The Archdiocese of Port of Spain embraces the Comprehensive Youth Ministry model, inspired by the USCCB’s Renewing the Vision and the Antilles Episcopal Conference’s Vision for Youth and Young Adult Ministry. This approach fosters holistic development, empowering young people to grow in faith, leadership, and community engagement, guided by Gospel values. This model was adopted by the archdiocese at Synod 2003 and is supported by the guidance of the Antilles Episcopal Conference’s Youth and Vocation’s Commission.

The response of the Christian Community to the needs of Youth (Adolescents and Young Adults) and their families, and the sharing of their unique talents with the wider community.

Adolescent Ministry

Adolescent Ministry focuses on engaging teenagers aged 11 to 19, helping them navigate the challenges of adolescence while deepening their Catholic faith. Through activities like youth groups, retreats, confirmation preparation, and service projects, this ministry nurtures spiritual, emotional, and social growth. It encourages adolescents to build a strong foundation in Christ and embrace their role as active disciples in the Church and society.

Young Adult Ministry

Young Adult Ministry serves individuals aged 18 to 35, addressing the diverse needs of young adults in various life stages, including university students, professionals, and those discerning vocations. It provides opportunities for spiritual enrichment, leadership development, and community building through small groups, retreats, social outreach, and vocational discernment programs. This ministry empowers young adults to live their faith boldly, contribute meaningfully to their communities, and deepen their relationship with Christ.

While both ministries share a mission to form young disciples, adolescent ministry focuses on initial faith formation and identity development, while young adult ministry emphasizes deepening faith, vocational discernment, and leadership in the Church and society. Adolescent ministry and young adult ministry require different strategies and opportunities including acknowledging the difference in the role of the parent in each age group and support the evolving adult cognitive capacity of persons in their 20s and early 30s.

Overall Youth Ministry incorporates responding to various needs of the young people. The Archdiocese of Port of Spain recognizes that youth have eight needs:

1. Advocacy
2. Catechesis
3. Community Building
4. Evangelization
5. Justice and Service
6. Leadership Formation
7. Pastoral Care
8. Prayer and Worship

Every parish is called to respond to the needs of the youth in its geographic area with a preferential option for marginalized youth. create a youth friendly community in which adults and young people are converted, deepen their discipleship, live in communion and are missioned, side by side.

To learn more about ministering to young people become a member of the Catholic Youth Commission or join the Youth Ministry Training Programme.

“Youth ministry has to be synodal; it should involve a “journeying together” that values “the charisms that the Spirit bestows in accordance with the vocation and role of each of the Church’s members, through a process of co-responsibility… Motivated by this spirit, we can move towards a participatory and co-responsible Church, one capable of appreciating its own rich variety, gratefully accepting the contributions of the lay faithful, including young people and women, consecrated persons, as well as groups, associations and movements. No one should be excluded or exclude themselves”  Christus Vivit 206

Campus Ministry

The goal of Campus Ministry is to create and sustain an authentic faith community on and in university campuses’ spaces, through the proclamation of the Gospel, pastoral care and by engaging all members of the campus (students and staff) to consider and live a lifestyle of peace, justice, and service in keeping with gospel values. Through Masses, Bible studies, pastoral care, and social outreach, this ministry fosters spiritual growth and Catholic fellowship. It helps students navigate the pressures of academic life while empowering them to witness to Christ, serve their communities, and remain anchored in their faith. In the archdiocese of Port of Spain there is Campus ministry available at the University of the West Indies and the University of Trinidad and Tobago.