Jesus Himself Drew Near

Is there anything more important in the world than helping young people encounter Jesus Christ and discover the joy of being His disciple? Young people need to have a place of priority in the Church's mission of evangelization. Pope Francis reminds us of this great truth: "Each young person's heart should thus be considered 'holy ground,'..." (Christus Vivit, #66) The only way to effectively shape the lives of young people is to fall deeply in love with Christ. In "Jesus Himself Drew Near," Fr. Jack Peterson develops a plan to do just that. In particular, he speaks to those who shape the lives of young people.

Is there anything more important in the world than helping young people encounter Jesus Christ and discover the joy of being His disciple? Young people need to have a place of priority in the Church's mission of evangelization. Pope Francis reminds us of this great truth: "Each young person's heart should thus be considered 'holy ground,'..." (Christus Vivit, #66) The only way to effectively shape the lives of young people is to fall deeply in love with Christ. In "Jesus Himself Drew Near," Fr. Jack Peterson develops a plan to do just that. In particular, he speaks to those who shape the lives of young people.

Father Jack Peterson, Y.A., is the Consecrated Cleric Assistant Director and the Director of Mission and Development for Youth Apostles, a Catholic community of single, married, and consecrated laymen and consecrated clerics who are dedicated to the service of young people. He entered Youth Apostles as a layman in 1981 and has held several leadership posts in the community, including serving for 12 years as the General Director. A native of Northern Virginia, Father Jack received Holy Orders in the Diocese of Arlington in 1989. He has served as the parochial vicar at five parishes in the diocese, and has maintained a steady involvement in youth, college, and young adult ministry that began well before his priestly ordination. Father Jack has given numerous seminars, talks and retreats to youth workers, teachers and audiences across the country on different aspects of faith, spirituality and youth ministry.