Alone Together #3: Our ministry to young people at this time

The session discussed and reflected on Abbot Christopher Jamison's input from the previous conversation, in addition to hearing about ways our participants are connecting with young people online, as well as considering our own well-being and those with whom we work. In the hour long conversation we discussed some of the following:

  • A Parish Priest reflected on how Abbot Christopher’s input encouraged him, instead of being downcast about the fact that young people aren’t going to church. Rather than conforming to the usual frustration that can come from not seeing our young people in church, this time is an opportunity to really accompany young people, express interest in them, check in with them and make sure they are okay. The reason they haven’t being going to Mass could be because they haven’t had a good experience - now we can offer that: talking at them, sitting alongside them (virtually) and taking time with them.

  • One of our guests, Fr Dominic Howarth also reflected on two extremes of human nature - love and anger. As someone who lives and works with young people, he acknowledged the fact that many are experiencing extreme highs and lows. So it’s important to check in with them and see how they are doing. He also reflected on Abbot Christopher’s invitation to be “frontier people” and Christus Vivit’s focus on young people’s audaciousness and creativity. We can use this time to provide young people with that space and look at the ways in which young people are leading us during the time.

  • When hearing from participants about the ways in which they are connecting with their young people, participants shared their challenges and successes. We also heard from an 18 year old who is hosting online zoom meetings with 20+ young people twice a week. The 40 minute includes listening to the Gospel of the day and sharing their experiences during this abnormal time.

  • Fr Dominic also reflected on the fact that we are not being proactive in seeking out stories from our young people. We should use this time as an opportunity to hear from them and experience firsthand what life is like for them and how they are ‘stepping up’ and living their faith.

IDEAS SHARED:

Note: we collate all the resources shared on our resource page.

Suggestions for connecting with young people at this abnormal time include:
For Masses - Instagram live
To post homilies, etc - FB, Insta and Twitter - to engage young people directly, and their families.
Set an atmosphere: brief people before they come online with you, make sure they have objects to hand e.g: candles, crucifix - help them set up their own space so they enter into it with the right mind, the use of music too can also help in this
Using lego and play do to get kids creative when thinking about bible stories (especially if they are in the younger years)
Record the accounts of your young people, ask them “What is happening in your life now?” “Where is God to be found in this?”
Speak their language, connect with young people’s parents - for most young people the only time they experience Church is in school settings
Send out a thought of the day - it can be linked to a bible story, theme, inspirational person
Meet them where they are at - What online tools are they already using that they connect with? E.g Insightful YouTube videos. Use those tools to engage with them
Use sport, art, fundraising, baking etc as a tool to connect

Security of online spaces:
Zoom is a ‘go to’ channel to use for hosting sessions with young people. People shared that they have found Skype problematic in terms of getting people to join easily. There are reported security issues with Zoom - but many tips have been shared about how to keep meetings secure:
If you have everyone expected on the call lock the meeting to ensure no one gate crashes
If you are hosting anything for under 18s make sure parents are aware of the call and ensure there is another adult Catechist/Priest in on the call, too
If you decide to go out into breakout rooms, especially with young people, ensure there is an adult present in on the rooms (maybe a young adult). If the adult has permission to record - they can keep a recording of the session for safeguarding purposes.
You can also record the main zoom meeting room for safeguarding needs
In zoom the host needs to  be aware of the remove person facility, zoom are updating their server to report a problems of people ‘crashing’ meetings.

For more details on our next conversations and to register please visit: millionminutes.org/conversations