Continuing to delve deeper into the “Vision” for youth here at SHM:
OUR VISION
Catechize Catholic youth in order to help them mature in their Catholic Faith, thereby nurturing in them the desire to grow in personal and communal holiness.
Last week we understood “catechize” to mean handing on the faith that we have received from the apostles. Which leads us to our identity as Catholics. The term Catholic means universal, and the Catechism defines this universality in two steps:
1.) Christ is present universally in the Church which imparts the “fullness of the means of salvation”: correct and complete confession of faith, full sacramental life, and ordained ministry in apostolic succession. (CCC 830)
2.) The Church is sent by Christ to the entire(universal) human race. (CCC831)
So rather than an individualistic faith, that does not imply or require others to be involved, we are passing on a faith that is universal and demands that if we believe in the “Good News of the Gospel” that we share it with those whom God has given us in relationship. We gain confidence in this universal call because Jesus, who is present, is eternally present to all who come to encounter Him through the Church, “the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.”(Heb 13:8)
So we are not simply introducing the youth to a bunch of facts, dates, rules, etc. that people often misinterpret as the “deposit of faith” but we are introducing them to the “living Christ” who wants to meet them, and share His love so that “…they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).
danmcgarvey
georgeketchel
