Diocesan youth ministry takes root online |
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Written by LAURIE STEVENS BERTKE, Chronicle Writer
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Friday, 07 November 2008 01:00 |
As the Internet becomes increasingly central to the social lives of teenagers, more Catholic youth ministers are going online to connect with the next generation.
The presence of youth ministers is growing on popular social networking Web sites like Facebook, where they can promote events, share resources and moderate discussions with Catholic youth.
"It’s been a good tool for continuing to do our youth ministry beyond our youth group gatherings, beyond our church," says Deacon Jerry Ziemkiewicz, who has used Facebook for about a year and a half.
As the coordinator of youth ministry for the Diocese of Toledo, Deacon Ziemkiewicz uses the Web site to communicate with the Diocesan Youth Council (DYC), a group of young people from around the diocese. The teenagers and adult coordinators keep in touch through a private "group" on Facebook, where they can post comments and share photos with one another.
Shannon Spayde, a high school senior from Willard St. Francis who serves on the DYC, says Facebook gives teen representatives from parishes around the diocese another way to get to know one another between meetings, and it helps former DYC members stay in touch.
It is also a good way to keep the group updated on events and meetings, according to Harley Rohrbacher, a DYC representative from Toledo St. Pius X. "It helps keep us all communicating, since some of [the members] are two to three hours away from Toledo," he adds.
Like many of her peers, the high school junior says she checks her Facebook account more often than her e-mail. She and Ms. Spayde have each used Facebook for several years, and both say they were happy to see youth ministers joining.
"I thought it was really awesome that they wanted to participate in our lives and be a part of a thing that we were part of, so we could connect on another level," says Ms. Spayde, who is beginning her third year on the diocesan youth council.
Cathy Figliomeni, an adult leader for the DYC, has come to view Facebook as a necessity in youth ministry.
"If you want to keep in touch with the youth of today, you have to meet them where they are — and that’s where they are," says Mrs. Figliomeni, who also uses Facebook in the youth group she coordinates at Toledo Little Flower.
Teens share ideas for activities with her on their group page, and she uses the "status" line of her profile to remind them about events and deadlines when they log on to Facebook.
She finds it convenient, and "the kids think it’s cool, because you’re on their level," says Mrs. Figliomeni.
Father Eric Schild, chaplain of Fostoria St. Wendelin High School, says he received an overwhelmingly positive response from the students when he joined Facebook last June at the encouragement of another priest.
Though he admits he was initially reluctant about the idea, he was surprised to discover many other priests — including the bishop of Little Rock, Ark., — are already using the Web site.
Paraphrasing St. John Bosco, Fr. Schild says, "If you love what they love, they will love what you love." He explains that showing teens he cares about what they do — whether that means joining Facebook or attending football games or band concerts — has helped him build a good rapport with parish and school youth.
As a result, the priest finds the students are more willing to bring their problems to him, more receptive to what he has to say and more likely to get involved in their parish and school.
On another level, Fr. Schild views his presence on Facebook as a way to hold youth accountable for the content they post. "They know that Father’s on there," he explains.
Evangelizing online
Youth ministers are also using the Internet to spread the Gospel message to teens they may not see in church or the youth room every week.
"It’s a way to bring them into the circle," says Rachelle Kristof Hippler, a member of Sandusky St. Mary who coordinates technology for Sandusky Life Teen, which launched in September.
She says Sandusky Life Teen has a Facebook group and its own Web site, in part, to appeal to teenagers who are skeptical about Life Teen, "but might be curious enough to check out the Web site."
The weekly Life Night at Sandusky Holy Angels has an average attendance of about 60, and the online group has even more members. Each one has a link to Life Teen in their individual profile that is visible to all their Facebook friends.
Mrs. Kristof Hippler, who teaches computer science at Bowling Green State University Firelands, says Life Teen coordinators are still evaluating the use of Facebook in their ministry. In the meantime, she hopes to gradually expand their Web site by adding recaps from previous Life Nights, interactive components and links to quality resources for teenagers.
Youth ministers are also incorporating online media into meetings by sharing videos and music from Web sites like YouTube, GodTube or MyCatholicVoice.
Mrs. Figliomeni uses her laptop computer to play a song or video for members of the youth group, followed by discussion. "I call them M and M’s — I do music in ministry and media in ministry and movies in ministry," she says.
Fostering friendships
With so many youth ministers joining Facebook, Deacon Ziemkiewicz says the site has become a primary way for them to communicate and network, "especially in a diocese our size, where you can’t necessarily gather large groups of youth ministers together on a regular basis."
Sharing ideas with other parishes "becomes a way of promoting and enhancing their youth ministry," he says.
Facebook also fosters friendships between Catholic youth around the country who meet at gatherings such as the National Catholic Youth Conference or the One Bread, One Cup conference.
"They stay in touch that way, throughout the year, after spending a week together," says Deacon Ziemkiewicz. This helps them continue to live out the faith experience they shared, he adds.
He acknowledges youth ministry has gone a long way beyond phone calls and e-mail in the past few years.
"We’re trying to reach out to young people where they’re at in their lives," explains Deacon Ziemkiewicz. "This is just another avenue, another tool, that we can use to spread the Gospel message to fulfill our goals of helping them become disciples of Jesus Christ."
Mrs. Kristof Hippler believes technology is critical for understanding and reaching teens, yet she still feels "the best way to reach teens is just to let them know you care, and to be there."
That means something different to everyone, she adds. "Maybe being there for some teens is being available to answer an e-mail, or being available to chat over Facebook. Maybe being there is just saying ‘hi’ to them at a football game," she explains. "We really have to be careful not to forget about the other ways of being there — and truly in the heart being there."
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Last Updated on Friday, 23 January 2009 09:47 |
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