Activities

1. Engages the Church to examine its priorities and practices to determine how well young people are integrated into the life, mission, and work of the Catholic community;

2. Places adolescents and families first by analyzing every program and policy for its impact on adolescents and families;

3. Struggles against economic and social forces that threaten adolescents and families; and

4. Supports policies and programs that support and empower adolescents and their families and works to overcome poverty, provide decent jobs, and promote equal opportunity.

101 Youth Ministry Commission

The Youth Ministry Commission is the strategic planning team that prioritizes all the youth ministry activities throughout the year. Meetings are held quarterly to evaluate past ministry activities, develop ways to support current programs, and to plan future events that fit into the life of each of the parishes. A variety of members help ensure many points of view are considered in the planning process. Teenagers, parents, young adults, and other parish organizations all have a role!

102 Parish Council Representation

Each parish’s Pastoral Council invites a teenager to attend meetings to give reports on youth ministry activity and to be a resource for the council on youth related information. In addition to being an advocacy tool for youth ministry, serving on the Parish Council is a great way to develop leadership skills in teenagers.

103 Grants & Fund Raising

Ways to finance ministry is an ongoing quest. One way a parish can advocate for its youth is to actively seek out and be awarded grant money. Some past grant applications have been filed with the Annual Diocesan Appeal and from Oregon Catholic Press’s Parish Grants award. There are also a variety of fund-raising efforts to support youth ministry such as bake sales, trivia nights, and spare change collections.

104 Advertising & Awareness Campaign

A number of strategies are employed to help spread the word about the youth ministry program in the three parishes. These include hosting open house events, publishing a welcome brochure for new families in the parishes, maintaining a website with youth ministry information, sending weekly “email bulletins”, sending a quarterly newsletter, printing flyers for the bulletin boards, bulletin announcements, direct mailings to target age groups for events, and having announcements at Mass.

Age: All Season: Year-Round

200 Catechesis

The Ministry of Catechesis:

1. Develops a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and the Christian community;

3. Enriches and expands understanding of the Scripture and the sacred tradition and their application to life today;

4. Encourages adolescents to live more faithfully as disciples of Jesus Christ in their daily lives, especially through a life of prayer, justice, and loving service; and

5. Encourages adolescents to grow in three dimensions of Catholic faith—trusting (heart), knowing and believing (mind), and doing (will).

201 Youth Group

The Youth Group is a regular gathering for the high school teens in the parishes. Meetings are designed so that teens can 1.) get to know each other more deeply, 2.) learn more about our Catholic Tradition, and 3.) have fun as the Young Church of Southern Illinois. Whether it’s exploring Scripture, or discussing Catholic Social Teaching, teens involved in the Youth Group grow stronger in faith by sharing their own experiences with each other. Youth Group meetings also involve games and announcements about other ministry opportunities young people might be interested in. Many of the youth ministry ideas that are available have developed through conversations at Youth Group meetings! Check the bulletin or website for the latest information on what the Youth Group is up to.

202 Junior High Youth Group

A regular gathering for the younger teens in the parish! Much like the high school Youth Group, the Junior High Youth Group gathers to have fun exploring the Catholic Faith in interactive ways. Past activities include a lock-in featuring Harry Potter movies discussed through the lens of faith and fund-raisers for Catholic Relief Services. The Junior High Youth Group also participates in the annual “Souper” Bowl of Caring activity. Meeting details are here.

203 High School PSR/Renew Group

Have you ever asked yourself "Why am I Catholic?" Or maybe the question is something more like "I am a Catholic, but what does that mean?" This is a chance to explore your feelings and understandings of yourself, of others, and of God in such a way that will help answer these kinds of questions. This is done through a series of guided discussions about a particular subject led by an adult with a group of teenagers.

204 Family Faith Formation

Supporting families is a major part of youth ministry. Various family prayer and growth activities are presented in non-gathered formats for families to use. These programs include articles in the newsletter and information for parents on the youth ministry website. A Family Catechesis class is also offered for those interested in religious education in a family setting.

