Youth Leadership and Challenges

Profiles in Catholicism
Jun 25
24 min read

Updated: Jul 6

Message from the Editor

Young people face a variety of challenges including high employment, difficulties in education, mental health issues including suicidal ideation, social media, pressures peer pressure, on-screen violence, bullying, and substance abuse. In the United States more than half of all Gen Z men and women ages 18 to 24 lived at home with their parents.

According to the National Alliance for Mental Illness suicidal thoughts are common among teens and young adults. In fact, about 11% of young adults (ages 18-25) report that they’ve had serious thoughts about suicide, and about 1–2% report a suicide attempt during the prior year. These numbers are higher among high school students — nearly 20% report serious thoughts about suicide and 9% report a suicide attempt. Among young adults 15–24 years old in the U.S., the rate of death by suicide in 2019 was about 14 per 100,000 people — slightly higher than one suicide for every 10,000 people in this age group.

There is a large gap between the number of young people thinking about suicide (about 1 in 10) and the number who die by suicide (1 in 10,000). In other words, there are 1,000 young people currently struggling with the idea of ending their life for each young person lost to suicide.

Common Risk Factors for Youth Suicidal Ideation

Prior suicide attempts Family history of suicide History of mental health conditions such as severe depression, anxiety disorders and psychotic disorders Substance misuse Impulsivity or aggressiveness Serious family problems Breakups or other major relationship losses Access to means for self-harm (unsecured firearms, prescription medications, poisons)Social isolation History of traumatic experiences such as sexual violence or severe episodes of racial prejudice/violence, bullying Lack of access to mental health care Multiple exposures to suicide in one’s community or through unsafe coverage of suicide in the media

Quote to Remember

“Youth is happy because it has the ability to see beauty. Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old”.

by Franz Kafka

Prayers

A Prayer to Prevent Suicide in Adolescents and Young Adults

“Identity is Deeper than Down”

Lord, you were young once; but were you ever on social media?

How did your mother manage to live her childhood happily?

Walking the cat-walk, today, could mean that I wear, almost, my Underwear, or skimpy tops, revealing more than concealing, like a Present to be unwrapped, in an untimely way, wanting to wait, but Believing it to be impossible, meaning that my privacy lies in my Thoughts alone, a place where no one else can be, butt in, or make Themselves known, easily: a place in which to hide the hollowing Out of the inside, where everything is on the outside, as if there is Nothing personal, anymore and, like a balloon, afraid of bursting.

Lord, you were a young man, once, did you ever court company?

How did your mother live so simply as to listen being loved?

But maybe it is more of a tight rope between being too busy trying

To fit in, taking pictures on the beach of what is, in itself, a breach

Of privacy, and struggling with the response of likes, and dislikes, And the comments that insinuate themselves into invulnerability, Lodging, like a barb, showing us that the armour of fashion has Holes, gaping holes, hollowing out what we were, when we were Younger, and more open, and now we have exhausted the fitting in,

Drowned within, listening to the dumb-beat, deadening us within.

Lord, you were a young workman, once, were you ever troubled?

How did your mother stay within the family without losing herself?

Or third, it could be we look in a distorting mirror, not because it Changes us, or it is unnaturally curved, one way or the other, but

Because we think of the other who is taller, broader, better looking, Not so spotty, pretty, well-mannered, sociable, not so awkward, or

Even getting away with the girls, or attracting the attention of the

Boys, when we are what we are looking at and fully dissatisfied,

As if the maker wrote the wrong specification for the unique me

And I want to find the return slip, or where to post it, if I despair-too.

And so, Lord, where can I go to find myself, you, and your mother?

How can your Mother Mary and St. Joseph guide us in growing up?

Who will help guide the young people towards you, Lord, given that Not everyone can follow the path of realism, to the truth of whatExists, including your existence nor, without your help can the Young people hear on the highways and the byways the call to meet You, unless you send out your disciples, trained in witness or simply

Willing to announce your love and the nurturing, maternal care oThemselves, having lost their compass, needing a gathering guide?

Come, Lord, and address us yourself, so that our words may work.

And may Mary, your Mother, incline her ear and help us to listen.

Let, then, the dialogue begin, whereby we even recognize the angel

Next to us, always with us, to accompany each one of us, personally,

Whether here and now or to the throne of the Almighty, in heaven, So that we are never alone only, as is often the case, that we do not Realize who is present with us, abiding in our company, interceding For us, bearing the prayers of known and unknown others, who yet Do not magically change our life but gently, gently, nudge us away From the pills, the train-line, the bridge and the edginess of failing.

