Life/Youth Ministry

Holy Spirit seeks to have a vibrant and active youth ministry where our youth (grades 6-12) will have the opportunity to develop their personal relationship with Christ in community with others. (Envision)

Youth Ministry... it’s about empowering youth to live as
disciples of Jesus is our world today.

Learning knowledge about our Catholic faith, growing in faith, deepening our personal relationship with Jesus and exploring ways to live our faith -- rising to the challenge of applying of our faith in our everyday lives. What does Holy Spirit have to offer?

FiRE Wednesdays 6:00 -7:15 PM Sessions for Gr. 6-8 and Gr. 9-12

FiRE Sunday Mornings
Friends, faith and food! Join us Sunday mornings following the 10 AM Mass for donuts and small group faith sharing. Reflect on the Gospel and discuss ways to apply your faith in everyday situations, while meeting with friends old and new.

Connect with friends and your faith at one or all of the opportunities below:

• Youth Groups: Just for fun!
• Middle School and High School Youth Groups: Get together with friends, bring your friends and meet new friends to bowl, rock climb, play video games, watch movies and more. Youth Groups meet about once a month on weekend nights. Youth may bring friends both Catholic and non-Catholic to all youth group events. Permission slips are needed. Middle School Youth Group Event: Pizza & Bowling Saturday, September 16. For Youth Group Events Click here

Spiritual Rewards
Participation in the Eucharist, celebrating Mass with our church community, reading and reflecting on the Bible, experiencing different types of prayer -- learning to talk to God in a variety of ways -- all invite youth to grow in faith personally and in communion with others. (Mass schedules click here)

Retreats
Sometimes you need to get away, out of your usual routine in order to be still and sense God’s presence in your life. Several retreat experiences are offered each year.

Lock-ins
Break your usual routine. Be open to growing in faith and have fun through games, activities, service projects and fun with friends. A city-wide lock-in for middle school youth is planned for late fall, 2007.

Small group faith sharing, faith education programs (click here--jump to top or to youth learning page

Service: Fun with a Purpose
Explore our call to act with justice and walk humbly with love. Through service at places like Channel One Food Shelf, Feed My Starving Children, Christmas Anonymous and Rochester PossAbilities, youth learn the importance and benefits of serving others. Connections to Catholic Social Teaching are emphasized.

Through justice retreat experiences such as Sleep in a Box Homelessness awareness or Starve Hunger retreats, young people get an idea of the experiences and issues many face in our world today. Youth also reflect on these experiences and determine what they can do to make a difference.

Mission Trips

Make a difference in Mexico - Summer 2008!

Just across the border from the United States lie Mexican towns with hardships such as homelessness and poverty. You can help as you build homes, love little kids at Kids Club, make new friends, enjoy the Mexican culture and become closer to Jesus. Sign up for a week-long “Youthworks” mission trip to experience the adventure of a lifetime. YOU can make a difference! High school students (currently in grade 9-12) are eligible to participate and space is reserved at a site in Tijuana, Mexico during the week of June 29th – July 4th. Don't let the cost of a mission trip prevent you from arranging life-changing events for your youth! Fundraising opportunities will be planned and scholarship opportunities may be available. For more information, please contact Mary Nowakowski, youth ministry coordinator (280-0638) or email: youthministry@holyspiritrochester.org. You can also contact Rick Stevens (281-3110) or email: Rick_en_LaPaz@chartermi.net.

Middle School Summer BLAST Camp July 14-18, 2008
All parish youth in entering grades 6-8 are invited to participate in this camp where youth have an opportunity to explore our faith and Catholic social teaching and put our faith in action by doing service in the community. Watch for registration to begin in May, 2008. Have a BLAST (Bible, Learning, Awareness and Social Teaching) in the summer!

Youth Ministry ... it’s about gifts and growth
We grow in faith when we share our God-given gifts and talents with our community. Holy Spirit is blessed to have many young people participating as volunteers in ministry. Youth are liturgical ministers: servers, lectors, greeters, ushers, sacristans, commentators, choir members. Youth are invited and encouraged to participate as ministers at Masses. Once you are confirmed, youth may be Eucharistic ministers as well.

Youth are invited and encouraged to share their gifts and talents with our community by taking on leadership roles. Your time may count as service hours for many organizations. Volunteer by yourself or with a friend as a team. There are several youth leadership opportunities specific to youth ministry:

• LEAD Middle School Youth Council For youth in grades 6-8
  This council plans spiritual, social and service activities for the middle school youth group. If you would like to grow in faith and friendships while learning how to lead, consider joining this youth council. Time commitment is one meeting per month, usually on Sunday evenings or Sundays after 10 AM Mass, but may change depending on schedules of group members. Youth are expected to make service on the council a priority. Youth in grades 6-8 are eligible and invited to participate. Time counts as service for many organizations.
  
  
• LEAD: High School Youth Council For youth in grades 9-12
  If you would like to meet with friends and grow in faith while developing leadership skills, consider joining the high school youth council. This council plans spiritual, social and service activities for the high school youth group. Time commitment is one meeting per month, usually on Sunday evenings or Sundays after 10 AM Mass or on day/time most convenient for the group. Youth are expected to make service on the council a priority. Youth in grades 9-12 are eligible and invited to participate. Time counts as service for many organizations.
  
  If you are interested in serving on a youth council, please contact Mary Nowakowski.
  
  

Youth Ministry ... it takes an entire Church

This is what is needed: a Church for young people, which will know how to speak to their heart and enkindle, comfort, and inspire enthusiasm in it with the joy of the Gospel and the strength of the Eucharist; a Church which will know how to invite and welcome the person who seeks a purpose for which to commit his whole existence; a Church which is not afraid to require much, after having given much; which does not fear asking from young people the effort of a noble and authentic adventure, such as that of the following of the Gospel.” (Pope John Paul II. 1995 World Day of Prayer)

To create and sustain a vibrant and active youth ministry program, it takes the entire church. We all ‘do’ youth ministry. Holy Spirit’s youth ministry program has many volunteer opportunities available that are sure to fit with your unique blend of talents and gifts. It’s important work for our church today and for the church of tomorrow. Please consider sharing your time with our young people. This month the Youth Ministry Leadership Team if forming -- consider joining the team!

You can join the Youth Ministry Leadership team, teach, assist, chaperone, supervise, drive, facilitate, coordinate and more! Youth Ministry Leadership Team Adults of all ages including parents who wish to create a vibrant ministry program for our parish youth are invited to join the Youth Ministry Leadership Team. This team will guide, advise and assist the Youth Ministry Coordinator and the Youth Councils in planning Youth Ministry and faith formation programs and activities that meet the parish's Youth Ministry objectives for youth in grades 6-12. Time commitment will vary. The group will meet about once a month at to be determined by the group.

For information on youth ministry volunteer opportunities, visit Getting Involved or view our Parish Ministry booklet (pdf).