November 3, 2005
Children have a great capacity for prayer. Every Thursday evening the sisters run a little youth group for any neighborhood kids who want to come. The group is aimed at younger kids, but a small group of teenagers come too, making the age range from 6 to 17. It’s a typical youth group – pizza, skits, songs, a lesson in the Faith, and then… the height of the evening, we all offer up our intentions and then we pray the Rosary. Yes, every Thursday evening these inner city kids settle down and pray five decades of the Holy Rosary. And what’s more impressive is that not once have I heard so much as a sigh or groan of protest when we dim the lights as we are ready to begin. The hardest part is determining who will lead each of the five decades as they “ooh” and “ahh” and try to raise their arm just that much higher than the next kid so that they might be one of the lucky five!
It might sound like I’m bragging about “our kids” – and I am! And while I might be bragging, I’m not exaggerating! These kids love to pray. They want to pray and they need to pray. I know many a CCD teacher and Youth Minister who are afraid of incorporating too much prayer and devotion into their classes. Many adults think that children aren’t capable of extended periods of prayer, and even if they are capable, they certainly wouldn’t want to pray. I have found that the opposite is true. When we pray we are in direct contact with the Living God. If we teach the children how to pray, we are putting them into contact with the One True God who loves them and will be there for them when they are long gone from our Thursday night youth group.
For those of you who are involved in youth ministry of any kind, perhaps I could offer this encouragement in your very challenging work: the investment in teaching others to pray will have eternal rewards! Be encouraged! Thank you for your service and keep up your good work in service of God’s Kingdom!
God Bless You,
Sr. Clare Matthiass, CFR
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