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Frequently Asked Questions (and Answers!)

How can my teen join our parish's Youth Ministry?

Easy...  just show up at any of our events!  We have three weekly events!  At our Thursday night Bible Study called, "Sunday!  Sunday!  Sunday!", we study the Scriptures that will be proclaimed at Mass that weekend, share our faith, and pray together!  We meet in the Underground on Thursdays from 7:00 to 9:00 pm!  Click here to listen to the podcast and read the upcoming Sunday's readings and pray through our discussion questions! 

On Friday nights we meet for LifeNights!  At LifeNights we tackle and delve into all sorts of interesting topics, stretch and share our faith in small group discussions, we sing praise and worship music, learn about a saint, listen to guest speakers and much, much more!  You just have to come to see how awesome it is...  LifeNights take place in the Underground every Friday night from 7:00 to 9:00 pm.  

And every Sunday evening, we have our LifeTeen Mass at 5:00 pm!  The music is awesome and teens lector, usher, and greet parishioners at the door for Mass!  We sit in a special reserved section in the front of the Basilica!  Everyone is welcome!  Click here for more information about our LifeTeen Mass or click here for the entire Mass and Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) schedule!!

Is there a fee to join Youth Ministry?

No!  There is no fee to join Youth Ministry.  Most of our events are free - but sometimes we do a special event that does cost money to participate.  For example, during the summer we have a weekly beach bonfire on Wednesdays ($5.00 per person pays for parking and snacks and drinks), or if we go paintballing there is a fee that is paid to the Paintball Park.  You get the drift...  If you need financial help, please contact us - we want you to be here and part of what we do!  Don't let lack of funds keep you from participating!
                

When can I register my teen for Confirmation Preparation?

Confirmation Registration opens the first week of June and closes the last Friday of August.  Confirmation is open to all high school teens whose familes are registered and active members of the parish.

Registration is online only - if you do not have access to a computer of the internet, we do offer three Sunday registration days where you can come into our Youth Ministry's Office and we will help you register! 

I am a parent (or adult parishioner) and I am thinking about become a Youth Ministry Team Member. What do our teens and our Youth Ministry Program need? 
 
Well, thanks for contemplating becoming a Youth Ministry Team Member! Our Youth Ministry’s plan is to change the world one teen at a time. Today’s teens do not connect to programs, they connect with people. The most effective way to impact teens is through significant relationships with caring adults. One of the common roadblocks for adults volunteering is the misconception about what it takes to be a Youth Ministry Team Member.
The common misconceptions are:
01) You must be young
02) You must be a biblical scholar
03) You must be a perfect example of a Christian
04) You must be a captivating communicator
05) You must feel secure
06) You must be able to act like the teens
07) You must have plenty of free time
08) You must play guitar
09) You must know the top ten popular videos on MTV every week
10) You must be wild, crazy and dynamic
11) You must be liked by all teens
12) You must own a 15 passenger van (Okay, we have to be honest here, a big van would be nice - but not necessary!)
 
High School Youth Ministry is not the easiest ministry in the Church and it’s normal and okay for you to feel inadequate about your skills. Your confidence will grow the more you’re around teens and see how God can use inadequate people like us to do great things.  God does not call the qualified. God qualifies the called. God will provide the gifts.

Here’s the truth about what our teens need - Teens need adults who will...

01) Love God and live for Him
02) Love teens and be interested in their lives
03) Take the initiative to get to know our teens
04) Pray for our teens
05) Be real
06) Say encouraging things
07) Believe in teens
08) Laugh and have a good time
09) Remember names
10) Share God’s love through personal experiences
11) Be consistent with your attendance
12) Be patient
13) Love being Catholic

There are many different roles and jobs in our Youth Ministry that we need filled. Give our Youth Minister a call - he will gladly share with you his passion for our youth and all the different ways that you make a difference in the lives our teens!

I want my teen to be a better Catholic Christian and to love their faith. What can I do?

Well, the big answer is the hardest - be a great example to your children. They will follow your lead. Here are some suggestions that you can give your teen to help them grow in their faith. Tell them to...

01) Read your Bible!  If you want to know where you are going, it is always best to have a map. The Bible is our map. It is God’s story. It is our story. Just call our Youth Ministry Office for a handy dandy Bible reading guide. It will help make your Bible reading experience a more enjoyable one.

02) Pray every day.  You can’t have a relationship without good communication. Prayer is our way of talking to God and God’s way of talking to us. Talk about the good things in your life and talk about the bad. God is interested in it all.

03) Tell someone you respect about your new commitment to Christ.  It could be a teacher, a close friend, your parents, your Youth Minister or anyone else that is a committed Catholic. Sharing your faith with this person will give you a sense of responsibility and commitment.

04) Go to Mass!  At Mass we receive Jesus is communion. Jesus is the best person to help us be a better Catholic! And when you go to Mass, get involved – don’t be a snoozehead! Participate! Sing! Your church life will only be as vibrant as you make it!

05) Go for the Sacraments!  Especially for Eucharist and Reconciliation! Both of these sacraments really keep our hearts pure and on the right track. They help us be better Catholic Christians every day!

06) Become an active member of Youth Ministry.  Hanging around good people helps us be good ourselves! It also helps us keep from being lonely and bored. Our Youth Ministry is active, fun and really welcoming. Give us a try!

07) Find out more about what the Catholic Church teaches and why.  You don’t understand something about our faith? Find out! Get answers! There is lots of good information out there - if you don’t know where to look, just ask your sponsor, your parents or give our Youth Ministry Office a call. We will be glad to help!

08) Share your faith with others - especially with other teens.  The best way to share your faith is by your good example. St. Francis once said, “Always proclaim the Gospel, use words if necessary.” Once people see a difference in your life - a real difference, they will be receptive to you sharing your faith with them.