What You Might Have Missed This Past Holy Week

Written by Christopher Wesley | Apr 24, 2019 5:00:12 AM

Every year I looked forward to Christmas and Easter. While they are by far the busiest days on our Church’s campus, it meant downtime for me as a youth minister. I usually don’t have our usual youth programs around Christmas and Easter so, even though I work at a church, Christmas and Easter meant that I just showed up at my church, just like everyone else, for Mass and then I left. I thought this was enough.

That is until this past Holy Week.

Our Director of Liturgy asked me to help her with Holy Week and Easter Masses. When she asked, a million reasons why I should say “no” to helping with Easter went through my head:

This season it might be the only time of the year youth ministry takes a break, and I need this time for my family and me
I don’t see you helping on youth ministry trips over the summer during your slower time
I need this time to “catch up” in youth ministry

It turns out I saw youth ministry as “my ministry” and Liturgy as “her ministry.” I knew deep down this wasn’t a good approach, and I could see she needed help, so I said “yes.” I am so glad that I did, as I learned a few things:

YOU MEET NEW TEENS

Some teens attend my church that I had never met before and I have not invited them to any youth ministry events. By showing up, I was able to reach teens who have yet to connect with a church community their age.

IT BECOMES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ADVOCACY

There are adults at my church that did not know youth ministry existed and I have not invited them to volunteer. When you are present, you take away the mystery of youth ministry. You can break down any false perceptions and start showing people why youth ministry matters.

YOUTH MINISTRY IS ONLY “ONE PART” OF A BIGGER PICTURE

Youth Ministry is not a “Church.” We are merely one piece of our Church. Yes, Christmas and Easter are great ways to grow a youth ministry program, but more importantly, if you’re anything like me, it is easy to ignore the rest of your Church that doesn’t have much to do with the youth ministry. When this happens, we forget that our students are merely one piece of the church, meaning the Church is more than youth ministry

I had been stuck in my own little youth ministry world for so long, that I forgot that there is more going on in my church than youth ministry. While being around at Holy Week and Easter Masses were high chances to meet other adults and teens that could be interested in youth ministry, more than anything, the week allowed me to be a part of the more magnificent Church; not just the teens and their families.

If we want to be a part of our church, then we need to be fully involved during the busiest days of the year. This might mean:

Setting up chairs for additional Masses or Services
Helping decorate with flowers or the holiday environment
Serving as a liturgical minister or greeter at multiple Masses
Asking your Liturgy Director “How can I help you this week?”
Going to more than one Mass on Christmas or Easter to serve

Yes, rest is essential but not right before or on the busiest holidays of the Church year. Instead, use this time to help and be a part of the Church we are blessed to belong.

How do you serve your church during Christmas or Easter?

Mike Cleary is the full-time Director of Youth Faith Formation at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Houston, TX where he oversees middle and high school youth ministry (grades 6-12), as well as sacramental preparation. After serving as a youth ministry volunteer in Arizona for four years while attending college, Mike has been in full-time youth ministry for seven years. Mike has been married for 3 years to his bride Raquel, who just happens to be his best friend. Outside of ministry and family, you are likely to find Mike cheering on the Arizona Diamondbacks baseball team.

If you are interested in writing for Marathon Youth Ministry reach out to us by clicking HERE

View full post