Renewing the Vision is a call to make ministry with adolescents a concern for the entire church community, especially for leaders in parishes, schools, and dioceses. The Holy Father has emphasized repeatedly the importance of young people and ministry with them. His words at World Youth Day 1995 called the Church to become the “traveling companion of young people.”

What is needed today is a church that knows how to respond to the expectations of young people. Jesus wants to enter into dialogue with them and, through his body which is the Church, to propose the possibility of a choice which will require a commitment of their lives. As Jesus with the disciples of Emmaus, so the Church must become today the traveling companion of young people... (Youth: Sent to Proclaim True Liberation, World Youth day 1995, Philippines).

GOALS...

1. empowering young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in our world today;
2. drawing young people to responsible participation in the life, mission, and work of the faith community; and
3. fostering the personal and spiritual growth of each young person. To accomplish these goals it will take the people and resources of the entire Church.

The above is taken from “Renewing the Vision,” A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry.

Quest is our basic program for high school students. It is a two year program that includes faith formation and Confirmation preparation. The Sacrament of Confirmation takes place at the end of sophomore year.

When: Twice a month (September through May) on Sunday evening.
Where: in QUEST Leader's home.
Registration: in Spring for the following year. Juniors and Seniors may choose to stay in our QUEST program; they meet three or four times a year and are involved in community service projects.

QUEST is... For all high school teens to experience acceptance, love, faith and challenge. All teens regardless of faith denomination are always invited and welcome. Teens are encouraged to reach out and invite their friends. We also encourage them to come, without the use of force.

QUEST... Strives for a steady, consistent pace of personal and spiritual growths. The program is committed to “faith formation” and attempts to help young people develop a personal relationship with God.

QUEST. Offers teens an atmosphere in which they are free to question and search out issues they are wrestling with in an open and Christian environment.

 

Youth Ministry Calendar for 2006-07

SMALL GROUPS... Teens gather in homes for discussion on faith issues, teen related topics, and personal support for a choice in faith. Also this is a time to share their visions, hopes, dreams and questions.

RETREATS... “ALPHA” Retreat takes place at SMMP Parish Center. ALPHA is held in October for Freshmen. “SPIRIT” Retreat is also held in our Parish Center. This retreat is in final preparation for Confirmation candidates. SPIRIT is held in April for second year QUEST students.

“JOURNEY/SEARCH” Retreat takes place on a weekend in February at Dickson Valley Retreat House. This retreat is for our Juniors and Seniors.

PRAYER GROUP... Teens sing, pray and reflect on scripture and it's application to their life.

PEER MINISTRY. this group of teens focus on Leadership development. These teens minister to other teens and are very active in assisting teens with many parish activities. Peer Ministers lead many of the retreats.

Meetings are twice a month in our Youth Ministry Office.

Selection of service to St. Margaret Mary or community - A booklet called Expanding Your Service Horizons is distributed to Freshmen in the Spring at a QUEST meeting specifically about service.

BIBLE STUDY... This is a new addition to our Youth Ministry. Father Bill O'Shea, our Youth Director, and any teens who are interested in stopping by and learning more about the Bible, meet in our Parish Center.

When: Contact Youth Ministry Office for dates.

HARVEST SUNDAY... This is a service project collecting food for the local food pantries. November 14 - deliver flyers to homes / November 21 - collect food

SOCIAL. coffee house, bowling, etc. are offered for teens to build community with each other.

OUTREACH... Support group(s) will be formed to help teens in difficult situations or in trouble and appropriate referrals can be discussed.

PARISH REACH OUT... Teens becoming involved in or assist at parish functions and projects.

SERVICE... Resource: Expanding Your Service Horizons Booklet; Small Group Projects: as selected by each QUEST group. Individual Projects: Each teen being confirmed is requested to select an individual project of service. Large QUEST Projects: Community Building, Bowl for Kids, Big Brothers & Big Sisters, Summer Witness Mission, Harvest Sunday, Christmas in April, roller skating with grade school kids from our sharing parish. Other opportunities available.

