The Catholic bishops of the United States defined Catholic youth ministry in the 1997 document Renewing the Vision: A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry (RTV). This document provides a structure for the ministry as well as a language, theology, and pastoral approach for responding to the personal and spiritual needs of today's adolescents.

Renewing the Vision

Renewing the Vision: A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry, identifies three goals which provide direction for this ministry. Youth ministry, at its best, is characterized by the following five hallmarks:

• Discipleship
• Connection
• Giftedness and growth
• Comprehensiveness
• Entire church (parish) involvement

Goal 1 - Youth Ministry ... it’s about discipleship

The first goal of youth ministry is “to empower young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in our world today.” (RTV 9). Young people are “searching for a noble adventure”, a compelling and challenging vision of life, and a cause worth their commitment. They hunger to hear the Good News that finds response in discipleship. As their companions on this spiritual journey, some of the ways the Church fulfills this first goal of youth ministry is by:

• Proclaiming the Good News of Jesus through witness and word to young people.
• Enabling young people to live as disciples through their involvement in service, ministry, and leadership opportunities.
• Providing young people the faith skills for discipleship.

The second goal is “to draw young people to responsible participation in the life, mission, and work of the Catholic faith community.” (RTV 11). Young people have a hunger for connection, to be in relationship, and to belong. Family, peers, school, youth serving organizations, and church are primary connections for young people. Some of the ways the church fulfills this second goal of youth ministry is by:

• Being a ‘youth friendly’ community that welcomes young people, values their participation, and calls forth their gifts.
• Integrating young people into the liturgical, pastoral, and ministerial life of the parish community.
• Creating opportunities for young people to enter into healthy relationships of trust and respect with their peers and with adults.
• Promoting Catholic identity and religious literacy through programs of adolescent catechesis.

The third goal of youth ministry is “to foster the total personal and spiritual growth of each young person.” (RTV 15). Adolescence is an important time for mental, spiritual, social, and physical growth. Their experiences and relationships greatly influence their healthy and positive development. The Church strives to surround young people with the best possible external scaffolds—networks of caring relationships of family, school, peers, and other adults—while young people are developing their internal psychological and spiritual backbone—their values, life skills, commitments, and moral compass. The church fulfills this third goal of youth ministry by:

• Enabling young people to develop a personal relationship with Jesus.
• Actively supporting positive youth development and fostering healthy values and life skills.
• Supporting families of young people by providing resources, programs, and services.