205 Poster Contests

The Youth Ministry Commission as well as other agencies such as the Knights of Columbus and The Christophers sponsor poster contests that ask participants to explore a religious topic artistically. Deadlines and other information specific to each contest is posted on the Youth Ministry Website.

206 Essay Contests

The Youth Ministry Commission sponsors an essay contest on why Pro-Life is an important issue in the Catholic Church. Winners receive scholarships to participate in the Missouri-Illinois Life Caravan, the annual Pro-Life demonstration in Washington, DC. This activity is sponsored in part by the Knights of Columbus.

207 Lock-Ins

Lock-Ins are a fun way to spend time with friends and make new ones in a short, but intense, retreat-like setting. Some themes for lock-ins recently have been on self-esteem, Christian themes found in Harry Potter movies, and “Celebrate Youth”. Teens who participate in Luke 18 and the summer Mission Trip have at least one lock-in to help build a community before each of these major events.

300 Community Life

The Ministry of Community Life:

1. Builds an environment of love, support, appreciation for diversity, and judicious acceptance, which models Catholic principles;

301 Athletic Teams

Teens who are not on their high school sports teams can still compete in sporting events through the Diocesan Athletic Director’s sponsored events. Events are held in volleyball, basketball and softball. All teams are co-ed.

302 Cathedral Players Guild

Cathedral Players Guild is an amateur theater group that is based at the Cathedral parish. CPG invites and cultivates talents of all ages in performing arts. The Troupe has a new focus involving special liturgical events including Advent and Easter. CPG also supports the annual “Journey to Calvary” choral program at St. Teresa

303 Ondessonk Youth Ministry Weekend

Every fall season, Camp Ondessonk invites parish groups to come see the camp in a season that most people don’t get to see. Activities center around the missionary history of the camp through exploring the trials and challenges faced by the earliest evangelists in North America. Plus you get to meet teens from other parishes around the diocese.

304 Deanery Activities

Parishes in the local area are always inviting teens to be a part of some of their activities. As a universal church, we celebrate our common bonds by being involved with neighboring programs.

305 Youth Sing Praise

YSP is a weeklong program that presents a musical production and also features an extensive retreat experience for the youth. YSP is sponsored and hosted by the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville. The week concludes with a musical that is free to the public.

306 Cardinal Baseball Game Day

Enjoy a day at the ballpark with family and friends through our annual diocesan trip to the game. Tickets are sold for a specific section so we are all seated in the same section of the ballpark to root on the St. Louis Cardinals.

400 Evangelization

The Ministry of Evangelization:

1. Shares the Good News of the reign of God and Invites young people to hear about the Word Made Flesh;

2. Incorporates the elements of witness, outreach, proclamation, invitation, conversion, and discipleship; and

3. Is the core of all ministry with adolescents, as all relationships, components, and programs of comprehensive ministry must proclaim the Good News.

401 Luke 18 Retreat

Luke 18 is a three-day retreat that focuses on inviting young people to open themselves to God by sharing their experiences and learning from each other in an environment of mutual respect. It is about welcoming youth into the Church -- a spiritual family where they are needed, trusted, and appreciated as the good and beautiful children of God that they are. Topics such as Catholic Identity, Sacraments, Prayer, and Spiritual Gifts are woven into the retreat process. Luke 18 is a community where youth can feel the warmth of love that comes from sharing in the journey of life and faith together. It is Church done well for young people.

402 Diocesan Youth Conference

Every year, the diocese hosts a weekend event to celebrate the wonderful gifts our teens bring to the life of the Church. During the gathering, teens learn more about what other parishes are doing in youth ministry, hear messages from nationally known speakers, attend learning sessions on topics relevant to teenagers, and to develop leadership skills by being active in diocesan youth events.

403 Shrine World Youth Day

The Shrine’s World Youth Day event is a regional response to the Pope's call for dioceses to celebrate the young church of today. The day includes praise and worship music, fun presentations by nationally known speakers, Mass in the Amphitheatre, and a dance. The event is held on a weekend with Saturday reserved for 6^th, 7^th and 8^th graders and Sunday for high school students. Supper is served on the hill and a variety of tents have activities for teens during breaks. WYD is a fun day at the Shrine for everyone!

