WORKS OF MERCY - NOURISH - FOR MINISTERS
“Come…There will be free food!”
This was the invitation that finally drew one young man to come to his parish young adult ministry for the first time. He was not a regular Church goer. In fact, he had been living a lifestyle very opposite of the Christian faith he had been raised with. He was still getting used to the freedom of living on his own, and the idea of not having to cook or buy dinner was appealing. But even more…he was hungry for community. And on an even deeper level, he was hungry for God.
His desire to be fed physically and emotionally led the way for him to be fed spiritually. The parish young adult community gained his trust and then was able to give him the proper catechization he had been missing. He rediscovered the basics of his faith and understood better the longings of his heart. The ministry’s hospitality and patient instruction eventually helped him to reach a point of true conversion, and he officially joined the Catholic Church through his parish’s OCIA program.
Meals are often used as an attraction tactic for ministry events. But the temptation is to view them as not part of the ministry event itself. Our challenge and invitation for ministry leaders is to stop viewing meals as a precursor to the true work of ministry, and instead see it as a form of ministry in and of itself. If ministries can start being more intentional about the way they practice hospitality toward young adults by feeding them, they will be sure to see growth in many other ways.
What are the specific benefits of serving food at young adult events?
Breaking the ice. Eating provides a communal activity that can help new and nervous young adults feel at ease and more likely to interact at a ministry event.
Practicality. Providing food at a ministry event encourages attendance by eliminating the challenge of attendees trying to plan a meal when coming to an event directly after work, school, or other commitments.
Hospitality. Providing food is a radical sign of care and generosity that communicates to all cultures and reflects the love of God.
Community building. Sharing a meal helps to facilitate conversations and opportunities for building authentic friendship. It also helps ministry leaders engage and grow familiar with the young adults whom they serve.
“Feed them and they will come,” as cliché as it sounds, does hold some wisdom for today’s parishes and young adult ministries. But to feed them with Christ-like love is what will get them to stay. In this way young adult ministries can truly fulfill the work of mercy that is “Feeding the Hungry.”
The hunger of young adults goes beyond physical, of course. The world is full of many young and hungry hearts who do not realize what they are really missing. Ministries can avoid another mistake by not assuming that all of their young adult attendees have been properly catechized. There is a great chance that many of the young adults at their events are not even Catholic, and if they are that doesn’t necessarily mean they understand and believe all that the Catholic Church teaches. Many solid Catholics have testified that they went all the way through their childhood catechism or Catholic school classes and still didn’t feel like they learned their faith until they were older. Young adulthood can be a great time of spiritual discovery (or rediscovery) that can be aided by parishes and young adult groups.
How can parishes help to “instruct the ignorant“ in their young adult communities?
By striving for a balance between social, prayer, and formation events. If a ministry only hosts social activities without ever pausing to offer opportunities to learn about the faith, then they risk becoming nothing more than a social club. These types of groups are missing some of the real questions and struggles that are being carried by the young hearts in their circle. A group that is all fun and no formation has no roots and can easily wither away.
By offering a variety of formation topics, from the most basic to the more challenging. An attentive young adult ministry should avoid being too intellectual but also not be afraid to go deeper with those members who are ready.
By not watering down the truth, but also learning how to deliver the truth with love.
By investing in the formation of its leaders so that they can “be ready to give a reason for their hope” (1 Peter 3:15).
By not trying to judge the culpability of every sin they see in their young adult community. Many young adults fall into dangerous beliefs and habits simply because they had no one to truly teach them otherwise. Many convert from their ways with the help of proper and patient instruction.
Romans 10:13-14 tells us:
“For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ But how can they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach?”
Parishes and young adult ministries are called to preach and teach the good news to the young people in their midst. In this way they are fulfilling the great commission given by Jesus and helping to form other witnesses to share His Word with future generations. What a beautiful mission!