Contact: Nina Rizzo, PhD

(919) 468 - 6131

nrizzo@stmichaelcary.org

Registration form and instructions. Click here 

Confirmation Worksheet 2010-11 Click Here

Confirmation Schedule 2010-11 Click Here

H.S. Youth Ministry Program 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
  
• Bible Study
  
• Service Projects
  
• Fellowship/Recreation Activities
  
• Leadership Development
  
• Diocesan and Parish-based Retreats
  

Together these activities empower youth to meet life’s challenges with faith, hope, and charity:

• 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 (all programs for 9 – 12 grade).  The Confirmation Year Sacramental Preparation Program is also $100 per teen plus $25 for materials and retreat. 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.

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 (4:00 pm – 5:45 pm). Participants are organized into small groups with consideration to their grade level and whether they have been Confirmed.

The High School Faith Formation curriculum provides solid and comprehensive catechesis that makes connections between life and faith by incorporating teen’s life experiences, presenting a core theological message, and helping youth apply the truth of faith to everyday life.

The 11th and 12th grade youth participate in the Servant Leadership Council.  The Council will meet twice monthly on Sunday afternoons (4:00 pm – 5:45 pm).  Lead by a team of adult volunteers, this Council will mentor junior youth in 9th and 10th grades, lead prayer services, assist in faith formation studies, coordinate service opportunities, and grow in knowledge and spirituality of our Catholic faith.

Service Projects

Jesus calls us to be disciples and in doing so our task is to build up the Kingdom of God. Under the direction of the Servant Leadership Council, catechists, and parent volunteers, teens working in small groups will participate in various service projects planned throughout the year.  These Brown Bag Ministry, Helen Wright Women’s Shelter, Shoe on the Other Food, Share Sunday, Thanksgiving Baskets, 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.

Parish-based and Diocesan Retreats

Youth are encouraged to attend parish and Diocesan Retreats. St. Michael will host a parish level retreat for all teens in grades 9 – 12 on November 6-8, 2009.  The retreat will be held at the Mount Shepherd Retreat Center in Asheboro, NC.  There is an additional fee for this retreat.

In addition, to the St. Michael retreat, the Diocese offers many retreat opportunities throughout the year.  The retreats for teens in Grade 9 & 10 are offered in the fall and spring. Retreats for teens in Grades 11 & 12 are available four times a year. In May, the Diocese sponsors the Youth Convention for teens of all grade levels. At these retreats, teens can experience their relationship with God in a more personal way. There is an additional fee for each retreat.

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-based 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 year program, though welcome their participation.

2.    Confirmation Year:

After completing one year of study, students must continue in faith formation studies. In the second year, students begin studies in September and the Sacramental Preparation is incorporated into the year-long curriculum.  In January of 2010, the curriculum switches from general teachings of the Catholic faith to Confirmation Sacramental Preparation in particular.  
Note to Catholic School Students to be Confirmed Spring 2010: Catholic School students who are planning to be Confirmed in spring 2010 are welcome to participate in the full program beginning in September, though it 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 as a good role model of an active, participating 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 with the Servant Leadership Council, catechists, and classmates will participate in service projects within the Church and larger community.

5.    Attendance of Retreat

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