404 National Catholic Youth Conference

The National Catholic Youth Conference is a biannual celebration of the young church of today. NCYC is an exciting, four-day experience of prayer, community and empowerment for Catholic teenagers and their adult chaperones. The schedule includes liturgies, general sessions, workshops and special activities such as concerts, exhibits, and an interactive park with games and activities for teens. The general sessions and workshops are developed to address a broad variety of topics for teens and offer a variety of learning methods. This is the largest Catholic gathering for teens in the nation, with around 20,000 people in attendance. The next NCYC is November 8-11, 2007 in Columbus, Ohio. Deadlines for participating in this particular event have already past. Look for details on the 2009 event on the youth ministry website!

405 Retreats

There are a number of retreat programs supported by the diocese and other Catholic agencies. While these programs are not direct youth ministry programs of the three Belleville parishes, I include these as highly recommended for all teenagers. Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) is a three-day experience in Christian living themed around the Paschal Mystery. It is designed for high school juniors and young adults who are searching for goals, for acceptance, for meaning, for community, for values, for God. The retreat includes witness talks, small group discussion, and large group activities designed to help participants encounter Jesus in new and more personal ways. Parents, those who work or volunteer with youth, and interested adults are also encouraged to participate in this renewal weekend. Information about TEC is on the web at www.bellevilletec.com. Quest is a 33-hour program of sharing for high school freshmen and sophomores. It is an experience of being together with other teens so participants can find out more about God, themselves, and their relationships with family and friends. Through exploring love in the contexts of self, others, and God, participants are invited to a deeper understanding of how love affects their lives in each of those settings. Peer ministers help as share group leaders and give personal witness talks. More information is on the web at www.bellevilletec.com/quest.html.

406 Christian Music Concerts

These special events offer teens a chance to experience the witness of the Gospel through the medium of contemporary music, something just about any teen can relate to. Some events are done as a “coffee house”, and sometimes we meet at the park. The venues are only limited by imagination! Past artists include Karl Zimmerman from the Diocesan Youth Conference praise and worship band, and Shannon Cerneka, a native of St. Luke’s Parish.

407 International World Youth Day

Started by Pope John Paul II, youth and young adults are invited to pray and celebrate their faith with the Holy Father every few years at locations around the world. In 2002, we gathered in Toronto, the last gathering was in Cologne, Germany in 2005. The next World Youth Day will be in Sydney, Australia in July of 2008. Trips typically involve long travels that include time to sightsee at locations on the way to the event. Because of the intensity of these events, the age group is limited to older adolescents and young adults. Deadlines for participating in this particular event have already past. Look for details on the next World Youth Day event on the youth ministry website!

500 Justice & Service

The Ministry of Justice and Service:

1. Nurtures in young people a social consciousness and a commitment to a life of justice and service rooted in their faith in Jesus Christ, in the Scriptures, and in Catholic social teaching;

2. Empowers young people to work for justice by concrete efforts to address the causes of human suffering, to serve those in need, to pursue peace, and to defend the life, dignity, and rights of all people; and

3. Infuses the concepts of justice, peace, and human dignity into all ministry efforts.

501 Food Fast

Food Fast is a hunger awareness program in a lock-in format presented by Catholic Relief Services. Participants spend a full 24 hours without eating anything to experience the pains of hunger that millions of people around the world live with every day. While fasting, participants collect money for Catholic Relief Services’ overseas relief efforts. This event is a great way to celebrate the spirit of the Lenten season.

502 “Souper” Bowl of Caring

This is a service project that identifies a charitable organization to benefit from a fund-raiser done on Superbowl Sunday (thus the play on words!) Teens solicit donations after all the weekend Masses and then present the donation to the organization. The amount collected is reported to a national organization for media purposes, but all money goes directly to the charity.

