Children, young people, and young adults

Young people need to experience a carefree childhood and form social relationships. Social relationships help young people to cope successfully in everyday life when they become adults. Not all of them have the opportunity to do this at home. Catechists and teachers of religious education support young people through teaching. Youth leagues, for example the “Jungwacht Blauring” youth organization and the “Pfadi” scouts, enable children and young people to spend their leisure time in a meaningful manner; the Catholic Community School provide a solid education.

4,338 children, young people and leaders

are organized into 46 groups of the “Jungwacht Blauring” (JuBla) youth organization that meet at regular intervals. About a third of them—teenagers and young adults—lead the activities of the JuBla on a voluntary basis; these activities include camping in tents, sitting around the campfire, going on adventures, and taking on shared responsibility for groups and activities. Everyone is welcome to join, irrespective of nationality, origins or religion. The church taxes you pay enable us to support Jungwacht and Blauring financially.

Find out more about the “Jungwacht Blauring” youth organization (German-language)

3,324 counseling sessions

were conducted in 2023 by the churches’ “kabel” ecumenical counseling center for young people doing an apprenticeship. The ministry gives advice to people doing vocational training and to those who have terminated their apprenticeship of their own accord. It also provides counseling for parents, instructors, teachers, and other persons apprentices are in close contact with. This specialist department of the church has seven offices throughout the canton. Its mission is to find solutions, together with the apprentice concerned, whenever an apprentice faces a difficult situation. In Dietikon, Wetzikon and Winterthur, “kabel” is part of the services provided by the state.
The Youth Ministry Department (Jugendseelsorge), which has 11 employees, develops the fundamental policies for youth ministry in parishes and also produces work aids for practical work. It lobbies the churches and society on behalf of young people and young adults, and it also aims to give young people a voice in politics. As a specialist department, it offers advice and support in the following four areas: confirmation, altar-server ministry, open youth-ministry, and spirituality.

Youth Ministry Department (Fachstelle Jugendarbeit) (German-language)

316 events

were held in the “jenseits im Viadukt” venue in 2022. This special location in the middle of Zurich puts on events for the church’s young people that are refreshingly different. The events carried out under viaduct arches No. 11 and 12 in Zurich West have three focal points: culture, sustainability, and spirituality. Events include talks, debates and religious services, as well as concerts, theater performances and meditation. The venue is open to all, irrespective of nationality, origins or religion.

The venue “jenseits im Viadukt” (German-language)