The Youth Ministry at St. Francis is an integral part of our faith formation ministries, fostering faith, friendship, and service. Tim Hetzel, Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, and Jess Montrella, Middle School Evangelization and Formation coordinator, spoke about the resurgence of youth ministry following the pandemic.
“For at least a year,” says Tim, “we had kind of a virtual youth ministry, or were trying to do virtual youth ministry when we’re on Zoom in our small groups. That worked as well as it could, and then when we got back, it was similar to how schools did it, which was sort of like ‘being in your cohort’ kind of thing. You didn’t really see the whole group.”
After all that, the ministry experienced staff turnover, which disrupted things. Tim says, “What we’ve been able to do is get back to a pretty solid foundation where we gather all of the youth together. High school meets in Fellowship Hall; Middle school meets in the community center; same night, same time, right after the 530 p.m. Sunday mass. So you can go to mass and then come to youth ministry.
Additionally, Jim Wahl is putting together a teen singers ministry for that Mass. We’re intentionally making that Sunday evening Mass more youth-oriented.“
“We’re getting back to a formula that has been successful in the past: you meet, you eat, you play games, then you talk a little bit about your faith,” adds Tim. “You have a presentation of some sort. The presentation is often me right now, but we’ve added a couple of youth to give witness talks and provide leadership that way; the youth should hear their peers speak to them. It’s a way for everyone to engage a little more. They’ll have small groups during the youth night as well, which usually involves an activity or discussion after the presentation, and we’ll close in prayer. The energy is just different from what it was in the last couple of years during COVID and after COVID, when things were a little unsettled; there’s a lot more fun.
Enrollment is up to pre-COVID levels, which is good. “We have about 40% post-confirmation, just under 40%, so 10th grade and up registered,” says Tim, “which I think is a good benchmark because you want everyone, or as many people as possible, to feel welcome in youth ministry, regardless of their sacramental journey.” If you are being confirmed, the youth ministry asks that you come because part of being confirmed is joining a community. It’s a sacrament of initiation, but confirmation prep is a separate program. Youth ministry is not confirmation prep, it’s youth ministry. “However,” Tim reinforces, “if you are already confirmed, you’re still welcome at the youth ministry. There’s still something for you there.”
Jess Montrella, in her role focused on Middle School, is enthusiastic about what youth ministry provides. “We’re excited about trying to engage the TFS kids more and trying to communicate what we’re doing more effectively to those kids, but also kids in general who are thinking that it’s more along the lines of going to a classroom and learning a curriculum.” She continues, saying, “What Tim has brought to this has really made it successful and different. I think there are still a lot of people my age, parents, who will think immediately like, ‘oh, I think I know what this is, we had CCD, but it’s really very different.” She says that is what she thought before she kind of got involved in it.
“We are just trying to change that narrative with the parents, and Father Chris has been emphasizing that at Mass, she says, adding, “He talks about it almost every mass that I’ve been to about what it is and that formation is lifelong. We want to kind of help instill that in our kids; we want them to understand that it’s not ‘take a class and you’re done.’” “I think it’s about what Tim was talking about with the high school kids getting together on a Sunday night, having a meal, and doing fun things. It’s more than just learning about your faith; it’s sharing your faith and enjoying each other’s company, forming a community within the community,” she says. “Which is what happens!” adds Tim enthusiastically.
For my kids,” says Jess, “one of the things they say they enjoy the most in their evaluations is interaction with the older kids. Sometimes, the Youth Advisory Council members would come down and run a game, and they love it when they see that the older kids are present. They don’t need to be here; they’ve already been confirmed, right? But they are there because their relationships matter to them. It’s all based on their values and their Catholic faith. My Middle School kids get to see how they model that, and they love it when they do the witness talks, too. Those are the most powerful moments for them when the older students come down and do witness for the middle school kids.
“That idea of witness, the only place I’ve encountered it is faith formation,” says Jess, “and I think it’s powerful. It’s a powerful tool for kids when they hear someone else’s transformation and start to feel inspired by it.” “One thing I’ve noticed is that the group of kids we have right now wants to learn more,” recounts Jess. “They say, ‘I want a relationship with Jesus Christ. I want to read out of the Bible.’ That’s what they’re saying in their evaluations, and it just seems to be a little different from what it was in the past. I think we’re kind of in this space where they’re so open to all of us, and we just want to reach as many people as we can to get them to come and share that experience of youth ministry.”
“We probably need to do a better job at getting the word out,” says Jess. “Like reminding them that they can bring a friend, and they just need to complete a form with their emergency contact.” Tim adds, “The more we continue to do what we do and get the kids excited, with things like Mercy Camp and Mission Mercy, we will bring in youth who haven’t been to youth ministry, and they will see it’s a similar kind of experience to that, and not the ‘classroom setting’ they may not want.” Jess shared, “We had a TFS student who really loved Mercy Camp, and I wrote his mom and said, ‘Hey, I know your son loved this camp, but do you think he’d want to do Formation?’ She said, ‘Well, I don’t think we’re going to do it because of the time.’ I mentioned he can just stop in and come as a friend when he wants to. I imagine he’ll come back, having seen how much he enjoyed Mercy Camp, and it’s just such a similar feeling.”
Interested in knowing more? There is, of course, always room for K-12th-grade students, but there are also roles for adult leaders. “Everyone is called,” says Tim, “and faith formation is a lifelong process. Everyone is called to continue their own journey. We are just trying to provide a space for the youth to do that.” Cross Walk (k-5th), Cross Train (6th-8th), and Cross Road (9th-12th) are always looking to serve the youth of our parish and community. Tim (tim.hetzel@stfrancisraleigh.org) and Jess (jessica.montrella@stfrancisraleigh.org) are available for questions, and registration can also be done on the parish website under ministries.
