Youth Ministry

YOUTH Ministry

St. Mary’s Church offers a complete youth ministry program that includes the following:

• Youth Catechism 
• Youth Mass
  
• Youth Retreats
  
• Community Building Activities
  
• Service projects
  

Age Group: Post confirmation. Youth Catechism will start again on October.
Catechism for youth is held each Friday at 9:00am, followed by the Youth Mass at 10:25am.

Youth Ministry Outline
Many youth today are waiting to hear the Good News that is ours as Christ’s disciples. Youth in our parish long to grow spiritually and to belong to their family, Church and the local community in meaningful ways. St. Mary’s parish offers a variety of programs for youth that are based on Catechism of the Catholic Church, as well as topics for the enrichment of Christian community life.

Youth Christian Formation
Spreading the message of the Gospel through evangelization, Christian formation and personal example. Catechism, bible study, discussion groups, mini-courses, etc.

Faith Themes:

Catholic Beliefs, The Church, Sacraments, Life in the Spirit, Personal Growth and Relationships,  Social Justice and Service, Scriptures, Catholic Morality
Prayer, Active Learning, Short lectures, Activities, Small group discussion,

Youth Worship:
Celebrating the life-giving exchange between the Sprit of Jesus and the faith community.
Youth masses
Youth prayer services
Stations of the Cross
Retreats

Youth Justice and Service:
Extending the Reign of God to all the world by our words and actions in the Sprit of Jesus.
Baby-sitting
Food or clothing drive
Fund raising for charity

VISION FOR YOUTH MINISTRY (CATECHIST)

Introduction:
As leaders in the field of the youth apostolate, your task will be to help your parishes,
dioceses, associations, and movements to be truly open to the personal, social, and spiritual needs of young people. You will have to find ways of involving young people in projects and activities of formation, spirituality, and service, giving them responsibility for themselves and their work, and taking care to avoid isolating them and their apostolate from the rest of the ecclesial community. Young people need to be able to see the practical relevance of their efforts to meet the real needs of people, especially the poor and neglected. They should be able to see that their apostolate belongs fully to the Church’s mission in the world. (Pope John Paul II, Listen to the True Word of Life, 1993).

GUIDELINES & RESOURCES FOR YOUTH CATECHESIS

Goals of Youth Ministry:
To empower youth people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in our world today.
To draw young people to responsible participation in the life, mission, and work of the Catholic faith community.
To foster the total personal and spiritual growth of each young person.

KEYS TO SUCCESS:

Youth leaders who are passionate about their faith and youth.
Catechists must be willing to make a significant commitment: for preparation time and class time.
Catechesis methodology must be based on active learning principals: combining teacher lecture, small group discussion and activities.
A youth friendly Church environment that is open to their talents, energy and enthusiasm.
Comprehensive program including catechesis, liturgy, worship, community building and service.
Catechesis grounded on the scripture and teachings of the Catholic Church, including the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Ministry that is family friendly and that celebrates and appreciates diversity.
Catechises who are flexible and can adapt to the needs of the program and the youth.