“What is needed today is a Church which knows how to respond to the expectations of young people. Jesus wants to enter into dialogue with them and, through his body, which is the Church, to propose the possibility of a choice, which will require a commitment of their lives. As Jesus with the disciples of Emmaus, so the Church must become the traveling companion of young people…” – Pope St. John Paul II, World Youth Day 1995, Philippines
For teens, high school is an intense time in life! School life takes on a complex and always changing character not experienced previously by a teen. Your parents and family life, while your foundation, now share your sense of being as friends grow in importance. Relationships become complicated. Homework can be crazy. Peer pressure builds. In the midst of all these things, our faith community wants to walk with you, the teen, listen to your stories, explore your faith questions, help you set life goals, and provide a place where you can feel at home with peers and adults to learn and grow as disciples of Jesus Christ. St. Perpetua walks with our teens in Youth Ministry as you learn to navigate the challenges of the world today through the lens of your faith.
What Is Youth Ministry? “Youth ministry is the response of the Christian community to the needs of young people, and the sharing of the unique gifts of the youth with the larger community.” Renewing the Vision: A Framework for Catholic youth Ministry.” United States Catholic Conference (of) Bishops (USCCB), 1997, p.1 (quoting A Vision of Youth Ministry, 1976). There are three goals to Youth Ministry:
Goal 1: Empowerment: To empower young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in our world today. (RTV, p. 9);
Goal 2: Participation:To draw young people to responsible participation in the life, mission, and work of the Catholic faith community. (RTV, p. 11); and,
Goal 3: Growth: To foster the total personal and spiritual growth of each young person. (RTV, p. 15).
St. Perpetua’s Youth Ministry meets the USCCB goals with two components that lead ultimately to celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation at the conclusion of the second year. “Youth Group” makes up Year I, and formal “Confirmation” preparation makes up Year II. Our High School Youth Ministry is about equipping Catholic teens with the tools they need to carry their faith with them into the wider world and to be proud and happy to be a Catholic. In our Youth Ministry, high school students find belonging, faith, and fellowship with their peers, and grow in relationship with Jesus Christ. We strive to provide an inclusive place for young people that includes opportunities to experience God as well as to serve their parish community.
How Do I Start Confirmation 1 and Confirmation 2? To start this year, look for "Fall Registration" in the LINKS section (on the left side panel) and then choose either HS Youth Group (for first-year teens) or Confirmation (which includes Youth Group). Follow the LINKS section for further information about each component. Once you have registered, look for a confirming email from me and the weekly Teens at St. Perpetua that starts in mid-September communication about upcoming gatherings for teens.
Questions? Send me an email at TBA and look for a response within a day. Thank you for your interest in Youth Ministry at St. Perpetua.
TBA Youth Minister Director of High School Youth Ministry