YOUTH |
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| St. Mary's Youth Ministry St. Mary's parish has a firm commitment to the youth of our parish. This is evident by the amount of resources allocated to our young people. The parish staff includes a Youth Minister, Denise York and a Coordinator of Youth Activities, Katie Frank. Denise oversees all of our youth ministry programs and Katie works with our C.Y.O. (Catholic Youth Organization.) We have a variety of youth programs offered throughout the year. Our goal is to offer multiple experiences of Christian community for our youth in conjunction with an invitation to engage in active participation at all levels of parish ministry. YOUR church is here for YOU! CLOWN MINISTRY: St. Mary's clowns do skits with Christian themes for First Grade Religion Classes and Summer Bible School Programs, visit sick children at Children's Hospital, and they outreach to whatever group may need them (i.e. nursing homes, refugee centers.) Membership is open to everyone ten years of age or older. We'll teach you how to be a clown! The group is coordinated by Miss Rachel Kuczmarski. C.Y.O.: This is a group for all young people in grades 9 and above. Their yearly activities include dances, Spaghetti Dinner, service projects, sports, Issues Nights, Winter Camping, prayer experiences and activities. They meet on Wednesday nights in the school gym. CYO Board Members for this year are Jill Ahearn, Maura Danner, Craig Domanowski, Sarah Faltisco, Kelly Kenline, Christina Kiliszek, Cori Newhouse, Julia Newhouse, Tim Rosenthal and CYO President, Sue Crosby. Ask any one of them and they will tell you that above all else, CYO is FUN! LITURGICAL MINISTRIES: All youth are warmly invited to participate in the weekend liturgies as Altar Servers, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Greeters or Ushers. These ministries are vital to the celebration of the central action of our community: Eucharist. PEER MINISTRY: Each year our Tenth Grade Religion classes go on a retreat. These retreats are planned and facilitated by a group of young people (Confirmed high school and college age.) This group is our Peer Ministry Team. They also facilitate for various Religious Education Functions as needed. They meet as needed. YOUTH MINISTRY PLANNING TEAM: Youth ministry is defined as being TO, BY FOR and WITH youth. Following that model our parish has a planning team of young people who work on parish wide youth events, and offer input for parish programs from a youth perspective. Currently they are planning the Baccalaureate Mass and developing a list of youth who are willing to work with Religious Education Junior High classes. DIOCESAN YOUTH CONVENTION: This annual event takes place in February at the Niagara Falls Convention Center. Our parish holds a Holiday Raffle to raise money for those who wish to attend. Young people must sell raffle tickets in order to benefit from the proceeds. The weekend begins on Friday night with a presentation of the theme. Saturday morning and afternoon offer a variety of workshops on leadership skills and topics that affect young people. Cotillion is a semi-formal dance held on Saturday evening. Sunday consists of an awards breakfast, and the weekend concludes with mass celebrated by the Most Reverend Bishop Henry Mansell. It is an exciting and informative weekend! DIOCESAN LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS/TRAINING: www.buffalodiocese.org/comm/youth.html UPCOMING EVENTS June 1: CYO Car Wash. After all masses
FROM DENISE & KATIE: "We're joining in the turning
away." PRACTICE RANDOM KINDNESS
Youth Minister:
Denise York 683-8564
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