1. The Importance of Character and How to Form it in Young People Daniel S. Mulhall NCCYM December 2014

3. Quick Survey 1. Youth Ministry programs should focus solely on the spiritual formation of young people. 2. YM programs are responsible for the spiritual, emotional, moral development of young people.

4. Everything We Think We Know About Mass Shooters is Wrong http://www.esquire.com/features/ma ss-shooters-1014 by Tom Junod Esquire October 2014 Recent Articles of Interest

5. Why Kids Sext By Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, Nov 2014 http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/a rchive/2014/11/why-kids-sext/380798/ Recent Articles of Interest

6. What Do We Learn from These Articles? Young people live in a world not of there making and out of their control Young people are capable of acting with or without guidance Adults can make a difference in the lives of young people.

7. The Catholic School, Congregation on Education, March 19, 1977 The Importance of Catholic Formation

8. Catholic formation “serve humanity until it reaches its fullness in Christ.” Evangelization = mission of the Catholic formation – “proclaim the good news of salvation to all, generate new creatures in Christ through Baptism, and train them to live knowingly as children of God.” Catholic formation is “privileged means of promoting the formation of the whole” person Centers to develop, consider and convey “a specific concept of the world, of man, and of history” Serving Humanity

9. the simultaneous development of man's psychological and moral consciousness “ “need to ensure the presence of a Christian mentality” Use Christian thought to develop a sound criterion of judgment of behavior, concepts, and values Form students of strong character, capable of living healthy, wholesome, and holy lives and making a positive contribution to society. Dialogue with culture Forming Christian Character

10. Through a living encounter with cultural inheritance, integral formation occurs – Art, Music, Rituals, Traditions – Values, Beliefs, Attitudes, Behaviors Consider absolute values in a life-context; insert them into a life-framework. Catholic formation – helps young people relate study to real-life situations; – stimulates the use of intelligence – Encourages them to Identify the meaning of experiences and their truths Human Formation

11. Christ is the foundation of the whole educational enterprise – Renews life; shapes thoughts, actions, and will Committed to the development of the whole person Cultivates human values Worldview: Redeemed by Christ – Shapes understanding of culture and formation of the individual – Focus on virtues and virtuous living Understanding in the light of the Gospel Catholic Formation

12. Knowledge valued No particular Catholic method or methodology Wrong to consider subjects as adjuncts to faith or apologetics. Education helps pupils assimilate – Skills – Knowledge – Intellectual methods – Moral and social attitudes Develop personality and active member of community Aim is acquisition of values and the discovery of truth Integration of Faith and Knowledge

13. Guide—Helps the young person to deepen faith; enrich knowledge through faith Form the mind, heart and personality of YP Help YP discover Truth, discover Christ Role of Youth Minister

14. Character Strengths and Virtues (CSV) (Peterson and Seligman, 2004) – Character is a set of abilities or strengths that can be taught, practiced, and learned CSV – Have intrinsic value They cannot be wasted like gifts or aptitudes – Not the opposite or a rival of a desirable trait (i.e., steadfast and flexible are opposites but both are valuable); – Habitual patterns of behavior that remain relatively stable over time) – Nurtured by society – Lead to happiness and well-being What Is Character

15. Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character By Paul Tough How Children Succeed

16. 1. Wisdom and Knowledge (strengths that involve the acquisition and use of knowledge) – Creativity – Curiosity – Love of Learning – Open-mindedness – Perspective/Wisdom coordination of "knowledge and experience" and "its deliberate use to improve wellbeing." Six Core CVS

17. (strengths that allow one to accomplish goals in the face of opposition) – Bravery – Persistence – Integrity – Vitality 2. Courage

18. (strengths of tending and befriending others) – Love – Kindness – Social Intelligence 3. Humanity

19. (strengths that build healthy community) – active citizenship / social responsibility / loyalty / teamwork – fairness – leadership 4. Justice

20. (strengths that protect against excess) – Forgiveness and Mercy – Humility and Modesty – Prudence – Self-regulation and self control 5. Temperance

21. (strengths that forge connections to the larger universe and provide meaning) – Appreciation of beauty – Appreciation of excellence – Gratitude – Hope – Humor and Playfulness – Spirituality or a sense of purpose and coherence 6. Transcendence

22. Moral Excellence A positive, morally good trait or quality that provides the foundation and principle for a good moral being. Promote collective and individual greatness. The opposite of virtue is vice Virtues are good habits (Aristotle) Virtue (Latin: virtus, Greek: ἀρετή "arete")LatinGreekarete

23. Theological Virtues – Faith – Hope – Love Cardinal (Hinge) Virtues – Prudence – Temperance – Justice – Fortitude Catholic Perspective on Virtues

24. Character is just as important as intellect for success Key Character Traits for Successful Living – Self-Control – Willpower (delayed gratification) – Motivation – Conscientiousness – Grit (a passionate commitment to a single mission and an unswerving dedication to achieve the mission; stick-to-it-ness, commitment to get the job done no matter what) Angela Duckworth

25. NO relation between people’s abilities or intelligence and the development of mastery- oriented qualities. Requires the right mind-set. – People become more able over time – They think about learning, not grades or how smart they are. – They focus on effort and strategies instead of worrying Growth Mindset essential Carol Dweck Mastery-Orientation

26. Grit Self-control Zest Social intelligence Gratitude Optimism Curiosity Essential Strengths

27. Preparing people for a lifetime – Skills and understanding to live happy, healthy, holy, and wholesome lives – Preparing the whole person Faith Formation and CSV

28. Focus on people‘s efforts, not abilities. Praise successful effort and strategies, not intelligence Give feedback about effort or strategies -- what the student did wrong and what he or she could do now Help YP value effort and understand that sustained effort over time is the key to outstanding achievement Teach YP to relish a challenge and appreciate the satisfaction in overcoming difficulties Help YP focus on and value learning, not outcomes outcomes are not a sign of intelligence, only current status of skill set or work on task Put children in charge of their own self-esteem What We Can Do Dweck

29. Incorporate CSV into all activities Provide opportunities to practice Provide opportunities to overcome obstacles – Try and fail; pick oneself up and try again – Learn from mistakes Establish rules, make sure everyone knows and understand the rules, make sure everyone follows the rules (prefrontal cortex) – Rewards and penalties What We Can Do

30. Think and talk about the importance of CSV Incorporate CSV into all aspects of the program Encourage group identity Encourage optimism Present CSV as developed over a lifetime Teach a new way to think – Take responsibilities for decisions and actions – Take steps to learn from success and failures (losing is something you do, not who or what you are) What We Can Do

31. Encourage – Cognitive flexibility –the ability to see alternative solutions to problems, think outside the box – Cognitive self-control—ability to inhibit instinctive response and use a more effective, less obvious one. (you thought you had a good idea but didn’t) Provide – Comfort in times of stress – Challenge for Excellence – Guidance and stability What We Can Do

32. Learn to think deeply and differently Develop internal motivation How to persevere when faced with difficulties How to deal with failure How to overcome obstacles Guided by faith in Christ and the Church Young People Need