It is a common phenomenon among many religions: youth reaching
their teen years and drifting away from worship. It may be even
more frequent in churches which practice the sacrament of
”
confirmation,
”
a milestone which teens often consider a form of
”
graduation
”
and then feel no need to continue practicing their religion on a
regular basis.
It is a common phenomenon among many religions: youth reaching their teen years and drifting away from worship. It may be even more frequent in churches which practice the sacrament of “confirmation,” a milestone which teens often consider a form of “graduation” and then feel no need to continue practicing their religion on a regular basis.
Morgan Hill’s St. Catherine Roman Catholic Church, 17400 Peak Ave., has found an antidote to this spiritual malaise. Since May the parish has been holding a “Youth-Oriented Liturgy” at 5:30 p.m. Sundays that has significantly increased the younger members of the congregation’s participation in the life of the church.
Reacting to a study by the Diocese of San Jose which recommended parishes make a greater effort to address the needs of younger Catholics, St. Catherine has established a worship service that involves parish youth in nearly all aspects of the Mass: planning, ushering, reading the scripture lessons, providing vocal and instrumental music, performing in dramatic skits and liturgical dances. A typical evening has a worship team of perhaps 50 youth and an assembly in the pews which has grown to around 400.
This weekly liturgy is popular not only with teenagers, but with families who have younger children as well as older parishioners with no children. Even non-Catholics have been known to attend because of the lively music and enthusiasm generated by the young worship leaders.
Carol Lillig, one of the adult facilitators, is impressed with the hard work the teens devote to this project. They meet to choose contemporary music, write dramatic skits to illustrate the Gospel message of the day, choreograph dance for the procession and arrive two hours early on Sunday afternoons for preparation and rehearsal.
While following the standard format for a Eucharistic celebration, each service has added features which, according to 17-year-old choir-member Cristina Sanidad, make for “a whole new experience.” A recent Mass included contemporary hymns accompanied by drums and electric guitars/keyboard, white-clad dancers carrying candles, ribbons and incense in procession to the altar – a “dramatic reflection on the Word of God” referred to such timely events as the deaths of Matthew Sheppard, Eddie (Gwen) Aruyo, the Bali terrorist explosion and possible war with Iraq.
The enthusiasm of the people of St. Catherine reflects the success of Youth-Oriented Liturgy. Parent volunteer Maureen Drewniany praised it as an “uplifting experience which sparks a fire in these teens at a critical time in their lives.” Dancer-singer Jessica Rioux,16, said it is “a time to get your mind off of problems.” Assembly leader Nathaniel Kent, 16, said “The upbeat songs make me want to come to Mass more.” And Katy Lillig, 15, enjoys the service because “it’s not as old-fashioned and has things we can apply to our lives.”
For more information about Youth-Oriented Liturgy call 779-3959.
