Youth Ministry

YOUTH MINISTRY

6TH TO 12TH GRADE STUDENTS

Elena Pope, Director of Junior High Youth Ministry

EPOPE@SGFP.ORG    937.898.3542


Jeanne Fairbanks, Director of High School Youth Ministry

JFAIRBANKS@SGFP.ORG    937.898.3542


Elise Sas, Sacrament of Confirmation

ESAS@SGFP.ORG    937.898.3542


REGISTRATION LINK


CONFIRMATION INFORMATION

WHAT IS YOUTH MINISTRY?

Youth Ministry (YM) is the overall faith formation of all youth in Grades 6-12. Its purpose is to:

  • Foster teen's love and knowledge of God’s Word through regular use of the Bible & Bible studies.
  • Lead teens to become aware of and desire a personal relationship with Jesus. 
  • Encourage a deeper love and appreciation of their Catholic faith.
  • Create a young faith community where teens can grow, share, and live out their Catholic beliefs together.
  • Provide opportunities for youth to share their gifts and talents within the church and local community. 
  • Equip teens to live out their call to sainthood in their everyday lives.


WHAT ABOUT RE/GIFT/PSR FOR 6TH-12TH? 

  • YM still encompasses the religious education element alongside the small group and relational ministry aspect.
  • RE is now referred to as Sunday Faith Formation (SFF) it is still considered Sunday catechesis only with the frequency being on the first and third Sundays with opportunities to engage in Catholic youth faith experiences as a larger youth group on the off-Sundays. 
  • SUNDAY FAITH FORMATION are the sessions that most public/homeschool school families are familiar with. However, these are certainly not limited to such students.
  • Terms such GIFT / PSR will no longer be used to refer to any specific programming. It is all simply considered Children's Faith Formation & Youth Ministry: grades pre-K through 5th are under the umbrella of Children's Faith Formation and grades 6-12 are under Youth Ministry.
  • Programs such as RE, VBS, Liturgy of the Word, etc. are programs within Children's Faith Formation. In the same way, JRYM, HSYM, Sunday Faith Formation, SOS, Upper Room, etc. are programs within Youth Ministry.


WHAT ABOUT CONFIRMATION? 

  • The Sacrament of Confirmation is now received in the 8th grade (or older grade if not yet received). 
  • It is not a stand-alone program but incorporated into the calendar year curriculum.
  • Youth in the parish Catholic schools will receive Sacramental Prep as part of their school curriculum throughout the year.
  • Youth in the Sunday Faith Formation sessions will also receive Sacramental Prep as part of their Sunday curriculum throughout the year.


MY TEEN ATTENDS A CATHOLIC SCHOOL.

HOW IS THIS ANYTHING DIFFERENT? 

  • YM gives teens the opportunity to be part of a vibrant, young faith community practicing "how" to live out their Catholic faith outside of the school environment.
  • Youth are able to take what they learn in school and have a place to put it into practice, thus growing stronger and more rooted in their faith through the support of being connected to a larger faith community.
  • YM prepares youth to continue to live out their faith in community as they enter into college life and adulthood. Through regular YM participation, youth become familiar with the concept, commitments, and community structure that many of the campus ministry/young adult groups share. 


WHAT IF I HOMESCHOOL MY CHILDREN? 

  • YM wishes to partner with you and support you in your role as the primary educator of the faith.
  • We still ask for homeschool teens to register through the JRYM link so that they can be included in communications about opportunities to participate in JRYM events.
  • If you are using a Catholic resource as part of your current homeschool curriculum, we would like to know which resource you are using (there is a field to name it on the registration form).
  • We are able to provide you with access to the same resources used in our programs for your use in the homeschool education of your children.
  • Sacramental Prep should be received in the context of YM Sunday Faith Formation at either SP/SJB. Special circumstances should be discussed with the Director of Children's Faith Formation, Elise Sas, at esas@sgfp.org. 


WHAT  ARE AVAILABLE FOR YOUTH TO PARTICIPATE IN THROUGH YM?

JR HIGH [6th-8th Grade]  

  • Sunday Faith Formation (1st & 3rd Sundays - mornings at SJB / SP)

             SJB 9:00 to 10:15am in the Banquet Hall

             SP 9:40 to 10:50am in the Ries Room

  • Wednesday Youth Nights

             First Wednesdays @ SC 7:00 to 8:00pm in the School Gym

             Third Wednesdays @ OLR 7:00 to 8:00pm in the School Gym

  • Semester Socials (Fall, Winter, Spring)
  • Youth Events, Eucharistic Adoration (Exalt), Retreats, Etc.
  • Service Opportunities
  • JRYM Calendar: Printed copies of the PDF calendar and details will be in each parish narthex

             JRYM CALENDAR    

 

HIGH SCHOOL [9th-12th Grade]:

  • Sunday Youth Nights (1st + 3rd Sundays @ SJB)
  • 5th Quarter Socials (5th Wednesdays @ SC)
  • Upper Room (1st & 3rd Wednesdays @ SP)
  • Men's / Women's Small Groups 
  • Youth Events, Eucharistic Adoration (Exalt), Retreats, Etc.
  • Service Opportunities
  • HSYM Calendar: Printed copies of the PDF calendar and details will be in each parish narthex

              HSYM CALENDAR


WHAT IS A BIBLE KIT AND HOW DO I PURCHASE ONE?

Youth are expected to bring a Catholic Bible to every youth gathering. If they already have a Bible kit from last year (the Ascension Press Great Adventure Bible, Bible Zip Case, Bible Tabs) that is what they should bring with them. Even social events will have an element of faith formation to them. Youth are encouraged to be in the practice of associating the Bible as a necessary part of their faith journey, just as a GPS is to a road trip. Youth will be highlighting and annotating within their own, personal Bible. Any Youth or Adult Catholic Bible is acceptable to use. Youth do not need to purchase a kit if they already have a personal Bible. Non-Catholic or Children's Bibles are not recommended.


If any teen needs a Bible kit, one may be purchased and prepared for them through the YM online registration form.


USED BIBLE KIT - $20 - INCLUDES:

LIVE BIBLE KIT - $40 - INCLUDES:

ADVENTURE BIBLE KIT - $60 - INCLUDES:

 

HOW DO I RECEIVE UPDATES AS TO WHAT IS HAPPENING OR COMING UP IN YM?

  • In YM, we regularly use an app & website platform called BAND (available on android & apple platforms). Click on the INVITE LINK to join our group https://band.us/n/a6a2Add61fm3h
  • Through BAND, we post updates, send direct messages to parents, upload photos of youth events, announce event registrations with information and registration links, as well as keep an up-to-date calendar with event details that you can subscribe to and sync with your phone calendar.
  • Occasionally we will use email as an overall method of communication to ALL parishioners, but our primary method of communication will be within the BAND app/website.
  • We will also continue to print a quarterly newsletter and have those available for anyone to take/read in each parish narthex.


WHO DO I CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION / QUESTIONS?


YM REGISTRATION FEE

  • $25 per youth (fee offsets costs for food, programming, environment, and supplies)

            Registration Fee is waived if the student is a child of a Core Team Mentor (Catechist)

  • Registration for individual events off campus may require an additional event fee and/or registration (i.e.: retreat, social outing, etc...)


REGISTRATION LINK


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