1. CONNECTING TEENS TO GOD THROUGH PRAYER: Inside and Outside of our Four Walls “Prayer is the habit of being in the presence of the thrice-holy God and in communion with him.” CCC #2565

2. “ PRAYER IS THE HABIT OF BEING IN THE PRESENCE OF THE THRICE-HOLY GOD AND IN COMMUNION WITH HIM.” CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH #2565 “The definitive aim of catechesis is to put people not only in touch but in communion, in intimacy, with Jesus Christ: only he can lead us to the love of the Father in the Spirit and make us share in the life of the Holy Trinity.” National Directory for Catechesis, p. 55. “The Church’s ministry with adolescents seeks to guide young people in the call to holiness by developing a personal relationship with Jesus Christ by meeting him in the Scriptures, in the life and teachings of the Catholic Church, and in their own prayer lives.” Renewing the Vision, p. 16

3. Our goal is to connect people to Christ, our Savior, so that they can grow in relationship with Him. As YM leaders, we help youth find a way to pray, a time to pray, a place to pray, and a community with whom to pray.

4. Help youth to find a way to pray, a time to pray, a place to pray, and a community with whom to pray.  Resources to help them find a way to pray.  As we gather with youth, we need to explore with them how to create a habit of finding a time and a place to pray on their own.  Mentors or small group leaders can follow up with teens on a more individual level.  YM models that habit by always praying when we gather as a community, and making that prayer time meaningful so that they connect with their God.

5. Connecting teens to the liturgy is vital. We prepare them within our programs and activities.

6. Youth can participate in the liturgy fully, actively, and consciously when… -they bring their personal prayer life to our shared prayer. -they feel welcomed and at home in the worshipping community. -they are comfortable singing our prayer -they know how to join in our shared prayers. -they express their prayer in their posture and gestures -they know how to hear the Word of God and live it in their lives -they are comfortable praying with silence -they are familiar with symbols and rituals -they know, love, and are challenged to live the Eucharist -they understand the call to continue the liturgy beyond the dismissal through lives of service and faithfulness Tom East, Total Youth Ministry: Resources for Prayer and Worship (Winona, MN: St. Mary’s Press, 1997, #58)

7.  Be careful! No one should ever know your personal prayer style based on the prayers in your gatherings!  Think of prayer as a “banquet” and provide many different ways for youth to pray. We need to introduce those with whom we minister to a variety of prayer styles so that they can find their own!  Enrich prayer by using written prayers, songs, symbols, language, art, and prayer forms from many different cultures, especially if your group is diverse culturally!

8.  Create a prayerful environment- move to a dedicated space if possible; have a prayer table, quiet music, a candle, etc.; use silence, breathing, etc. to center; make sure the youth are a community gathered  Use a bible, not a prayer sheet, for reading Scriptures! (my pet peeve!)

9. Vary between private prayer and communal prayer. Both are important! *Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is private; Liturgical prayer is communal

10. RESOURCE TIME!

11. A Call to Worship Come together, joining hands and hearts. Let our hands be links of a chain which hold our lives together— not a chain of bondage but a silver cord of strength, a ribbon of love and faith and community, giving us slack to sail the wind, yet holding us in a mystical embrace, that we may be alone, but never lonely, that we may be together, but never lost in the crowd, that we may be one without forfeiting uniqueness. Come together, joining hands and hearts, and let the spirit of God and the human spirit flow in each one and through us all as we gather here to share this time and space and as we walk together on the journey. - John. W. Howell