Question of the Week:
How do Youth Group and Religion Classes Relate?
(adapted from Parish Bulletin Article)
No parish, school, or youth ministry program can take the place of the family home. Classes in theology taught in Catholic schools, after-school religious education classes, youth gatherings, service opportunities, and retreats—are all forms of instruction in the faith, and they only enrich what is lived and witnessed to in the home.
One cannot expect a parish or school to accomplish what should take place first and foremost in the home. One cannot think (or lead young people to think) that forty minutes or so of theology class a day somehow satisfies having acquired a complete knowledge of the faith. You can never have too many things that help enrich and mold the faith. Otherwise, why should priests preach? There are thousands of sermons and homilies from great saints that could just simply be read each Sunday. No, each time, place, and congregation is different, and while the message is the same, the way it is presented can be altered.
So, while the same faith taught in religion class is the same faith taught at a youth group meeting. The time, place, and group is different--and it is the difference that can change one's life for the better.
Let's not put a limit on what God seeks to accomplish.