Opportunities For Our Youth
The Lord wants us to have an active friendship with Him, and our world really pushes us towards being passive consumers. My goal as a pastor, and thus of the parish staff, is to find ways to actively engage all of our parishioners in the life of Faith and to give them opportunities to be involved in their own formation in Christ and in the formation of others. Even beyond our school, we have many ways that we are looking to involve your youth in the life of Faith. What I want to share here are the activities that I am encouraging your kids to be involved in at our parish family -- to actively grow in their friendship with Christ in our Parish Family. Monday nights at Cabrini, we have men’s and women’s groups that meet for fathers and sons to discuss Faith and for mothers and daughters to discuss the life of Faith together. This is a way to help our youth see their parents take responsibility for growing in the life of Faith as a model, and for them to have other men and women to answer their questions. Yes, this is different from the traditional ‘drop your kid off’ youth group - but the point is that your kids need to hear you discuss Faith too; we all need role models! Tuesday and Wednesday, Susy and Gaby, along with volunteer parishioners, have confirmation sacramental preparation classes. If your youth is in high school and wants to help lead these classes and to learn too, please contact Susy or Gaby. Tuesday is at Bosco, Wednesday at Cabrini. Thursday is our ‘Beginning Catholic’ Classes at Cabrini. These classes are open to all parishioners to audit and learn. Saturday mornings, we have youth catechesis in Spanish at Cabrini. Any youth are welcome to come help with classes!
And Sunday, of course, there are many ways for our youth to participate in the life of Faith. Praying is the most important thing to do on Sunday, and that starts first and foremost together with the family. We have choirs at both parishes that always need more youth-filled voices! There are rehearsals during the week; talk to Gabi Tahier or Joe. I am encouraging our young ladies (middle school and up) to help greet parishioners as they come to Mass. This will also be a way for them to connect with younger girls at the parish. