St. Susanna Youth Ministry
Faith Youth Initiative
FYI Do-It-Yourself Family Guide
This is designed for a 7th grade student and his/her parent(s)
The meeting should be NO longer than 1 ½ hours
Our main goal is twofold:
o Empower parents to actively promote Catholic spirituality and religious practices in their teen-aged children so that these children grow into mature, practicing Catholic young adults.
o St. Susanna Youth Ministry plans to offer direct, individual support to these families through their child’s first year after high school. (Each year, St. Susanna Youth Ministry will assist the families in re-assessing their progress and goals.)
Format
o Scripture and Catholic Prayer
§ Psalms 78:1-8
Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our ancestors have told us. We will not hide them from their children; we will tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. He established a decree in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach to their children; that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and rise up and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; and that they should not be like their ancestors, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.
§ Family Prayer
Just as you exist in the Trinity, Loving God, so too we are called to live in an intimate community of persons. Help us to recognize the sacredness of this family and of each person in it. Bless us in our efforts to carry out Christ’s mission by putting our faith into action. Send your Spirit upon our time together, using our ordinary experiences to reveal the sacred. We ask this in the name of Jesus, Amen.
Read “FYI - Faith Youth Initiative for Families 09”
There are 2 assessments - The assessments are similar but not the same.
o “FYI parent assessment 09”
o “FYI teen assessment 09”
Fill out the assessments individually and as honestly as you can. There are no right or wrong answers.
You will compare the responses and note interesting trends.
Review the Discussion Tool for more information about the categories of mature Catholic Faith.
o “FYI Assessment Discussion Tool 09”
As a family, you will pick 4-6 items which interest you most and upon which you feel that you could focus some energy this year.
Discuss these.
Write them down on the adult sheet.
As a family, develop an accountability plan and pass on any specific pastoral support indicated from the family to the youth ministers. (Accountability is minimally once a year, but perhaps once a month or a quarter. This can be via a meeting, a phone call or even email.)
o “FYI Accountability Plan 09”
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, you have given us the model of life in the Holy Family of Nazareth. Help us, O Loving Father, to make our family another Nazareth where love, peace and joy reign. May it be deeply contemplative, intensely Eucharistic, revived with joy. Help us to stay together in joy and sorrow in family prayer. Teach us to see Jesus in the members of our families, especially in their distressing disguise. May the Eucharistic heart of Jesus make our hearts humble like his and help us to carry out our family duties in a holy way.
May we love one another as God loves each one of us, more and more each day, and forgive each other's faults as you forgive our sins. Help us, O Loving Father, to take whatever you give and give whatever you take with a big smile.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, cause of our joy, pray for us.
St. Joseph, pray for us.
Holy Guardian Angels, be always with us, guide and protect us.
Amen.