Crossroads Youth Ministry Vision Statement

Crossroads Youth Ministry at St. John of the Cross Parish operates under the vision of Youth Ministry as described in Renewing the Vision: A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry, which builds on the traditions begun by the 1976 Bishops’ document, A Vision of Youth Ministry. Renewing the Vision includes three interdependent and equally important goals to guide our ministry with youth. These goals help us respond to the needs of the young people and to involve the young people in sharing their gifts with the larger parish.  These are a focus for us as we plan specific activities and programs.

From Renewing the Vision:

Goal 1: To empower young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in our world today.

Goal 2: To draw young people to responsible participation in the life, mission, and work of the Catholic faith community.

Goal 3: To foster the total personal and spiritual growth of each young person.

As we keep these goals in mind, we will provide a multi-dimensional program which encourages participants to search for how God and the church fit into their busy, multi-faceted lives; promotes personal relationships with Jesus Christ; and provides an accepting, supporting community in which to share life experiences and build friendships. This comprehensive youth ministry program will continue to serve teens in the eight ministry components: Advocacy, Catechesis, Community Life, Evangelization, Justice and Service, Leadership Development, Pastoral Care, Prayer and Worship.

The structure of Crossroads Youth Ministry is as follows:

The full-time paid Director is responsible for the areas of Crossroads which are at the core of our Youth Ministry—specifically the home groups, retreats and work tour trips. These will be the Director’s primary focus and responsibility.

The Director also functions as the Coordinator of all Crossroads events, while other important pieces of the program are the responsibility of the chairpersons.

Home Group meetings are the foundation of the Crossroads program. These meetings are held twice a month in volunteer couples’ homes and provide a safe haven for the small faith communities to grow. Teenagers are supported and encouraged first by their home group leaders and through that relationship connected to the various aspects of the larger program. Home Group leaders are encouraged to work closely with the Director to provide relevant, thought-provoking conversations and opportunities to connect teenagers to their faith as the goals above describe.

In order to promote shared ownership and responsibility for Youth Ministry at St. John of the Cross Parish, parishioners are expected to act as chairpersons and contribute to the program as they are able. Parents of teens are especially encouraged to do so. For each area, the Chairperson will be asked to help find a replacement when they no longer wish to fill the role (minimum commitment for one school year). Former chairpersons are encouraged to be a continuing resource to new chairpersons as to how events are to run.

If a chairperson for a particular area cannot be found, it is the Director’s responsibility to publicize the need in the bulletin and ask for a volunteer. The person who volunteers will have access to specific written notes, guidelines and instructions for coordinating their area. If a chairperson cannot be found, the area will no longer have attention. The director is not expected to fill the role of a chairperson.

This system will allow for programs and events that are valued by the youth, their parents and the parish to survive and flourish. Those which people consider unimportant will fade out. By placing the home groups, retreats and work tours as the responsibility of the hired Director, we will ensure the continuity of the most important part of the program—passing on faith in small faith-supporting communities.

Specific job descriptions, expectations and benefits of each chairperson position can be obtained from the Youth Ministry office.