For decades the Church has seen its ministry and outreach to young people be primarily a ministry among high school age students. But recently in our diocese and nationwide there has been a movement to begin youth ministry with middle school age young people. There are many reasons for this development, not the least of which is the overlap of two significant life phases. Pre-adolescents are still hanging on to the openness and responsive characteristics of childhood, yet beginning to explore the forward-looking attitudes of the teenage years.

Another reason why there is a need for middle school ministry is the pre-adolescents’ openness to evangelization. What pre-adolescent doesn’t ask the "why" question on a regular basis? It is a time in their life when they begin to reexamine their childhood belief systems. The Church should help pre-adolescents explore and answer their questions about God and His Church. The National Directory for Catechesis reminds us that the challenge for catechists is to, "integrate faith and life in religious belief and moral choices, and for catechists to see all of life as a lived response to God’s call. Catechists need to present the Christian life as a response to Christ’s invitation to follow Him – in one’s personal life and family, the parish, and the wider human community." (NDC p.17)

A third and final reason there is a need for middle school ministry at the parish level is the aspect of leadership development. The General Directory for Catechesis states in Article 183, "… young people cannot be considered only objects of catechesis, but also active subjects and protagonists of evangelization and social renewal."

The Diocese of Pittsburgh in 2005 published the document, Burning Hearts: Ideas and a Process for Middle School Ministry in the Parishes of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. This document is an effort to assist parishes in developing ways to offer all that the Church can give to young people in the middle school years. These efforts embrace the vision of Total Catholic Education and challenge the entire parish community to participate in the effort.

Outreach to youth and young adults throughout the Diocese of Pittsburgh, in our parishes and schools is one of the synodal priorities. The process and ideas laid out in the document is one of the ways that we hope to reach out in support of our young people in their middle school years.

One of the hopes that the document is likely to achieve is a coming together of all the middle school youth of the parish on a regular basis. The goal of the document is to help all of the youth of the parish see each other as followers of the Lord, no matter where they receive their religious education. Hopefully young people will see the parish as the place where they meet as a community of believers and nourish their spiritual life, and that they come together as the middle school youth of the parish for spiritual, social, and service activities.

The document is divided into five sections and three appendices.

The document can be purchased for $10 by calling the Department for Youth and Young Adult Ministry at 412-456-3140.

The plan for implementing middle school ministry is based on the story of the two disciples walking along the road with the Risen Lord, but not recognizing Him until the breaking of the bread. There are five steps to the Implementation Process

Step 1: Walk – A parish staff member or volunteer puts together a Core Team of adults, parish staff, parents and middle school youth, that builds community and gets to know one another.

Step 2: Question - The Core Team looks inside and outside the parish for resources, speakers, volunteers, and programs. County, city, school, and other agencies are also looked at to help in ministering among middle school youth.

Step 3: Break Open - The Core Team looks at scripture, catechetical texts, and youth ministry resources and puts together a strategic plan.

Step 4: Share Bread – The Core Team calendars the first year, deciding how often the group will meet, what activities the group will engage in, and who is responsible for what at each event.

Step 5: Return - The last step takes place after the year is complete. It is an evaluation of all that took place.

Training Dates:

To schedule training dates at your parish please call 412-456-3140.