High School Youth Ministry

919-468-6131

office@stmichaelcary.org

Ministry Description

The St. Michael High School Youth Ministry is a comprehensive and multidimensional program. The overall goal is to:

1. inspire teens to give of themselves in service,
2. awaken a Catholic spirituality by seeing God’s actions in everyday life, and
3. empower youth with the virtues and practices central to a Catholic identity.

The H.S. Youth Ministry program makes connections between faith and life by engaging teens in the following activities:

• Faith Formation Studies
• Confirmation Sacramental Preparation
• Large Group “Faith-Themed” Events
• Bible Study
• Service Projects
• Fellowship/Recreation Activities
• Leadership Development
• Diocesan Retreats

• Evangelizes and catechizes youth giving them a spiritually compelling and challenging vision of life worthy of total self-giving.
• Uses the life experiences of youth – joys, struggles, questions, and concerns -- presents a core theological message, and helps apply learning to live more faithfully as Catholic teens.
• Fosters spiritual growth by helping teens form healthy spiritual values, life skills, virtues, and moral conscience.
• Mentors teens to assume leadership responsibilities by assisting in youth ministry sessions, retreats, service projects, and social events.
• Builds friendships through small group sharing, games, sports, and other activities.
• Partners with youth and their parents, parishioners, catechists and volunteers, and parish staff surrounding them with networks of caring relationships where they can experience and witness the “Good News.”

For more information about the H.S. Youth Ministry program, please contact the Associate Director of Youth Ministry, Dr. Nina Rizzo, nrizzo@stmichaelcary.org or 468-6131.

Registration Fee

Registration fees are $100 per teen for each year of participation in High School Youth Ministry Or the Confirmation Sacramental Preparation Program. Fee is payable at registration. Checks are made payable to St. Michael Church.

IF YOU HAVE A FINANCIAL CONCERN, please contact Dr. Nina Rizzo at 468-6131. Scholarships are available. We want all teens to participate regardless of ability to pay. However, you must contact the High School Ministry Office immediately so that your registration is processed in a timely manner.

Click here to print the Registration form and instructions.

Faith Formation Studies, Days, and Times

Central to the H.S. Youth Ministry Program is forming our teens in the teachings and traditions of our Catholic faith. Faith Formation studies will be offered to the youth in the setting of twice monthly small group sessions on Thursday evenings (7:00 pm – 8:30pm) or Sunday afternoons (4:15 pm – 5:45 pm). Participants are organized into small groups with consideration to their grade level and whether they have been Confirmed.

The curriculum for students who have not been confirmed is Call to Discipleship. This curriculum is a high school program that provides solid, comprehensive catechesis with Imprimatur. Call to Discipleship makes connections between life and faith by incorporating the experiences of youth, presenting a core theological message, and helping youth apply the truth of faith to everyday life. It also has a web-based interface for today’s youth to stay connected with each other, continue learning with forums, educational games, and daily Scripture readings.

For 11^th and 12^th students who have been confirmed, these youth meet for theological reflection and/or Bible Study based on age-appropriate curriculum to include Moral Decision making, Lenten Bible Study, and Catholic Social Teaching. Each of these studies will be 5 to 6 sessions in length and meet weekly. In addition, these youth are invited to participate in Youth Leadership Council where they develop their leadership skills. The 11^th & 12^th graders are also offered the opportunity to serve as small group discussion moderators in the faith formation sessions.

Large Group Faith-Themed Events

Once a month on Sunday evenings, teens in all grades will gather in the Parish Center to take a journey to the Middle East to learn, experience, and celebrate moments in our Liturgical Year. Teens will journey to Damascus in November to celebrate the Year of St. Paul as well as the Communion of Saints. They will travel to Bethlehem to prepare for Advent and the Judea Desert for Lent.

Leadership Development

Teens who have already been confirmed may participate in the Youth Leadership program. The goal is develop and foster their leadership skills. Teens will assist in faith formation studies, Sunday night faith-themed events, service projects, retreats, and fellowship activities.

Service Projects

Jesus calls us to be disciples and in doing so our task is to build up the Kingdom of God. Teens in grades 9 & 10 will plan and execute one team-led service project in the community. Typically, the teens will deliver their service on a Saturday. During the year, teens will be informed and asked to participate in various parish-based and community projects such as Share Sunday, Thanksgiving Basket, Jesse Tree, and Catholic Outreach Activities among others.

Fellowship/Social Activities

Several times of year, teens will gather for a celebration in the Parish Center. Currently, there are plans for a Welcome, Christmas, and Year-end Celebration. In addition, social activities such as a movie night, bowling, Durham Bulls game, and other fun activities will be arranged.

