Teens learn about skills to improve faith
Experts in youth ministry closed the convention with uplifting thoughts.
By LINDA M. LINONIS
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- "Young people are the church of today, not just the church of the future," said Bob McCarty, an expert in youth ministry, who addressed the 2006 Diocesan Youth Convention on Sunday at Cardinal Mooney High School.
He was repeating a comment he'd heard from a bishop at a meeting in Baltimore, where he spoke earlier in the day.
McCarty and his wife, Maggie, were keynote speakers at the event that attracted 250 teens from the six counties of the diocese, Ashtabula, Columbiana, Mahoning, Portage, Stark and Trumbull. The young people, along with 75 adult volunteers, spent the day at the school, where prayer, worship, music, ministry and workshops took place.
Maggie McCarty is the director of development for the Good Shepherd Center, a residential treatment program for adolescent girls in Baltimore, and her husband is executive director of the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry, Washington, D.C.
10 skills
The McCartys closed the convention with an uplifting message focusing on 10 skills to help the young people be disciples of Christ and continued the convention theme, & quot;Brick by Brick: Build Your Life on Christ." The skills are:
Keep your perspective. "Something happens to change our lives, and it sends us into a tailspin. Know what you can change and what you can't," Bob McCarty said.
Giftedness. "Look beyond yourself and see what people do in your life," he said. "Who would you give a medal to?" he asked.
Set priorities. "Pay it forward. Do things for others ... invest in a cause that has meaning to you," Bob McCarty said.
Know your direction. "Develop a plan for life. Use Jesus and your faith as a compass," Bob McCarty said.
Be calendar-conscious. "Are you living life too fast? asked Maggie McCarty. "Schedule time to be still and evaluate your life."
Learn to communicate. "Get over the childish games and express what you really mean," she said.
Realize it's not always blue skies. "Sometimes bad things happen to good people. Life is filled with difficult times," Maggie McCarty said. "God is there in good and bad times. The suffering passes."
Claim power. "You're created in the image and likeness of God. Be there for others," she said.
Speak the truth. "Be a disciple and speak up ... find your voice and have the courage of your convictions," Bob McCarty said.
See differently. "See the world through the eyes of discipleship and be followers of Jesus Christ," he said.
Purposes of convention
Cindee Case, director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry in the diocese, outlined the purposes of the convention:
To help teens realize a larger sense of church.
To offer an opportunity to teens to meet new people who hold the same beliefs.
To provide national speakers that parishes would not be able to afford on their own.
Workshop topics at the event included dating, parent-teen relationships, service, prayer, Catholicism 101, war and peace, science and faith, yoga, environmental justice, Scripture, music and spirituality.
Some comments from local teens who attended:
Amanda Stazak, 16, of St. Charles Church, Boardman: "I want to understand my faith better and learn how God affects our lives."
Kaitlin Moran, 17, of St. Charles: "It was a great opportunity to meet people of the same faith and learn more about it."
Patrick Connors, 16, of St. Michael Church, Canfield: "I want to get more involved in my church and get closer to Jesus."
Cody Smith, 15, of St. Edward Church, Youngstown: "It's a good experience to be with people who share your beliefs."
Sarah Merhaut, 17, of St. Michael's: "The programs and activities help you prioritize what's important. You learn how to help people through your faith."