Mission Is Possible

Categories: Faith Formation, Family, Outreach, Sacraments, Youth

The need it meets

Where it came from

How it works

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 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.