The final reflection 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.
Holiness is found in God and therefore those who grow in holiness are growing closer to God. “The Church, a communion living in the faith of the apostles which she transmits, is the place where we know the Holy Spirit…” (CCC688) The Holy Spirit has been given to the Church, specifically in the Sacraments, where together we are sanctified through the gift of God’s love and mercy.
As we already noted, personal growth in holiness rests in self knowledge and self possession, but this is not the goal of holiness, rather it gives us the ability to then “…freely give (ourselves) and enter into communion with other persons.” (CCC 357). If we don’t know who we are, created in the image and likeness of God, then those who are in relationship with us will never meet the true, unrepeatable person God made us to be. AND, if we do not possess ourselves then the giving of ourselves has no meaning… “if you can’t say ‘no’ what does your ‘yes’ mean?” (Theology of the Body– Christopher West “The Gift”).
So the goal of growing closer to God is fulfilled by personally experiencing God in the communal celebration of the Sacraments, which compels us to love as God loves; to grow in holiness. By receiving the “fullness” of what the scriptures and apostles have given us in the Catholic Faith, we discover the “truth, the way and the life” (John 14:6). The Youth Apostolate is directed towards “living life to the full” (John 10:10) and is the means by which our youth will come to “know, love and serve God in this life and for eternity…”(CCC1721) With this Vision in mind we can now reflect on our Mission.
danmcgarvey
georgeketchel