The journey of faith starts from the time we are baptized, and as a community of believers, we journey for the rest of our lives. They continue this journey through the reception of the sacraments of Eucharist and Reconciliation. The Junior High years (6-8) begins the early adolescent development.

As a person enters high school, QUEST becomes a part of the journey. The small groups, retreats, socials, service projects, and prayer are designed to help the young person make a mature and thoughtful decision for Confirmation.

Whenever the teen feels ready and has completed the necessary prerequisites, he/she may choose to participate in the sacrament of Confirmation as a sophomore, junior or senior.

High School transfer students with previous equivalent preparation should contact the Youth Ministry Office. Parishioners wishing to prepare for the Sacrament at a time other than in high school may contact the Pastor to express their desire and reasons. Preparation and reception of the sacrament will then be a pastoral decision.

Each year all teens expecting to be involved in ANY aspect of the Youth Ministry program at any level during any year must register in the spring for the following year.

QUEST is a faith formation program calling our young people to a progressively deeper and richer understanding of the Christian message. There are three levels to QUEST. Successful completion of each level is necessary for movement to the next level

Concentrates on the process of relational ministry and the theme of Becoming, Believing and Belonging. The events and activities are geared to help one discover good times, friends, Jesus, and personal faith.

• Bi-Monthly QUEST home group meetings (usually Sunday evening.)
• ALPHA Retreat - Takes place in St. Margaret Mary Parish Center. ALPHA is held in October for Freshmen.
• Harvest Sunday Service Event - Service project collecting food for the local pantries.
• Reconciliation Service (Advent and Lent)

QUEST Initial interview (usually in the summer between Freshman and Sophomore year). This is an opportunity for the QUEST Leader and the candidate to get to know each other on a one-to-one basis. It is also a time to discern further commitment to Level II.

• Social involvement (attendance of minimum of one)
• Optional: Peer Ministry

The theme is Jesus: His Vision, His Values. It concentrates on the journey of becoming a disciple of Jesus. The world “disciple” comes from the Greek word meaning learner. The events are designed to deepen one's faith commitment and ongoing service involvement. bullet

“Rite of Presentation” teens present their selection of Service and a commitment to continue the faith process at a special Mass the last Saturday in August.

• Active participation in their individually selected Ministry of Service area.
• One Large Group meeting in Parish Center
• Bi-Monthly QUEST home group meeting.
• “Rite of Calling” to Confirmation preparation in January for all those who have completed Level I.
• Continued involvement with Service as per your selection at the “Rite of Presentation.”
• SPIRIT retreat - Takes place in St. Margaret Mary Parish Center. This retreat is in final preparation for Confirmation candidates (second year QUEST students) in April.
• Reconciliation Service
• Make-up work will be required if any of the above components are missed (determined by the QUEST leader or the Director of Youth Ministry).
• Practice for Confirmation
• Celebration of Sacrament of Confirmation
• Optional participation in Youth Ministry social events
• Optional participation in Peer Ministry.

This emphasizes the importance of seeing Confirmation as a beginning or a continuation of the journey, not as an end. This component encourages further growth and service opportunities for those living out their Confirmation.. The purpose is to guide, support, and enable YOU to use YOUR gifts and talents within the adult and youth communities and the larger church.

We invite you to become a part of one or more of these areas

“As the primary educators of their children, parents (along with the QUEST Leader) are to be intimately involved in the confirmation process This will help them renew and strengthen their own faith besides enabling them to set a better example for their children (119 NCD)”

We encourage

• Parents to take an active role in the preparation of their son/daughter for the Sacrament of Confirmation
• Parents to support the decision of their son/daughter to enter the preparation process Because a free response is required of a candidate, the parents should not exercise any coercion
• Parents to share their own faith experiences with him/her
• Participate in all meetings designed specifically for parents
• Participate in all the major liturgical celebrations of the preparation process
• Provide a home environment that is conducive to the faith development of the candidate
• Be willing to assist the candidate with his/her preparation; ex homework assignments
• Parents to encourage the newly confirmed candidates to continue their involvement in the Church/Parish/Youth Ministry beyond Confirmation