503 Young Neighbors In Action

Young Neighbors In Action is a weeklong service trip held in the summer at host sites throughout the United States, Canada and

Mexico

. High school teens spend a week at a service site learning Catholic Social Teaching by doing hands-on service with people on the “fringes of society”. Whether it’s people in economically depressed neighborhoods, adults with mental disabilities, or any other group of people labeled “different” in other ways, Young Neighbor groups work directly with agencies that try to break the cycle of poverty for these groups that Jesus calls “the least of these” (Matthew 25:40) in our society. More information about Young Neighbors In Action can be found on the web at www.youngneighbors.org.

504 Pro-Life Activities

Pro-Life is an issue the Catholic Church is very clear on… All Life Is Sacred! Teens are invited to be involved in a variety of pro-life initiatives including the March for Life in Washington, DC, Life Chain in the Metro East, and in advocacy efforts aimed at influencing all levels of government to stop abortion and other life issues.

505 Picnic for the Elderly

Each summer, the Ministry for the Sick and Aged sponsors an outdoor picnic for area nursing homes at the Diocesan Pastoral Center. Volunteers are needed to help set up the grounds, assist residents off the bus as they arrive, serve the meal and be good company for those who come to enjoy the day. Clowns and other “character costumes” are encouraged! A lot of students have used this activity for Confirmation!

506 Neighbors for Renewal

Neighbors for Renewal is a local ecumenical group that rehabs houses so that lower income families can live in a decent dwelling. They offer volunteer opportunities for youth groups as well as skilled and unskilled adult laborers. Each summer, the Youth Group is involved with this ministry.

507 Church Picnics

Teens are invited to help staff booths at the picnic or to form their own committee for a youth-sponsored booth.

508 Crop Walk

Crop Walk is an ecumenical hunger awareness service project held every October in Belleville. Participants collect sponsors and walk a certain distance on a marked trail to collect the money for Church World Service and other local groups such as Catholic Urban Programs.

509 St. Vincent de Paul

The St. Vincent de Paul and Junior St. Vincent de Paul Societies in the parishes offer a variety of opportunities to be involved with those who are homeless or in need. These events include 1.) Thanksgiving Dinner: For Thanksgiving, St. Luke hosts a dinner at the parish center. Volunteers are needed to bring prepared dishes or desserts, to help decorate the hall for the occasion, and to mingle with the guests as the meal is served. 2.) Bishop’s Christmas Dinner: Volunteers are needed each year to help serve a Christmas meal, to sit and visit with the guests, and to help Santa with gifts for the younger guests. This event is hosted at Althoff Catholic High School. 3.) Easter Dinner: Since Easter is the most important event in the Church, St. Vincent de Paul celebrates by hosting a dinner at Cathedral Grade School. Volunteers and needed to help with advertising the meal, preparing and serving the meal, and cleaning up afterwards. 4.) Adopt-A-Family /Giving Tree: Youth are invited to participate in the Giving Tree and Adopt-A-Family programs. Those who can drive help deliver Christmas baskets to families as well.

510 Caroling for Missions

Youth are invited to go Christmas Caroling and asking for donations to support our sister diocese of Jalapa, Guatemala. Funds are coordinated through the Diocesan Youth Ministry Office.

511 Special Olympics

Youth volunteers are needed for a variety of Special Olympics events. In the fall, there are several bowling competitions, in the winter, there is a basketball event, and springtime features a track and field event at SIU-E.

512 Operation Rice Bowl

Operation Rice bowl features small, cardboard replicas of real rice bowls that parishioners are asked to take home and fill with spare change throughout Lent. Money collected goes to Catholic Relief Services for their international aid efforts.

513 Blood Drives

Being a hero takes on many forms. Saving a life through the donation of blood is one way to be a hero in a small way. Teens can help recruit people for a successful blood drive as well as donate blood themselves at age 16 and older.

600 Leadership Development

The Ministry of Leadership Development:

1. Calls forth, affirms, and empowers the diverse gifts, talents, and abilities of adults and young people in our faith communities for comprehensive ministry with adolescents;

601 Youth Awards

A number of awards are available for teens in the parishes, including the Hall of Honor and Raymond-Rueben Award which are awarded at the annual Diocesan Youth Conference, and the Shrine’s Healing and Hope Award. These are great items to include on resumes and college applications.

