FRAMEWORK INTRODUCTION

Jesus himself drew near and walked with them. (Lk 24:15)

Christ is alive17 in the youth and young adults of the United States,18 as well as in the hearts of those who accompany them. Christ draws near to young people in order to listen to them, teach them, and send them forth, filled with the Holy Spirit to "be protagonists of the revolution of charity and service."19 The Catholic Church is called to imitate Christ as she encounters and engages each new generation: to listen, teach, and send every young person in the name of Jesus.

In this, the Church renews her commitment to accompany and minister with youth and young adults. Effective ministries with young people must be dynamic movements inspired by the Holy Spirit, where all generations, cultures, and communities "journey together,"20 advancing toward "experiencing a shared encounter with the living God."21

We, as the Catholic bishops of the United States, offer this national pastoral framework as a summons to local faith communities across the country to renew their efforts with youth and young adults. This particular revitalization began with the Holy Father, who convened an international synod on young people22 from 2017 to 2018 and subsequently encouraged the entire Church through his apostolic exhortation, Christus Vivit, in 2019. We echo his words in that wonderful teaching, and now wish to address our pastors and our lay, ordained, and consecrated Catholic leaders, including parents and families, so that the Church might experience a rejuvenation of evangelization to and ministries with youth and young adults. In global synod consultations, the People of God raised up the need for "a renewed focus on young people, their formation" and that "accompaniment (of the young) is an urgent need"23 for dioceses/eparchies, parishes, campuses,

17 Pope Francis, Christus Vivit (CV) (Washington DC: USCCB Publishing, 2019), no. 1-2.18 In this document, the term "youth" connotes adolescents in their teenage years, while the term "young adults" is defined as women and men in their twenties and thirties, single and married, with or without children.19 CV, no. 174.20 CV, no. 199.21 CV, no. 204.22 It is helpful for those from the United States to know there are English linguistic differences that exist in Vatican and other countries' documents and activities around "young people." For example, when Pope Francis references "youth" or "youth ministry" in Christus Vivit, it inclusively applies to adolescents, collegians, and "young adults," as it is translated from either "giovani" (Italian) or "jovenes" (Spanish), a broader age range than the U.S. concept of "youth" (which is often limited to the teenage years, whereas elsewhere, it may refer to those ages 16 to 35).23 Vatican Synod Office, Working Document for the Continental Stage, XVI Ordinary Synod, Sept. 2022, no. 35.

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Listen, Teach, Send: A National Pastoral Framework for Ministries with Youth and with Young Adults

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