YOUTH PROGRAMING at Pax Christi encompasses a wide range of activities and events. Taken together, they make up Youth Ministry and are designed to help our youth become disciples of Christ. Read on for descriptions of what’s available to Pax Christi youth!
WEEKLY FORMATION SESSIONS
Separate programs are offered for Jr. and Sr. High youth each week on either Sunday or Wednesday evenings. Each will meet as a whole community for much of the session, breaking into smaller grade-level groups for part of the evening to explore the topics more deeply. We follow the flow of the Mass:
|
GATHER:
PROCLAIM:
BREAK:
SEND: |
Welcome, set the tone for the night, introduce the topic
Speak the truth of our Catholic faith, give the main teaching
Experience the reality of the faith for ourselves through discussions, activities, reflections, etc.
Wrap up the night with a challenge to live out what we have learned and experienced |
Youth sessions are meant to be lively, interactive, engaging, and thought-provoking. A goal is to build community while experiencing our Catholic faith. Join us!
BIBLE STUDY-Sr. High
Bible Study will be held the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month, Oct. through May (check the calendar for specific dates) from 8-9pm in the Garden Level Youth Room. We will use materials developed by Jeff Cavins and based on his Great Adventures series to help give us an overview of Scripture and proceed with other materials to take us deeper into God’s Word. Youth are invited to come whenever they can!
PEER MINISTRY
Peer Ministry is for youth who are ready to take their faith to the next level! This is our leadership development program for any high school youth who feel called to lead and want more participation in the youth program. Following training at a Peer Ministry Retreat, these youth will be called on to work side by side with adult leaders in active ministry to their peers. We are looking for youth with a heart for service, a desire to grow in their faith, and a willingness to reach out to others in a spirit of hospitality.
OPEN YOUTH ROOM-Sr. High
Sometimes we just need to relax! So we’re opening the youth room in the Garden Level for hang-out time on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month, Oct. through May (check the calendar for specific dates) from 8-9pm. Come play pool, listen to music, watch movies or videos, have snacks, talk with friends, play cards, or even do homework! Friends are also welcome here.
Additionally, there will be some Saturday Open Youth Room time throughout the year, so watch the bulletin, website, and newsletter for those dates.
SERVICE
During most months, our Jr. and Sr. High programs will arrange service projects either here at Pax Christi or out in the metro area. As we respond to the Gospel message, we reach out to others in loving service. All youth are welcome and encouraged to participate in one or more service projects during the year. Pax Christi is known as a “Social Justice” parish, one that shows compassionate care to the less fortunate and others needing help. Our youth share in this mission and will be an enthusiastic witness of Christ’s love to others!
RETREATS-Sr. High
Several opportunities for deeper reflection on the faith will be offered to our Sr. High students. All youth are encouraged to participate in one or more retreats during their senior high years.
PEER MINISTRY retreat will be held in Oct. and is meant especially for youth desiring a serious leadership role in our ministry. Emphasis is on hospitality, compassion, and service.
SR. HIGH WINTER RETREAT will be held at the end of January and is a great opportunity for our youth to get away and relax while being challenged to take a fresh look at how their faith affects their daily lives. We will balance fun and learning, prayer and playing during this full weekend get-away!
30-HR. FAMINE will be held during Lent and is a chance for our youth to both learn about Catholic Social Teaching and to experience it in action. Funds will be raised for Catholic Relief Services by students gathering pledges for fasting during this event. Time will be spent in service, listening to speakers, reflecting on social justice themes, and doing a variety of activities.
MISSION TRIP experiences will be offered. Local immersion experiences and cross-cultural trips will be explored. These trips will be an opportunity to put our faith into actions and to build relationships with each other and the people we serve.
SOCIAL ACTIVITIES
A major goal of youth ministry is to build community among our youth. Sometimes the most effective way to do this is to have fun together! When done in the spirit of Christian fellowship, any social activity has as much significance as the most serious theological contemplation we do. Youth are encouraged to try one or more activities during the year and make an effort to get to know their peers at Pax Christi. Some of the activities offered include Christian concerts, professional sporting events, ski trip, snow tubing, Valley Fair trip, and open gym and open youth room time. Any youth with an idea for other activities is invited to call or email Cindy or Nathan.
YOUTH CONFERENCES AND GATHERINGS (Sr. High)
To help our youth make a connection with the universal Church, we will participate in archdiocesan, national, and international youth events. Each spring the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis hosts a youth gathering that includes speakers, music, liturgy, food, workshops, and entertainment. Every other year, the National Catholic Youth Conference is held, attracting more than 20,000 teens from around the U.S. to the host city. This conference features keynote speakers, workshops, service opportunities, liturgies, entertainment, an exhibit hall, and enthusiastic youth! World Youth Day is held every three years and has attendance figures of 500,000- 1,000,000 young people from all over the world. A highlight of this event is experiencing other cultures and attending Mass celebrated by the pope. We want Pax Christi represented at each of these events. Watch the bulletins and website for more information, or call Cindy with questions.
