EducationYouth Program

Youth Program

St. Paul’s Youth Ministry
2007-2008 Structure

The mission of St. Paul's youth ministry is to experience Christ's love by:

• Inviting youth into a journey of faith

• Nurturing youth in a lifelong relationship with God; and

• Challenging youth to share their gifts of faith. 

Overview

Youth Minister: Bryan Appel

St. Paul's vital, active Youth Program is organized and led by a full-time youth minister. Our Youth Group is divided into Rite-13, for sixth, seventh and eighth graders; J2A or Journey to Adulthood, for ninth and tenth graders; and YAC or Youth in Community, for eleventh and twelfth graders. Our curriculum is based on the dynamic, engaging and challenging Journey to Adulthood model.

St. Paul's Youth meet each Sunday morning from 10:10 -11:15 downstairs in the Youth Center. They gather for doughnuts, juice and conversation, then split into their respective groups for the remainder of their time together.

Every other Sunday evening, the groups meet to socialize and build community, participating in service activities such as feeding the homeless at the Hull Street Center; and gather to watch and discuss movies, and attend confirmation sessions (J2A) and mission trip meetings.

St. Paul's Youth also serve the parish through acolyting at the 11:15 a.m. service; as lectors and greeters at the 9:00 a.m. service; by participating in the annual Christmas Pageant; and in other activities throughout the year.

CURRENT HIGHLIGHTS
The J2A group returned from their Urban Adventure experience in San Francisco this summer, working with the St. Anthony's Foundation. This is the third group from St. Paul's to serve the homeless of San Francisco through this program.

The J2A group is currently choosing sponsors and will begin the confirmation process in November. Their leaders include Katie Fessler, Cathy Vaughan, and David White. They will explore their faith throughout this year, leading towards confirmation in June 2008.

St. Paul's youth are participating in the Light the Night Walk to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society; and in the JDRF Walk to benefit juvenile diabetes research.

An upcoming summer 2008 mission trip to El Salvador is being explored.

A group of adults and teens has formed to return to New Orleans to continue the work begun last spring.

The J2A bake sale allowed a family struggling with child leukemia and financial hardship to have a much merrier Christmas.  The coffee and tea sales helped  subsidize our youth participation in upcoming mission work.