Diocesan Retreats

Confirmation Preparation

Confirmation at St. Michael the Archangel follows the Diocesan policy requiring two-years of faith development prior to receiving the Sacrament. Confirmation Faith formation program prepares candidates to fully understand the meaning of this Sacrament. It invites candidates to deepen their relationship with God, affirm their faith, and live their faith in the world.

In order to be eligible to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, candidates must be in Grade 10 or above to be confirmed, have a sincere desire to receive this sacrament, are registered parishioners at St. Michael, and complete the following program requirements:

1. Pre-Confirmation -- One Year Prior:

   Students must complete one year of High School religious education: (1) participating in the parish sponsored Call to Discipleship faith formation studies or (2) attending Catholic High School meets this requirement. Students who attend a Catholic high school are not required to attend the pre-confirmation program, though we highly encourage participation.

2. Confirmation Year:

After completing one year of study, students must continue in Call to Discipleship faith formation studies. (Participation in Life Teen in 07-08 fulfills the pre-Confirmation year requirement.) In the second year, students begin studies in October and the Sacramental Preparation is incorporated into the curriculum.

Note to Catholic School Students to be Confirmed Spring 2009:Catholic School students who are planning to be Confirmed in Spring 2009 are welcome to participate in the full program beginning in October, but this is not required. Should the students elect not to participate in the full program, they are required to register for the Sacramental Preparation sessions beginning in January. Here they will join those students already in session, where the curriculum focuses on preparing students for Confirmation.

3. Selection of Sponsor:

   A Candidate must select a Confirmation Sponsor who serves a good role model of an active, participation Catholic Christian. To be eligible to serve, a Sponsor must be (1) confirmed Catholic 16 years of age or older; (2) regularly attend Mass and is involved in the parish’s mission; (3) may NOT be the candidate’s father or mother.

4. Completion of a Service Project

   Candidates working as a team will plan and execute a service project within the larger community

5. Attendance of Retreat

   A one-day, on-site retreat planned at the end of the Sacramental Preparation Program is required. To register for the Confirmation Sacramental Program, please complete the entire High School Youth Ministry Registration Form.

UPCOMING EVENTS

1. Kick-Off Event will be held for our youth on Wednesday, August 27 from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm at the St. Michael’s Athletic Field. Bring picnic blankets to eat, drink, listen to music, and play sports. Our Youth Ministry staff and volunteers will be there to greet our youth. Please find more details on the Invitation.
   
2. Parent Information Meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 2 at 7 pm in the Parish Center. A complete calendar of events will be available at the Parent Meeting.
   
3. Welcome and Orientation for Teens will be Sunday evening, September 28 following the Youth Mass in the Parish Center. Session placements will be announced at the orientation. (Parents and teens will be notified ahead of time, if their session choice could not be accommodated.)
   

Volunteer Opportunities

An active, vibrant and effective High School Youth Ministry can change a young person’s life. Are you looking for a new way to put your faith in action? Would you please consider giving of your time and talents to make a difference in a teen’s life?

“Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to a teacher, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses.” Pope Paul VI

A volunteer in Youth Ministry is not a master theologian, but a person who gives living witness of their personal experience in loving Jesus Christ, His Church, and God’s people to the youth they serve. It’s a willingness to journey with young people helping them to grow in knowledge of the Catholic faith, develop their spiritual lives, celebrate the sacraments, and practice their faith in light of Catholic moral and social teachings. A volunteer strives to build caring relationships.

Please prayerfully consider serving as a volunteer in one of the ministry teams: Faith Formation Studies, Sunday night Faith-Themed Events, Service Projects, Bible Study, Leadership Training, Retreats, Fellowship, Administration, and/or Chaperones.

Volunteers do not serve alone. Rather volunteers participate as a team to plan and carry out the activities in their ministry area. Each of the several teams creates a support group that is committed to the same tasks so that no one individual is overwhelmed. The St. Michael’s H.S. Youth Ministry staff will provide training, support, and resources.

A list of Volunteer Opportunities within the High School Youth Ministry Program is provided (click here). Please take a moment to read the task descriptions and time commitments with each ministry area. Please choose the ministry that best meets your talents and suits your family commitments. We seek adult Volunteers who are 22 years and older.

Safe Environment training is required for all Volunteer positions, except those in Administration. This training includes (1) completing the Diocese of Raleigh Application for Volunteers form and (2) attending a Safe Environment training seminar. Seminars are offered at St. Michael parish throughout the year. The seminar schedule is published in the Sunday bulletin or online. The Office of H.S. Youth Ministry will also provide all the application forms and training schedule. Please contact Dr. Nina Rizzo at nrizzo@stmichaelcary or 468-6131 for more information.