Components of Youth Ministry
Youth Ministry . . . happens comprehensively
Youth ministry is more than programs and events. It is "the response of the Christian community to the needs of young people, and the sharing of the unique gifts of youth with the larger community." (A Vision of Youth Ministry, p. 6, quoted in RTV 1). To be most effective, this is a ministry to, with, by, and for young people that involves their families, their parish community, and the larger community. At the heart of ministry with young people is the presence of caring, supportive relationships where youth experience the good news in the flesh.
Catholic Scouting is all about connecting the youth, their families, the parish community, and the community at large. Scouting offers the presence of caring, supportive adults that offer to share the good news with them.
A comprehensive approach to youth ministry utilizes the eight components identified in Renewing the Vision as a framework: advocacy, catechesis, community life, evangelization, justice and service, leadership development, pastoral care, and prayer and worship. These components guide our efforts in proclaiming the good news, connecting young people with the faith community, and calling our young people to the challenge of discipleship.
Advocacy
"The Ministry of Advocacy engages the Church to examine its priorities and practices to determine how well young people are integrated into the life, mission, and work of the Catholic community" and within society. (RTV, p. 27) The ministry of advocacy includes protecting the sanctity of human life, speaking with and on behalf of young people, empowering the voice of young people, and developing partnerships in building a healthy community.
Adults and Catholic Committee's work with scouts and speak on their behalf in the faith community and with parish leadership. Scouts also learn to find their own voice and speak within their parish community.
Catechesis
"The Ministry of Catechesis most effectively promotes the faith development of young and older adolescents when the curriculum is focused on important faith themes of the Church and on the developmental needs and life experiences of adolescents." (RTV, p. 30) It helps young people enrich and expand their understanding of the Scriptures and the sacred tradition. It provides a healthy future by encouraging youth to live faithfully in providing real life applications so that they may grow as disciples of Jesus Christ in their daily lives.
The national Religious Recognition programs are grade and developmentally appropriate. The programs include: Family of God—second and third grade, I Live My Faith—fourth through sixth grades, Mary, the First Disciple—seventh through tenth grades, and The Spirit Alive—ninth through twelfth grades.
Community Life
"The Ministry of Community Life builds an environment of love, support, appreciation for diversity, and judicious acceptance that models Catholic principles; develops meaningful relationships; and nurtures Catholic faith." (RTV, p. 34) This included relationships between youth and caring adults, but not exclusively.
Scouting builds community through troop and club meetings and involvement in the parish community by helping where ever possible. Service projects often help connect youth with the parish.
Evangelization
"The Ministry of Evangelization shares the good news of the reign of God and invites young people to hear about the Word Made Flesh." (RTV, p. 36) Drawing from Jesus' example, evangelization involves the community's pronouncements and living witnesses of adults and young people that the reign of God is realized in and through Jesus. The ministry of evangelization incorporates several essential elements: witness, outreach, proclamation, invitation, conversion, and discipleship.
Religious Recognition programs evangelize through retreats, days of reflection, attending Mass together, Scout Sunday, weekends away, and keeping the scout law and promise. Adults are strong faith witnesses to youth, as the youth also witness faith and reach out to their peers who may have fallen away from the faith.
Justice and Service
"The Ministry of Justice and Service nurtures in young people a social consciousness and a commitment to a life of justice and service rooted in their faith in Jesus Christ, in the Scriptures, and in Catholic social teaching; empowers young people to work for justice by concrete efforts to address the causes of human suffering; and infuses the concepts of justice, peace, and human dignity into all ministry efforts." (RTV, p. 38)
National scouting programs have a law and or a promise which calls the youth to serve God, Country and people as well as development of their character in relations to dealing with other and the world. Service is fostered through their programs empowering youth to act with responsibility, respect and justice towards all. The religious recognition activities help them to connect to their Gospel values of justice and service.
Leadership Development
"The Ministry of Leadership Development calls forth, affirms, and empowers the diverse gifts, talents, and abilities of adults and young people in our faith communities." (RTV, p. 40)
Scouting programs offer leadership opportunities for the youth to develop their talents and skills in this area and opportunities to lead younger groups testing their skills and sharing what they are learning with others.
Pastoral Care
"The Ministry of Pastoral Care is a compassionate presence in imitation of Jesus' care for people, especially those who were hurting and in need." (RTV, p. 42) It involves promoting positive adolescent and family development through a variety of positive adolescent and family development through a variety of positive (preventive) strategies, caring for adolescents and families in crisis through supports, counseling, and referral to appropriate community agencies; providing guidance as young people face life decisions and make moral choices, and challenging systems that are obstacles to positive development.
Scouting offers caring adult leaders. They have youth protection training and compliance along with Religious Recognition training and spiritual development. There are badge programs for youth and parish recognition for accomplishments.
Prayer and Worship
"The Ministry of Prayer and Worship celebrates and deepens young people's relationship with Jesus Christ through the bestowal of grace, communal prayer, and liturgical experiences; it awakens their awareness of the Spirit at work in their lives, it incorporates young people more fully 
in the sacramental life of the Church, especially Eucharist; it nurtures the personal prayer life of young people, and it fosters family rituals and prayer." (RTV, p. 44)
Scouting includes Scout Sundays, Masses when camping, mealtime prayers, special prayer services, and youth training so that they plan liturgies and other worship services.
Youth Ministry . . . it takes an entire church
"This is what is needed: a Church for young people, which will know how to speak to their heart and enkindle, comfort, and inspire enthusiasm in it with the joy of the Gospel and the strength of the Eucharist; a Church which will know how to invite and welcome the person who seeks a purpose for which to commit his whole existence; a Church which is not afraid to require much, after having given much; which does not fear asking from young people the effort of a noble and authentic adventure, such as that of the following of the Gospel."
Pope John Paul II. 1995 World Day of Prayer for Vocations