Prime Time for Catechesis

Last week on behalf of the company that I work for, I gave a presentation on adolescent spirituality in West Orange, New Jersey. In my presentation I offered three unique aspects of the adolescent. The adolescent person uniquely deals with:

1. "shifting experiences"
• The adolescent no longer experiences "elementary" schooling nor is he or she yet ready for "high school." The adolescent person has one foot in each realm while realizing he or she really does not belong in either.
2. "emerging relationships"
• The adolescent is dealing with hormonal changes that result in a greater interest in persons of the other gender. The adolescent person also is awakening to a deeper understanding of his or her own body and so the topic of body image is crucial to self-identity.
3. "maturing activities"
• The adolescent has begun to consciously decided to become more intently involved in extra-curricular activities, such as athletics, performing arts, and the like. The adolescent person is solidifying particular skills and talents for the first time, often in these areas. 

Because of the unique situation of the adolescent life, the teenager is "prime time" for catechesis. The average teen seeks to be a "faith hero" because he or she seeks to go beyond self for something greater than self. If the adolescent person lacks the skills of spiritual discernment during this time, he or she is likely to find a source of spiritual "strength" in cultural idols, such as a celebrity. In these unfortunate circumstances, this teen will turn inward, like his or her celebrity idol, and begin to seek societal approval instead of cultural relevance. Therefore one of the crucial areas for adolescent catechesis is a solid foundation in spiritual formation that includes a discernment process.

In my presentation, I also made a plea for all schools and parishes to offer ballroom dance lessons as part of their catechetical program for young teens. Such lessons would provide confidence in self-identity, sensitivity for the other gender and his or her body, and a healthy, deeper, and mature means of communication. If schools and parishes intentionally develop programs with adolescent spirituality in mind, we might no longer be surprised by the heroic decisions teenagers are capable and willing to make, if we direct them toward the true, good, and beautiful.