Parish Youth Association is a broad term that encompasses a variety of ministerial programming and outreach activities that are targeted at youths. The specific goals and activities may vary from one parish to another. However, Parish Youth Association tends to share the same general goals: to encourage youths to know God’s Word, develop a relationship with Jesus Christ and become active in the Parish community.
Investing in today’s youth is necessary in growing the Mystical body of Christ. Teaching young people in the church to grow in their relationship with the Lord can prepare them to serve Christ in all they do. As a result, this nurtures the Parish Community and allows the Parish to flourish.
Serving young people can not only prepare them to become future leaders, but also allows them to contribute to the church because Youth are the future of the Church. When we see in the scriptures, God often utilized young people to do great things. For example, God used Timothy to pastor and lead the Ephesian church when he was a teenager.
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12)
