Blessing of Youth Leaders and Liturgical Ministers

About this Blessing

Renewing the Vision: A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry clearly calls all parishes and schools to fully integrate young people into the life and mission of the parish/school community (USCCB 1997). Leadership development is one of the eight foundational components all comprehensive youth ministry programs employ to achieve the three-fold goals of empowerment, participation, and spiritual growth. This blessing of young people highlights the youth who have been called to serve in the various leadership roles and ministries within the community. It can also be used to commission a youth ministry council or committee that exists to serve and guide the youth ministry efforts at the parish or school level.

Ideas for Using This Blessing

Select a Sunday that highlights young people, such as World Youth Day, and at each of the Masses that weekend, have the presider call forward all young people serving in the various ministry roles or service programs at the parish to be commissioned for their service.

Use this prayer to commission your youth ministry/campus ministry leadership team (including both adults and youth if applicable) during a selected Sunday near the beginning of their service term.

Invite the outgoing leadership to commission the incoming leadership by being the ones who actually sign the senses of the new leadership team.

Directions

The presider invites all young people involved in ministry and service within the community forward as the following blessing of their senses is prayed. If the group is small, the presider may wish to actually make the sign of the cross over the senses of each person or use a general motion of the Sign of the Cross if the group is large.

  • May the Lord bless your Eyes so that you see the goodness and uniqueness of God in every person you meet.
  • May the Lord bless your Ears so that you may listen and remain open to the diversity of needs that exist within this community.
  • May the Lord bless your Lips so that you may speak the truth honestly, openly, and powerfully in all you do.
  • And may the Lord bless your Hands that they may serve as an extension of Christ’s as you reach out in compassionate service for the good of the Kingdom.

Conclude the blessing of leadership with the following prayer as the community is invited to extend their hands in solidarity as the presider says:

God of all life,
we ask you to bless these young people
whom you have called forth to serve.

Guide and sustain them so their ministry will bring forth
all of the richness and diversity you have bestowed upon this community.

Empower them to be prophetic voices of today
as they prepare to lead us into the possibilities of tomorrow.

Inspire all they do so their actions reflect your purpose and divine will.

We ask this blessing upon each of them
through Christ, our risen Lord.

AMEN!

Blessing of Youth Leaders and Liturgical Ministers

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