Sunday, December 10, 2006
Guided by spirit, youth minister connects with teens
Denise Konkol, special to our Catholic Herald, interviewed Barb Abler, director of youth ministry for the three Wauwatosa parishes.
Couldn't they have served at the regular masses they attended, presumably with their families?
These interviews focus on the interviewee's faith.
I don't understand why she blamed God for it. There's no follow-up on her views on teaching about marriage and divorce in youth ministry.
In the years just before her own divorce. She gets involved in the parish religious education program the year of her divorce. Might be some interesting questions there, but they don't show up in the interview. ¶ 12/10/2006 08:29:00 AM
Abler initiated a teen Mass on Sunday evenings prior to religious formation classes, offering the opportunity for them to serve in liturgical ministries.
Couldn't they have served at the regular masses they attended, presumably with their families?
These interviews focus on the interviewee's faith.
However, her parents' divorce – and her own divorce in 1988 – caused her to question "why God would bring such pain – I didn't understand it."
I don't understand why she blamed God for it. There's no follow-up on her views on teaching about marriage and divorce in youth ministry.
Now, she says, it has helped her in her ministry to working with parents and teens in broken families. Her own experience provides an understanding and empathy for them, she said.
Abler had a "spiritual explosion" during the 1980s while living in Florida with her husband and two daughters, Laurie and Amy.
In the years just before her own divorce. She gets involved in the parish religious education program the year of her divorce. Might be some interesting questions there, but they don't show up in the interview. ¶ 12/10/2006 08:29:00 AM
