New Youth Ministries Director Taps into Youth's Strengths

By Mary Donovan

Evan Cuthbert is the new Director of Youth Ministries - note the plural. Evan said he likes to use the word ministries, because it reflects diversity.

The job of spiritually ministering to youth has many components, he said. The focus is primarily religious education and catechesis; he is coordinator for Confirmation. Then, there is the service element in which the goal is to build community among the students themselves, and helping them feel a part of this community.

However, there is another dimension that is very important.

"In terms of other aspects of my role," he said. "It's accompanying high schoolers, young adults and middle schoolers on their spiritual journey."

He knows how much young people have to offer. He told a story about how much his friends meant to him when he was their age. Evan was second from the youngest in a family of eight children, he said. He was just entering high school when his older brother was killed in automobile accident. It was a devastating time during which his friends and the friends of his brothers and sisters gave great support.

"The faith community gathered around," he said, "young people, the young priest. Our group of friends didn't necessarily talk about God, but they kept things normal, hopeful, helping around."

His work includes involving high school young people in music and liturgy, as well as developing youth ministry by youth among youth involved in the parish. This means putting together creative service opportunities, he said. One of these will be the Hunger Banquet which will take place on Tuesday, March 18 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The Hunger banquet is a unique event. It is designed to reflect the distribution of wealth in the world. Consequently, 60 percent of those attending will receive a meal typical of impoverished people, 30 percent will eat as middle income people do, and 10 percent will enjoy the repast of the elite.

"It's an experiential exercise," Evan said. "It should stimulate conversation and a reflection on our world."

Evan has a strong background in liturgical ministry to young people. He was educated at Boston College and at the Weston School of Theology. He has worked in campus ministry. He has spent time working with poor children in other parts of the world; in Peru, the Caribbean and in Jamaica.

Evan and his wife, Sue Cuthbert live in Marlboro. Here's an interesting note: Evan and Sue met in Peru while they were both in the Boston College program. They fell in love and married after their return, he said. They have two daughters, nine month old Rose and three-year-old Mary.

His global experience has given him a broader perspective of how the church operates in people's lives, he said. The church must reflect the place it is in.

He said, "How do we be a church in Shrewsbury, a church that really expresses Shrewsbury?"

In similar fashion he seeks to find out where the culture of religion is operative in youth today, he said.