Parish
St. Stanislaus Kostka
Chicago, IL
Archdiocese of Chicago
United States
More Info
For more information, email Mary Hague.
Categories: Faith Formation, Family, Outreach, Sacraments, Youth
A summer Youth for the Third Millennium (YTM) mission "jump started" a parish's Holy Week mission, resulting in eight new families joining the parish and five new students enrolling in the parish school.
"The YTM missionaries have a passion that is so amazing, and it draws people. They are not ashamed of their faith, even though they are going against the things of the world. It was exciting to see the youth's strength of character." Cristina Carrazco – St. Stanislaus Kostka Church secretary
The need it meets
St. Stanislaus Kostka is a multi-ethnic church with a parish school. Most of the parishioners do not live in the immediate area. Only about 10% of the approximately 220 students were going to St. Stanislaus Church. Recently, younger single professionals have moved into the predominantly Hispanic community. Father Anthony Buś desired to get children and younger families more involved in the church.
Where it came from
Mary Hague approached Father Anthony Buś with the idea of St. Stanislaus Kostka hosting a Holy Week mission using materials from Youth for the Third Millennium (YTM), an outreach of the Regnum Christi Movement that assists bishops and pastors in evangelization.
How it works
YTM provided trained lay missionaries as coaches for the parish mission. Parishioners of all ages were invited to participate in the mission. Participants received practical mission training including how to reach out to people and lessons in apologetics tailored to the mission's theme.
The participants went door-to-door several times from Wednesday to Saturday of Holy Week. People were drawn to know more about the people with the “matching t-shirts", leading to even more opportunities for evangelization. The participants explained that they were Catholic missionaries and invited people to attend Holy Week activities at the parish. Extra opportunities for Mass and the Sacrament of Reconciliation were offered during the week.
The results
- The number of confessions greatly increased, especially during the mission.
- An approximate 20% increase in Mass attendance after the Holy Week missions. This increase in parishioners remained.
- Five new students were enrolled in the parish school, and there was a 10% increase in parental involvement among parents of current students.
- A family baptized their child.
- Parents shared that their children evangelized them by their increase in enthusiasm toward the Church.
- Approximately 20 parents are now full-time volunteers with the missions specifically. They help to supervise activities and help with meals. Ten of those parents are also now actively involved in helping with the school.
- Eight new families joined the parish.
- The parish staff said they received a deeper sense of hope by witnessing the missionaries' enthusiasm.
- More activities for personal growth sprung up within the entire church body.
Key elements
- Prayer
- Pastor support and parish participation
- An enthusiastic liaison, aware of the needs of the parish, that works well with the pastor and who will work closely with the YTM staff
- An active youth group is highly effective though not necessary for a successful mission
- Additional availability of the sacraments
- Eucharistic adoration
How to implement it
- Contact the national YTM office and talk to Katie Stephens about the different types of parish mission programs
- Select the program that is suitable to the parish situation and invite participants from the parish
- Identify a liaison between the pastor and the YTM staff
- Promote the mission well ahead of time to create enthusiasm and increase participation.
Youth for the Third Millennium 2450 Atlanta Highway, Suite 1703 Cumming, GA 30040 Tel (770)889-1566 Fax (770)889-1313 Email: info@ytm.org
Submitted by Mary Hague on February 14, 2007.
Fr. Anthony Buś is pastor of St. Stanislaus Kostka.