Engagement
 

Objective 1: Listen to the needs and desires of our Youth (11-18) and Young Adults (18-35)

In our parishes and schools, Catholic youth and young adults can expect:

• Forums, whether virtual or in-person, to share their experiences and questions and dialogue with the Church.
• An invitation to attend and participate in a synod19 geared exclusively for each age group.
• Opportunities to provide input to the Youth Action Plan and the Young Adult Action Plan at their respective synods and through multimedia like online surveys.

The diocese will support parishes and school youth and young adult ministries by:

• Forming diocesan Youth Ministry and Young Adult Ministry Advisory Committees of clergy, principals, campus ministers, and lay leaders with relevant experience and appointing Youth and Young Adult leaders to plan and host synods.
• Hosting both a youth synod and a young adult synod at a time and location to optimize attendance, exercising extreme diligence in inviting a diverse, representative sample of Santa Clara County Youth and Young Adult participants.
• Listening to and dialoguing with youth and young adults about their ideas for the Youth Action Plan and the Young Adult Action Plan at their respective synods.
• Providing context about the current youth and young adult experience with proper terms and understandings of demographics.

Timing – Phase 1

Listening

Objective 2: Personally invite and engage youth and young adults through spiritual activities and meaningful social and service opportunities.

In our parishes and schools, Catholic youth (11-18) and young adults (18-35) can expect:

• Youth ministry and young adult ministry at parishes using the synod results and gathered best practices to host spiritual activities as well as meaningful social and service opportunities.
• Access to age-appropriate mentorship and discernment opportunities for reflection on how to best use their gifts and talents for Christ.
• Opportunities to attend larger Church events that are dynamic, energizing, and reflective, including retreats, conferences, service opportunities, social activities, and pilgrimages.

The diocese will support parishes and schools by:

• Researching and sharing leading youth ministry and young adult ministry best practices gathered from within and outside the diocese.
• Continuously developing youth and young adult ministries in all parishes and schools by creating a promotional plan to excite and engage youth and young adults to participate.
• Inviting and training adults who can relationally accompany and mentor Youth and Young Adults through discerning their gifts, talents, vocation, and sharing in the universal call to holiness.
• Creating or promoting opportunities for youth and young adults to encounter Jesus Christ through an experience of the larger Church that is dynamic, energizing, and reflective, including retreats, conferences, service opportunities, social activities, and pilgrimages.
• Forming a multicultural Diocesan Youth Retreat Team that supports schools and parish ministries for successful post-retreat engagement of attendees.

Timing – Phase 2

Training

Objective 3: Inspire and Cultivate Young Leaders:

In our parishes and schools, Catholic youth and young adults can expect:

• Increased leadership opportunities across the diocese.
• Regularly offered leadership training and organized spiritual formation events geared to equip and strengthen their faith and commitment to discipleship.
• Multimedia technology utilized to promote youth ministry and young adult ministry to make the ministries more engaging and impactful.

The diocese will support youth and young adult leaders by:

• Assembling a multicultural team to support specific areas such as youth, college, and young adults in the diocesan Youth Ministry and the Young Adult Ministry offices and supporting the hiring of a full-time youth minister and young adult minister available for each community to collaborate with the diocesan office.
• Identifying diocese, parish, and school leadership opportunities and nominating youth and young adults to serve in these leadership positions.
• Offering regular training and formation opportunities that equip and strengthen the commitment to discipleship of each youth minister or young adult leader.
• Using creative ways, like multimedia technology and social media, to promote our youth and young adult ministries, making them more engaging and impactful.

Timing – Phase 3