Workshop focuses on youth and religion study

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
Feb. 15, 2007

The Archdiocese of Dubuque and the Diocese of Sioux City are sponsoring a workshop on The National Study of Youth and Religion.

Two workshops have already been held in Iowa - Cedar Falls and Charles City. The other two workshops will be held on Feb. 23 at Blessed Sacrament in Sioux City and Feb. 24 at St. Edmond High School in Fort Dodge.

Both days will begin at 10 a.m. with a presentation called Content and Research of the National Study of Youth and Religion. There will be a break for lunch about noon. The afternoon will consist of a presentation about Developmental Theory and discuss what to do for the future. The day will end at 3 p.m. with closing comments and prayer.

"The workshop is on The National Study of Youth and Religion, which was conducted a couple of years ago on youth and religion in the United States," said Jessica La Fleur, director of youth and young adult ministry for the Diocese of Sioux City. "Youth from across the board, not just Catholics, were contacted with random telephone surveys with specific questions. There were a number of face-to-face interviews. They talked to the teen as well as the parents."

La Fleur pointed out that there was a book written on the results of the study, "Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers," published by Oxford University Press.

"Since then, the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry has done further research on the Catholic portion of that. They have written a couple of documents as well reflecting on this," said La Fleur.

The workshop is partially on the data and letting the attendees know where teens and Catholic teens stand.

"It is an analysis of their capability to talk about their faith - living their faith, family situations and morals," she said. "This is what they are saying that the researchers found."

The second part of the workshop will be reflecting on how the lives of youth are affected. The presenter will also talk about adolescent catechesis and how youth are formed. Then they will talk about what needs to be done to respond. There will be discussion along the way, commented La Fleur.

The presenters are La Fleur and Kevin Feyen, the director of youth and young adult ministry for the Archdiocese of Dubuque.

"The study touches upon Catholic schools, religious education and youth ministry," said La Fleur. "There is a lot of information."

She added that anyone who works with teens, ages 13 to 17, including youth ministers, DREs, volunteers, Catholic school teachers, priests, etc. are encouraged to attend.

"The data will challenge us in our methods of reaching teenagers," said La Fleur. "It is good for us to hear this. Some people might be completely shocked. We need to hear where our teenagers are, so we know how to develop programs that will reach them."

Cost for the day is $15. Registrations may be sent to Youth and Young Adult Ministry, Diocese of Sioux City, PO Box 3379, Sioux City, IA 51104. For more information, contact the youth and young adult ministry office at the Diocese of Sioux City at (712) 233-7520.