THELEAVEN.ORG | VOL. 43, NO. 27 | FEBRUARY 18, 2022
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JILL RAGAR ESFELD
Jonathan Goering, a gifted musician and youth leader, accompanies the choir when the children take over the lay duties at Mass once a month.
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JILL RAGAR ESFELD
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JILL RAGAR ESFELD
The young people of Our Lady & St. Rose perform all the lay responsibilities for the celebration of the Eucharist. Nia Bradley and Tom “TJ” Nuokus bring up the offering in the image above.
Young Disciples in Training leader Patricia Goering directs the choir as they sing during the youth Mass.
YOUNG DISCIPLES
Here, children see themselves in church leaders By Jill Ragar Esfeld jill.esfeld@theleaven.org
K
ANSAS CITY, Kan. — “Wasn’t the children’s Mass beautiful?” exclaimed Msgr. Stuart Swetland, pastor of Our Lady & St. Rose Parish here. In a parish that has a long history of ethnic diversity, Our Lady & St. Rose entered Black History Month with a display of their youngest parishioners’ faith and devotion. The youth Mass is this parish’s way of encouraging its young people to know they are an important part of this Catholic community and responsible for carrying on its traditions. Youth leaders Jonathan and Patricia Goering have three children of their own and extensive backgrounds in teaching. They know how important it is for students to be able to relate to their teachers, and similarly believe it’s important for youth to relate to active members of their parish. “We often talk about minority teachers and how kids need to see themselves,” said Jonathan. “So, for me, kids need to see themselves involved in the Mass and connected with the church.” His wife agreed, acknowledging that many adults in the parish look forward to the youth Mass because it gives them a glimpse of the future. “I think a lot of times older adults think the children aren’t carrying the faith on the way they did,” she said. “With the kids being up there and being part of the Mass, I think it gives them hope. “There’s still a future.” The children perform all the lay minister responsibilities during the Mass. “The kids are serving and ushering and greeting and providing the music, responses, readings,” said Patricia. “So, they are part of the Mass, not just showing up and being quiet in the pews.” The youth Mass is a project of the
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JILL RAGAR ESFELD
Claire Carruthers (left) and Nia Bradley listen carefully to the instructions of director Patricia Goering as the youth choir leads songs at Mass. parish youth group called Young Disciples in Training. Patricia has led the group for longer than she can remember. Jonathan was raised in the Mennonite faith but converted to Catholicism, partly because of the warm and welcoming community he found at Our Lady & St. Rose. He joined Patricia in mentoring the youth group after they were married. Both have a love of music. “So, I brought up to Jonathan,” recalled Patricia, “[that] I wished our kids had music as part of what they’re doing.”
So, they started working with the Young Disciples to sing a musical devotional or meditation during Mass. “Once everyone was comfortable with that,” said Patricia, “the kids were encouraged to learn more music, and we were asked if we would do a whole Mass. “We said, ‘Yes, we think we’re ready for that.’ So we’ve been doing full Masses now for around eight years.” Jonathan sees involvement in the Mass as an important step in helping youth feel connected to their church community as they struggle through the process of becoming productive adults.
“God really kind of saved me,” he said. “My senior year, I had some issues, and my faith kind of pulled me through that. “I hope we can make them understand those connections and how lifesaving sometimes they can be.” “When you’re in a pinch and you don’t know what to do,” he continued, “there’s always somebody you can talk to, you can count on.” The couple wants their young disciples to feel connected to their community and their Catholic faith. >> See “THEY” on page 4