As you have entered into my writings in whatever way the Spirit has led you, I hope that you in some way have obtained your own vision of youth ministry and where it should be regarding our wonderful young people. I pray that these columns have opened up a sense of wonder and a desire to help foster the spiritual and personal growth in every young person. My prayer, too, is that you will choose to continue walking this journey with me and with our young people.

With this said, I am often curious as to what your vision of youth ministry may be. In the next several weeks I hope to tap into this, and in turn share with you the vision that came together on August 21-22 at the Heartland Center in Great Bend with myself and 11 other youth and adults.

To begin this process I would like to ask you two questions. These are the same two questions we began with in Great Bend. They truly were the spring-board that moved us forward as we searched for a vision and focus for the future.

The first question: What are the core values of Catholic youth ministry – values that stand the test of time? And the second: What is the core purpose of our youth ministry – the soul of youth ministry? How would you respond to these questions? How would others in your parish respond?

As I continue reflecting on this, I am drawn back to values that stand the test of time and the soul of youth ministry. Early in life each of us formed a set of values. Our parents and grandparents were instrumental in this. Many of these values have stood the test of time. They have become the soul of who we are as a person.

To better explain this, I would like to share with you something that I remembered while in Great Bend. It was one of those profound statements shared with me while serving on the pastoral council in Pratt in the early ’90s. One of my co-council members shared this story during a meeting. She said that her husband, as their boys were growing up, took them aside and said to each of them, "I have given you your name and your faith. Don’t ever lose either of them." What a powerful statement!

Isn’t this what we long for, for each of our youth? Their parents certainly long for it. So, as I continue writing these columns, sometimes struggling with what to write next, my goal and vision remain the same -- that every person in each of our 49 parishes will take a more active role in the lives or our youth and in youth ministry. This is our vision, our goal for the future. Won’t you join in this vision? Won’t you help share our faith with these kids? Together we can help give them something that will stand the test of time.