Engaging a New Generation: A Vision for Reaching Catholic Teens

by Frank Mercadante

Reaching teens has always been a challenge. Add in the swirl of rapidly transforming culture and technology and no wonder today's teens are MIA at most traditional youth ministry offerings.

It's the elephant in the sanctuary today's teens are more likely to look at confirmation as their exit from Catholicism, rather than their initiation into the Faith. Sadly, many never return.

But how do we reach this new breed of teens? The formulas that worked with teens a generation or two ago, are now met with polite indifference.

Today, young people prefer substance over sensation involvement over indulgence. They hunger for authentic relationships. They long for spiritual experiences that are firmly rooted in truth and dignity.

Engaging a New Generation critically examines our commonly held assumptions as well as our often-used models and methodologies initially developed to reach late Baby Boomer and Generation X teens. It then introduces you to the core characteristics of the Millennial Generation teens and the pastoral implications, where the operational and ministerial borders are expanding far beyond traditional youth ministry.

Genres: Religion

192 pages, Paperback

First published September 28, 2011

Reviews

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a very thought out book and is a great resource for youth groups of all denominations. It is also great for insights into how Millennial teenagers interact with society.

[Didier · Rating 4 out of 5]

For anyone working with Catholic youth programs. This book does a great job of showing how we need approach this new generation of Catholic students in our youth ministry.