Oh, I Get by with a Little Help from My Friends

The Beatles, Lennon/McCartney 1967

It seemed like a no-brainer that members of our senior high youth group, Catholic Youth Growing, Nurturing, Understanding, and Serving (CYGNUS), would serve as facilitators for our religious education and confirmation retreat. Several CYGNUS members had been through the religious education program and they were enthusiastic about sharing their faith with the eighth graders. Serving in a leadership role for younger peers also had an appeal that our usual service projects did not offer.

Adults would have done a great job speaking to the students and facilitating the small groups, but the youth group teens reached them in ways that we as adults could not. The students participating in the retreat were able to see how their older peers kept God in their lives after confirmation, squashing the myth that confirmation is the Catholic equivalent to graduation.

Both youth ministry and religious education benefited from collaborating on the retreat. The work load was divided in half and the retreat turned out better than it would have been had either department worked alone.

At times we may find that we need to reach out beyond our gifts, talents, and resources to collaborate with others in order to enhance what we are currently doing on our own.

Collaboration in ministry can be a wonderful thing, and there are some steps we can take to help ensure that things progress smoothly.

Communicate Effectively

Communication is the vital key to successful collaboration. Keep your ministry partner updated on what you are doing and what you may require. Detailed information we may use as a constant in our ministry (permission slips, emergency phone number lists, etc.) may have to be explained to someone not familiar with the way youth ministry operates. Periodic sharing on progress you have made on your project will help ensure that both ministry partners are moving in the same direction. Taking the time to send a quick email or make a phone call can save time in the long run and spare you much frustration.

Remain Flexible

The second key element of collaboration is flexibility. We need to be open to the ways that our colleagues work. All of us have our own ministry styles and ways of doing things. We must remember to be open to differences in thought and action. Fresh eyes and ears can sometimes do a better job of seeing and hearing what we may miss.

Benefit for All

The third key is recognizing and appreciating that collaboration can be an effective tool to foster evangelization. The added benefit is building community within our parish. By working together, we ensure that people outside of youth ministry are exposed to how amazing young people are. Their talents are shared with a larger circle of parishioners and our young people are afforded the opportunity to serve the church in additional ways.

A mutually beneficial collaboration can be a wonderful endeavor. Our Teen Music Ministry often collaborates with the Hispanic Ministry to provide music in Spanish for our Spanish Masses. The teens benefit by being able to put their foreign language skills to good use and the congregation benefits by being able to worship in their native language. The Teen Music Ministry is now a part of the Hispanic community through their involvement in the Liturgy.

It does require effort to have effective collaborative ministry take place, but with strong communication, a little flexibility, and an appreciation for the blessings that can result, collaborative ministry can benefit all parties involved. Remember that all good things require patience and collaborative ministry is no exception. You, too, can get by with a little help from friends.