But oh Lord, how much we need the mirroring of your Holy word. And how necessary that your Mother turn to you and tell our need.

As we listen, Lord, to your word, your Holy Word, we search for the

Reflections that criss-cross the pages, revealing the account of your Holy love, throughout time, telling us that no matter where or how We came to exist, that you are there, telling us that we are the Children you created out of love, through love, and for love, and That, if our lives are blemished, disfigured, or even crippled, that You are walking the streets with those you have sent out to find us, And to help us, so that we may begin to sing a new song of praise.

by Francis Etheredge, Catholic married layman, father of 11, 3 of whom are in heaven and an author: https://enroutebooksandmedia.com/francisetheredge.

Prayer to Prevent Suicidal Ideation in Young Adults

Lord God, we pray that our young adults may know that you are always with them and love them regardless of how bleak the prospects seem at the moment. We ask that they might both realise your loving presence in the world and in their lives amidst the very real pain that exists and that we, as a society, may be moved to provide them with the support, the care and the services that might prevent them from being drawn to ending their own lives.by Father Justin Glyn, S J Profiles in Catholicism

Prayer to St. Aloysius Gonzaga, Patron of Youth by Scott P. Richert

Prayer for Prayer for Anastasia Borik

Lord of life and justice you gave us an example of compassion and peace ,you walked in Palestine and Israel and we pray and hope for a change in the minds and hearts of people that wage relentless war against each other.

We pray that they will end the violence that killed so many innocent children including Anastasia Borik and her family. She an innocent child, one of many child victims of war in the Middle East. Lord inspire the people to stand up and raise the arms and implore, peace and demand an end to the violence, so all can live in harmony and justice

Amen.

by Father Shay Cullen Profiles in Catholicism

Prayer for Victims of Antisemitic attack in Colorado

Dear God, You have given us the power to make a difference in this world. And, yes, we do. Too often, as You are aware, the difference we make leads only to disappointment, to tears. Our embrace of indifference masquerades in a frequent offering of our “thoughts and prayers.” Too often that guarantees nothing will change for the better. So we understand that prayer is answered when we hear, when we respond to the divine urgency for action that lifts, inspires and heals. And in a broken world, we have much work to do. May our prayers call us to action for then our prayers are answered.

by Michael Zedek Rabbi Emeritus Emanuel Congregationemanuelcong.org

A prayer for those killed in Austria school shooting,

We live in a broken world in which so many innocent suffer. Children are so often the victims of violence. May those who died find peace in that place where every tear is wiped away. Look after those who grieve. Soothe their grieving hearts. Comfort them as they weep.

May we as a society try as we can to understand why these things happen. May we try and bring about a safer world for our loved ones. We are all responsible for the world we live in. Few are guilty but all of us are responsible.

We bring all our pain before you through Christ our Lord

Amen

by Father John O'Brien, OFM Profiles in Catholicism

Prayer for Pastor William Schonemann

Oh, Lord, we have lost a dear friend,

a pastor who went out of his way to help

those in need.

A compassionate soul who understood our needs

And served them,

And who lead us step by step on our journey better

Understand each other and live up to the

Challenges and opportunities of our lives

We will miss his humor and his wisdom, Oh Lord,

But we remain deeply grateful for the time we had with him

And he with us.

Deo gratias.

Amen

by Dr. Eugene Fisher Profiles in Catholicism

Prayer for those killed in Air India Crash

Good and gracious God,

Something terrible happened in Ahmadabad, India as 290 people traveling to London were killed by the crash. We know this is a devastating time for the families and all the people waiting for them in London. We ask you to care for them and welcome them into your heavenly kingdom. It is your constant blessings on our lives that leads us to love and cherish all who are part of the Body of Christ. Together we can lift them up to your loving care and embrace. We ask you to accept all the work that would be done by this group to be honored by our remembrance and care for them. As the thick plumes of smoke rose over the area one can meditate on the incense raising before our generous and loving God. It included a passenger plane that crashed at the airport. It must have been terribly startling to them as what they were just beginning was ended in such a violent manner. It was seen that the people on the ground tried to assist them in any way they could and know that it was such a horrible crash. We ask you, dear Lord, to assist those waving them goodbye and those wanting to say hello in London the peace that is needed after such a horrid incident. Please be with them Lord as they put their prayers and peace in your loving arms. We ask you this through Christ our Lord Amen.

by Eileen Quinn Knight, Ph.D. Profiles in Catholicism

Youth and Youth Leadership Interviews