Celebrating World Youth Day in the United States

Involve the Youth

World Youth Day affords parishes and schools the perfect opportunity to highlight the gifts and the ministerial abilities of the young people, especially at Mass. Talk with your pastor or principal to determine which of the following roles young people might participate in during this (and other) liturgies. Be sure that all youth are properly prepared and trained to perform any role selected. Additionally, these roles should not be a one-time event.

The young people who are recruited and trained to perform these roles also should be invited (if they are not already doing so) to serve on a regular basis at the parish or school by being placed on the regular Mass schedule throughout the year. Mentoring new youth into liturgical ministires by pairing them up with an experienced minister is another helpful way to involve the whole parish in its ministry to and with young people.

  • Art and Environment—have young people assist with decorating the church or school for the special celebration
  • Choir—having a young person or group of people perform is a special way of highlighting their gifts in this area
  • Eucharistic Ministers and Lectors
  • Faith Witness—some parishes invite a young person or a couple of youth to offer a witness of faith after the homily or after communion
  • Gift Bearers—have youth bring the gifts of bread and wine to the altar
  • Liturgical Drama—a group fo young people act out one of the readings or perform a b rief skit connecting to the readings during the homily
  • Ministers of Hospitality/Ushers—to meet, greet, and help seat people coming to Mass, help take up collections during the offertory, and assist in the flow of communion lines
  • Musicians—many young people play a variety of instruments in their school bands and orchestras
  • Prayers—ask the pastor what prayers and general intercessions youth could help write to be read during Mass

Highlight Youth Leadership

World Youth Day also is an excellent opportunity to highlight the young people who have given their time and talent throughout the year to contribute to the mission and life of the parish or school community. This acknowledgement of youth leadership offers the larger community a chance to grasp the active and involved nature of our young people as well as their calling to be partners with adults in sharing in the mission of the church. Consider some of the following ways to highlight these leaders.

  • At the beginning of Mass or after the homily, invite the various heads of each committee or ministry group to call forward the young people who have helped that ministry in the previous year.
  • Invite the youth to decorate a bulletin board with pictures or make a photo collage or PowerPoint slide show of young people doing various forms of ministry and service in the parish
  • Print in the bulletin a list of youth involved in leadership
  • Use this time to have a dinner reunion and prayer service of past and present yoth leadership that have served throughout the years at the parish
  • Use the Blessing of Leadership (found in the Liturgical Planning Guide) to call forward and bless those involved in parish or campus ministry

Involve Youth in Service

World Youth Day usually falls on or near Make a Difference Day—a nationwide movement, sponsored by USA Today, to have people involved in service to their community. Take advantage of these two national events and plan a parish or school outreach event. Contact your local media and let them know of your plans in case they would like to highlight your group as part of the Make a Difference activities.