602 In-Service Leadership Training

Leadership training is available through programs such as the certificate class offered through the Center for Ministry Development and the diocesan youth ministry initiative. The classes are filled with information relevant to youth ministry administration in a parish. Parish leadership training is done as needed based on areas volunteers and youth leaders need the most formation.

603 Boy Scouts of America

Boy Scouts of America is a world brotherhood of boys ages 11-18 years and their adult leaders. This organization's purpose is to build leadership, fellowship, and loyalty to God and country as well as physical fitness.

604 Girl Scouts of America

The purpose of Girl Scouts is to build character, individual potential, respect, values, cooperation, and leadership qualities in girls between the ages of 5 and 17.

605 National Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry

NCCYM is a biannual national training conference for adults in youth ministry. This 4-day event is an adult leadership training convention similar to the National Catholic Youth Conference. The Office of Education has awarded Catechist Certification credits for participation in this event in the past. Information about NCCYM can be found on the web at www.nfcym.org. The next NCCYM is in Cleveland, Ohio December 4-7, 2008.

606 Diocesan Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry

A new initiative from the Office of Youth Ministry, DCYM is an opportunity for leaders in youth ministry to gather with each other for fellowship, affirmation, and training in a variety of topics that people who are leaders in youth ministry need to be up-to-date on. The next DCYM is October 10-11, 2008 in Mt. Vernon.

700 Pastoral Care

The Ministry of Pastoral Care:

1. Promotes positive adolescent and family development through a variety of positive/preventive strategies;

2. Cares for adolescents and families in crisis through support, counseling, and referral to appropriate community agencies;

3. Provides guidance as young people face life decisions and make moral choices;

5. Is a relationship- a ministry of compassionate presence in the lives of adolescents.

701 Greeting Cards

In an effort to reach out to our teenagers, a variety of occasions have been used as a means of supporting our youth. Events such as birthdays, graduation, and Confirmation are all opportunities for sending cards.

702 Pastoral Ministry

Youth and Adult volunteers assist families with youth during times of crisis. Assistance can be in the form of follow-up visits after an emotional event, sending cards to teens and their families, and simply being present with young people who are dealing with difficult issues.

703 Blessings

A number of special blessings are incorporated into Sunday Masses to show our teens that the parish cares about them. These include a blessing for new drivers, a graduation prayer, prom bless, and a “back-to-school” blessing of backpacks.

704 Public Schools Outreach Ministry

St. Thomas Aquinas once said, “When you want to convert a man to your view, you go over to where he is standing, take him by the hand and guide him.” Youth Ministry can learn from this advice. Instead of waiting for teens to come to the Church, the Church needs to go to where they are and bring them in.

705 Exam Care Packages

In May, the parishes offer care packages for those taking final exams. A special prayer card is included.

706 Family Workshops

Presented through resources provided by Saint Mary’s Press, family “workshops” help parents get a clearer understanding of the sacredness of their families and how the ordinary things of family life can be considered holy if we only put ourselves in a position to consider that this may be so.

800 Prayer & Worship

The Ministry of Prayer and Worship:

1. Celebrates and deepens young people’s relationship with Jesus Christ through the bestowal of grace, community prayer and liturgical experiences;

3. Incorporates young people more fully into the sacramental life of the Church, especially Eucharist;

801 Contemporary Choirs

St. Teresa and Cathedral have contemporary music choirs that sing at 5:00 PM Saturday Masses. Rehearsals are one hour prior to Mass. Singers and musicians of all levels are invited to participate.

802 Grade School Choir

Each of the grade schools offer Church Choir as an extra-curricular activity for teens. The choirs sing at their respective “all-school” Masses.

803 Vespers

The ancient tradition of Evening Prayer comes alive for young people at various times on the liturgical calendar. These prayer sessions involve praise and worship music, Scripture, and open prayer as we celebrate the seasons of the Church.

804 Youth 2000 Retreats

Youth 2000 is a retreat based on the Sacrament of Eucharist and all the sacramentals associated with our most precious aspect of our faith. Teens are invited to participate in the retreat and to be more involved with the Sacrament in their daily lives.

100 Advocacy

The Ministry of Advocacy: