What’s our learning?
As we re-emerge from lockdown what will the big topics be that we will need to address with our young people? Erin Doughty and Hannah Hall (from Kenelm Youth Trust) joined us to share their thoughts on how we can look ahead to prepare for the questions our changed context may bring.
Prayer and connecting:
“Jesus walks with two disciples who did not grasp the meaning of all that happened to him, and are leaving Jerusalem and the community behind. Wanting to accompany them, he joins them on the way. He asks them questions and listens patiently to their version of events, and in this way he helps them recognize what they were experiencing.
Then, with affection and power, he proclaims the word to them, leading them to interpret the events they had experienced in the light of the Scriptures. He accepts their invitation to stay with them as evening falls; he enters into their night. As they listen to him speak, their hearts burn within them and their minds are opened; they then recognize him in the breaking of the bread. They themselves then choose to resume their journey at once in the opposite direction, to return to the community and to share the experience of their encounter with the risen Lord”. Pope Francis CV 237
Faith Sharing:
What don’t I understand at present?
Where do I need the patient & affectionate accompaniment of others?
Am I ready to offer the same to others?
Loving God, when our hearts are overwhelmed, overwhelm us with Your peace.
Lead us to You, our rock and our stronghold. Guide us to Your Word which gives us strength and refuge.
Help us not to run to lesser things but draw us first to you.
Grant us the gifts of Your Spirit, so we may embrace our mission in Wisdom with courage and perseverance.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord, Amen
Sharing: Four learnings Erin and Hannah have taken from this time include…
1. The power of social media to reach people. This has been an opportunity to look at branding and theme (acknowledging the importance the the aesthetic) and to get creative. Numbers of people engaging is encouraging. And we can try new things - e.g. use of tiktok
2. We are all capable of more than we think - this has been a time of personal learning and reflection as we get courageous and work outside of our comfort zones.
3. The time has shaken up how we look for feedback. It is an opportunity to seek and listen to others about our ministry (evaluation/measuring effectiveness), including by: speaking to past team members/collegaues and their contacts, headteachers with connections, notching what what gets liked, polls, google forms etc.
4. Use the Gospel as a filter to see whether your activity is worth doing – Is what we are doing going to bring the Gospel to young people?
Reflection questions - Breakout rooms:
With the benefit of hindsight what do you wish you had in place three months prior to lockdown?
What new things have you developed? What will stick?
What has stopped you from doing new or different things?
Is there anything you could do to remove that barrier?
Feedback from participants:
Professionalism – power in collaboration
What are young people looking at? How can we evolve ourselves into that?
Parish Facebook groups – sense of community
Furlough – fine line with what you can and can’t do
Being intentional – keep connections going
How do we transition out of this? Doesn’t mean going back -continue to serve the wave
Psalm 124/5
How do we access those who don’t have access to the internet?
Diocesan phone lines for the elderly
Zoom join via audio
Is it about getting them tablets/data?
Doorstep resources - How can schools and churches resource those young people?
Ask the Town council is there a grant scheme for those who need resources?
Could we create a Data bursary fund?
Hearing the voice of young people – What’s next…
The desire of young people to respond – how are we equipping ourselves to support young people in preparing for practical responses? (including Safeguarding/ and building connections). What thinking, and preparation can be done now to help young people respond practically?
Financial hardship – how can we support and respond to the likely increase in financial difficulties (including in attending our events/retreats/days out) – IDEAS: Bursary fund/making yourself aware of grants/funds that our out there – creative thought/research.
Mental Health – We know there is an increase in mental ill health amongst our young people. How are we preparing ourselves to accompany these young people? We need to be ready to address the unique situation of each young person – those in periods of transition – those who don’t want to go back to school. Can we bring ourselves and other ministers/chaplains together to prepare? Is there training available? What sessions/resources can we offer to schools?
Evangelisation – pain, suffering, joy – how are we helping young people make sense of this situation in the light of faith? Ie we are encountering an increase in a ‘hunger for the Eucharist’, how are we accompanying this? Can we encourage people to share their experiences? How can we take this opportunity to teach ourselves about the riches of different treasures of the Church’s teaching: Our Catholic social teaching, Theology of the Body and human relationships.
Question to think about - What two or three things can you do now to equip yourself in your future ministry?
Resources shared:
Creative education have some online training sessions that are free on supporting young people's mental health as well as their education units.
The jobgym - free course Understanding Mental Health, First Aid and Mental Health Advocacy in a Workplace L2
Kenelm Youth Trust: http://www.kenelmyouthtrust.org.uk/lockdown-ministry.html
https://www.tiktok.com/@kenelm_kyt?lang=en
www.optus.com.au - Is a data sharing charity website for young Australians
https://www.bdes.org.uk/resources-for-prayer-and-learning.html
For more details on our next conversations and to register please visit: millionminutes.org/conversations