The Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) is an agency of the Roman Catholic Church that serves young people in their religious, recreational, cultural and social needs. The members of the Core Team are specifically called to love and reach out to other teens in the community, build friendships, and be role models for those who follow Christ. Youth ministry should focus on teaching teens what a life of discipleship looks like. As baptized members of the Church, young people are called to serve others and to serve Christ, creating the Kingdom of God in unique ways.
The job of the youth minister, pastor, or parents is to empower teens to live a Christian life of discipleship. Young people are empowered when they are welcomed into a Church that speaks to their hearts with the joy of the Gospel and the power of the Eucharist (Saint John Paul II, World Day of Prayer for Vocations 1995). The Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) was founded by Bishop Bernard Sheil in Chicago in 1930. It had a maximum number of 20,000 members in the 1950s and became an important factor in the development of race relations in the United States Catholic Church after World War II.
CYO has helped to promote the faith of young Filipino Catholics, their holistic growth, their leadership capacities, their cultural and artistic talents, and their love for family and community. The main goals of CYO are to guide young Catholics to live a Christian life from an early age, to develop trust among their peers and to live a happy life in a positive way. Catholic education and university ministry should strengthen and empower young people to use their gifts and talents in the wider ecclesial community. Participating in parish communities is essential as it is where people meet Jesus in the word and sacrament (Renewing the Vision).CYO provides an opportunity for young Catholics to grow spiritually, emotionally, and socially.
It offers activities such as retreats, service projects, sports leagues, music programs, leadership training, and more. Through these activities, CYO helps young people develop a sense of belonging within their faith community while also providing them with an opportunity to explore their faith more deeply. CYO also provides support for parents who are raising children in the Catholic faith. It offers resources such as parenting classes, support groups for parents of teens, and mentoring programs for young adults. These resources help parents provide guidance and support for their children as they grow in their faith. The Catholic Youth Organization is an invaluable resource for young Catholics who want to deepen their faith while also having fun with friends.
It provides an opportunity for them to explore their faith more deeply while also developing relationships with other young Catholics.
