National Youth Sunday > NYS 2010 > Activities
Activities
Here are some suggested activities for National Youth Sunday:
1. Give young people an opportunity to put forward, even anonymously, questions about faith or morals with an assurance there will be an attempt to respond. Replies could come from a panel made up of knowledgeable individuals from the parish/deanery/pastoral area. Do this in a social setting, providing refreshments and ensuring there are a number of people on hand to provide a warm welcome to anyone who attends.
2. If the Parish Priest usually stands at the door of the church to say goodbye to the congregation as they leave he might instead be at the church door before Mass, welcoming people as they arrive.
3. Young people may be asked, if willing, to welcome the older generation, hand out hymn books, lead the Liturgy of the Word, take up the collection, make the announcements, etc.
4. Before Mass begins ask young people to write their name on a piece of card and bring it to an older person they do not know. As they introduce themselves the older person will agree to pray for the young person whose name is on the card for at least a week. This could also take place at the Sign of Peace.
5. If a parish is not in the habit of having refreshments after Mass this might be a good time to start. It is an opportunity for parishioners, young and old, to meet with and talk.
6. Parish Priest to make a point of saying farewell to those who cannot stay after Mass if refreshments are being provided.
7. Create a specific prayer space in church, where prayer intentions could be placed, asking the wider community to pray for them, or intentions could be left with the express desire that the young take them away to pray.
8. A workshop on issues of faith may be possible, led by young people or done for them.
Dialogue
Click for an example of a dialogue between a young person and a college/school lay chaplain.