The Junior High Youth Ministry program of Saint Margaret Mary is based on meeting the spiritual, social, and faith development of junior high teens. The program has been named the "Journey Program" in that junior high teens begin a journey of getting to know themselves in and outside of their homes, their talents and gifts, the meaning of friendship, and their role in our church community. The goal of the Journey Program is to help young adolescents develop a positive self identity as unique individuals created and loved by God. The program is designed to help teens engage in healthy relationships with others by participating and contributing to our Catholic Christian community. The Journey Program incorporates four different components in an attempt to meet the developmental needs of early adolescence. These components are Word, Community, Service and Prayer.

Complete information on the content of the Journey Program may be found in the 2011-12 Jr. Hign Youth Ministry Parent Handbook (pdf)

Religious Education Office:	630-369-0833
Office Hours:	9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday - Friday
Secretary:	Arlene Serio
RE Staff Assistant:	Mary Costello
Director of Journey :	Patti Guare

Journey meets throughout the school year on a weekly basis from September through May 5. The class is one hour long. Teens are asked to be on time as an hour goes by very quickly. Teens participate in large group prayer at the beginning of the hour in the church and are then dismissed to their classrooms.
6th - 8th Grade classes are held:

Monday	4:30 - 5:30 p.m. and 7 - 8 p.m.
Thursday	4:30 - 5:30 p.m.

Date	Time	Event
February 10	6:00 PM	Threads
Feb 20	No classes	Presidents' Day
February 22	4:00 PM	Ash Wednesday Service
March 1		No Thursday class
March 3	12 - 6 PM	7th Grade Retreat - click here for more info and permission slip (pdf)
March 9		Journey Stations of the Cross
March 15		No Thursday class
Mar 22 - 29		No classes, Spring Break
April 2		No classes, attend Thursday, April 5 event instead
April 5		Holy Thursday - Washing of the Feet Ceremony
April 14	12 - 6 PM	8th Grade Retreat
April 30 & May 3		Last Journey class

Journey Calendar for 2011-12 (pdf)

Special events are held throughout the year to help further the Journey experience.

September - Parish Picnic and start of Journey classes.

November - Harvest Sunday is a service project to collect food for the local food pantries.

December - Operation Wrap

January - Feed My Starving Children service project to fill food packages that are sent to impoverished areas around the world.

January/March/April - Separate afternoon retreats for 6th, 7th and 8th graders involving prayer, large and small group discussion and concluding at the Saturday 5 p.m. Mass.

All Saints Catholic Academy is a regional Catholic school that is supported, in part, by Saint Margaret Mary Parish.