Join us for High School Youth Ministry Faith Formation
Our Pastorate High School Youth Ministry Program is open to youth in the 9th-12th grades of both parishes, and focuses on each participant coming to a better understanding of her or his own faith. This includes centering on what it means to have a relationship with Jesus and the Church, to encourage and develop those relationships, and to share that faith with others.
Faith Formation Meetings: Meetings are on Sundays from 6:30-8:30pm, beginning in September and running through April. While our Sunday evening faith formation meetings are part of our Confirmation Process, the meetings are open to all high school youth; youth do not need to be registered in our Confirmation Process to attend our Sunday evening faith formation. Click here for more information about the Confirmation process.
Each year’s Faith Formation meetings are divided into three 4-week sessions and one 2-week mini-session with a break between each session. Sessions 1 and 4 will take place at Saint Jane Frances, and Sessions 2 and 3 will take place at Our Lady of the Chesapeake. Sessions focus on different topics, but each meeting includes scripture and how it relates personally to the lives of the youth. Most of the evening is spent in mixed-age small groups (9th through 12th graders). At the end of each meeting, the youth return to the large group for prayer. Youth are encouraged to evangelize by inviting friends.
Retreats: We offer two retreats each year, Fall and Spring. We have fun, grow, share, are challenged, and learn on retreats. The transformation and conversion that we experience bring memories, faith, and encouragement for a lifetime.
Fun Activities: We offer fun activities for our high school youth during our session breaks and throughout the summer, including movies, amusement parks, and various trips. We also offer numerous opportunities for service, including week-long work camps. Family and friends are encouraged to join us.
Parish Involvement: The youth have opportunities to participate in many areas of our parish community that don’t necessarily gather them together as a youth “group.” They are welcome and encouraged to assist during Masses as ushers, lectors, altar servers, sacristans, musicians and cantors. They may also serve as volunteer teachers and assistants for our younger Religious Education classes. These volunteer opportunities invite our youth into our pastorate community on a regular basis, not just for special youth functions.
Invitation to All: And let’s not forget…our Youth Ministry is not just for youth! We need adults to help, and we offer them a gift at the same time. Our adult leaders (catechists) receive some of the best skill building, personal support, and spiritual formation available. Adults serve because they love kids and love God. They also serve because they realize how much they grow themselves. Some adults assist a couple hours a week, some much more, all depending on the amount of time they can offer. Youth Ministry gives the adult leaders an opportunity to respond to God’s calling in concrete ways that really make a difference. It also offers wonderful, life-giving friendships with other adults. Please prayerfully consider our invitation.