"Youth catechesis must be profoundly revised and revitalized." General Directory for Catechesis (GDC) #181
"The Church, while regarding young people as 'hope', also sees them as 'a great challenge for the future of the church' herself." GDC#182
The Catechetical office promotes the integration of catechesis with total youth ministry within a parish for young people ages thirteen through eighteen.
The We are Strong Together series provides catechesis for young people. Year 7-Believe in Me and Year 8-Stand by Me offers a synthesis of the faith that is given in the Apostles' Creed. These parish resources offer a flexible format that can be integrated with youth ministry. They offer a two hour format or a retreat format and the themes do not have to be done in a sequential order. Years 9 through 11 programs are written for schools but they can be used in parishes for this age group if they are modified.
The Catechetical office also provides visioning formation for youth ministers and parishes on the concept of youth friendly parishes. Parish youth ministry is seen as much broader than a youth group. Attracting youth to the Church and encouraging them to be active in her life is a task that involves the entire community.
