth ministry, including the CYO. In my first assignment at Little Flower, we had a very large high school youth group, and I have been blessed to keep in touch with many of those who were members.
I haven’t lost the joy of working with young people in what I call my semi-retirement. I am energized by their enthusiasm and excitement coming back to school. I love seeing their deep friendships and watching them grow right before my eyes through our ministry efforts at St. John’s as well as activities in sciences, arts, athletics, and our military program.
I love meeting our new students, and after two years, I now have a history with current students. The 14-year-old boys and girls who were at St. John’s two years ago when I started are now 16- and 17-year-olds. They are taking on leadership roles, thinking more about college, and driving. I see the growth these last couple of years, and the vast majority of them seem to be on track towards great colleges and future careers.
I am thrilled that our new archbishop, Cardinal Robert McElroy, highly values youth ministry. When he arrived here last March, he had the difficult job of dealing with some financial concerns. We needed to raise more funds, and we also needed to make some difficult decisions about the future.
Unfortunately, we had to make significant cuts to our Pastoral Center staff this past spring. The cuts were not because of poor performance or unsuccessful programs. They were purely financial. Our budget was not maintaining the balance that the Archdiocesan Finance Council and others said it should.
At the same time, Cardinal McElroy said he wanted to put a bit more money and energy into our youth. The bishops and the pope have also talked about the importance of young people in our Church and perhaps emphasizing how we can help them grow in their journey towards the Lord.
At St. Bartholomew’s where I live, I see many young people participate in the Confirmation program. A smaller number stay involved through high school. Many come to church regularly, but many do not. I find it discouraging when those who have just been confirmed no longer practice their faith regularly on Sundays, but I know this seems to be the way of the culture right now.
Those who do come to church and participate as altar servers, lectors, musicians, and ushers bring new life to the parish. There is something particularly inspiring about a young person’s faith and watching them grow in their love for the Lord.
I would love to see us do more for our youth in the coming years, and I hope it includes a couple things. One is a strong retreat program.
I am a big believer in the power of retreats in drawing us closer to God. I have seen at St. John’s and through the years how much difference a good retreat can make in the life of a young person. They have an opportunity to think clearly about their faith, to pray more about their journey, and to be supported by others on the same path.
Retreats come in many forms, so I hope we can expand the opportunities for young people. Many of the high schools participate in Kairos retreats, which are wonderful. Other retreats may fit more easily into busy schedules, such as days or evenings of recollection at the parish.
I’m also a big believer in small group sharing. Many young people thrive with that companionship and sense of community as they spend time talking about Scripture, reading a spiritual book, or watching a video. Those discussions and the time together enhance the spiritual formation of those involved.
As you probably know, I am also a big believer in service. When I was at Catholic Charities, I often pointed out that service often seems to bring back those who may have fallen away from the Church, both young and old.
Our hearts are moved when we serve others who are in need. We see the goodness and the dignity in those we serve, and we make a new connection with God through them. We find God in them, and we hope they find God in us.
God really is amazing. As I get older, I am returning to my priestly roots and enjoying more opportunities to minister to our youth. I am thrilled that Cardinal McElroy sees this as an important emphasis and that we will be thinking about how we can do more in the future.
Our young people deserve and need our guidance. Say a prayer that these efforts will be successful as we work to build God’s Church for the future by building it today.
