“Fostering Diversity and Inclusion in Catholic Youth Work: A Look into Roland Lutz’s Innovative Approach”

Diversity has always been a matter of course here: That is what inspires Roland Lutz about Catholic youth work. The 37-year-old has been a youth pastor in Miltenberg since the beginning of the year.

“You don’t have to be super fast, like in a sports club, or be able to play an instrument very well, like in a music club, to be allowed to take part,” says Lutz. Church youth work is free from any thoughts of competition: »You can be who you are and you can be what you are«. That sounds good, but the question remains as to how one can get young people involved in the offers of youth pastoral care. Because they don’t just do that anymore.

That’s why Lutz is trying to get something exciting together with cooperation partners. For example, a three-part series of events for singles between the ages of 18 and 35 will start on May 21st. At the start there is a singles service on Sunday, on June 16 singles are invited to a guided tour of the »Faust« brewery. A “talk and creative afternoon” is on the program for July 9th.

»Test Balloon«

Lutz himself is curious to see whether the new offer will be well frequented. “Something like this has never existed in the diocese, it’s a test balloon for us,” he says. The series of three was inspired by pastoral officer Marie-Bernadette Reichert from Dorfprozelten: »She is committed to pastoral care for singles.« According to Roland Lutz, singles are a neglected group within pastoral work. Offers for children are well established. For teenagers. For seniors. For women and families. But young people who have not started a family have so far fallen through the pastoral grid. Roland Lutz wants to change that, at least for the Bavarian Untermain.

Youth pastoral care, like the entire Catholic Church, faces immense challenges in the 21st century. Because the real and virtual competition is huge. “Catholic youth work is one of many players today, and of course a young person can also get involved in the youth fire brigade,” says Roland Lutz. Now it would be theoretically possible to do both the one and the other. But usually, sooner or later, interests collide. A boy who likes to serve but also likes to play football has to make a decision at some point on a Sunday morning: does he go to church or to a tournament?

Now not only the demand for the offers of Catholic youth work is declining. At the same time, there are fewer and fewer people offering pastoral care for young people. Corresponding posts have also been vacant for a long time in the Diocese of Würzburg. “Hardly anyone studies theology anymore,” says Roland Lutz. It was also unclear to him for a long time where his professional path might lead: “I went twice to student counseling.” The second student advisor happened to be a theologian. After talking to him, Roland Lutz was sure that studying theology would be the right thing for him. To this day, he has not regretted this decision.

effect on children

The pastoral care of young people inspires him because it makes it possible to put unusual ideas into practice: “It’s a wonderful, free field where you can really let off steam.” Roland Lutz also finds it fascinating to experience the effect of spiritual offers can have on children and young people. This becomes particularly clear on days of reflection: “Suddenly, initially withdrawn young people begin to talk about themselves.” “Here you learn for life,” says the theologian.

In our highly complex world, more and more people are keen to think outside the box. And more and more people are looking for something »higher«. For a sense. Why spiritual offers are booming. And also those that are located outside the church. “That’s exactly why the church has to see how it can meet people who are looking for meaning with adequate offers,” says Roland Lutz. It is important for him that the hierarchical structures are broken up: »The church finally needs an open exchange at eye level.« For him as a youth pastor, this eye level is a matter of course anyway.

Pat Christ

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