Where I'm from, the Church believes that youth have given up on faith. The number of youth groups has dwindled, with very little activity from most of those that remain. It feels to me that the attitude is one of "Why bother? They won't come."
But we do and she went on to say that when she was visiting the love of her life, she saw such a vibrant portrayal of the youth's involvement in his diocese. Unfortunately, this is an often heard refrain today in dioceses across the United States, "Why should we waste money on the youth, on youth ministries? They're just going to abandon the faith anyhow."
With an attitude like that, it sure makes it easier to go elsewhere. I am fortunate to belong to a parish where most of the people are very welcoming of anyone in their late teens and into their twenties. Only on a handful of occasions over the last two and a half years have I been made to feel unwelcome by fellow parishoners. Recently, I went to mass in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for a second time. Much like the first time I went, I was struck by how few people were there of my age range; both times I felt as if I was the youngest person in the room. Both times I went to Mass in this archdiocese, I was given glares, or outright hostility...at the first Mass, I was barred entry from the parish restroom for no apparent reason, by volunteers, and at the second Mass (and parish), people were angry with me for holding up the Communion line because I dared to bow before receiving the Lord of the Universe.
My friend's blog entry and these two trips to Mass in another archdiocese have made me realize that there is a very common theme to parishes where youth and young adults are not to be found, one which I touched upon once before. Love and truth, to an extent, are missing. Both church buildings were gorgeous in their architecture, both were filled with devout older people, and both abused the Hell out of the liturgy.
We, the young adults, want to be welcomed with kindness, not hostility. Many of us prefer a properly celebrated liturgy as well. "Why should we waste money on the youth, on youth ministries? They're just going to abandon the faith anyhow." It's hard for someone who may already be having issues to feel welcome, if all you do is glare, mutter angrily, or outright make every effort to drive them off! The Apostle Paul tells us that he can speak with the tongues of angels and do so many other things, but without love, he would be but the clashing of gong and cymbals; those places who wish to treat their youth like second class citizens, will find that they have conveyed the message of the gong and cymbals, not of love and truth. So too, do places who disrespect the liturgy (I lost count after ten blatant abuses at the last Mass I attended in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia), not reflect the Truth of the Church, but rather create an impression of people desperate to get attention from outsiders by losing their identity in the effort to be relevant.
However, just as my friend found in her boyfriend's diocese a vibrant youth culture in the church, so have I in my own part of Pennsylvania. The Charismatic Renewal is a part of it, with Nights of Worship and Festivals of Praise; non-Mass events where people of all ages gather to sing praises to their God and King!
Outside of that, I've also seen priests willing to come in and talk to independently organized Catholic youth groups; to speak on vocations, on different practices of our faith, and even to just play a game of "stump the priest" with questions and answer. Most of the priests I've watched do such things are also well respected by the youth there, because they know the priest and the Church actually cares about them as people and for their souls.
I've also been honored to attend things like Mass on the Grass, where once a semester the Bishop grants a dispensation for Mass to be held outdoors on a local university campus. It's an excellent witness, and the last one I went to, a few guys stopped their talking as they went by and paused to stare at us, before one asked, "Are you all having Mass?" After being told yes, they dropped their plans to go out and party and instead joined us for the Lamb's Supper. It was an amazing moment that I hope I never forget, because it reminded me of how the Truth and Love of Christ will always win out in the end.
We're here, really, and we're thirsty for Truth. All we ask is that we be treated with brotherly (or sisterly) love, as fellow members of the Body of Christ. After that, spread the Truth and you will find us running towards it and not fleeing.
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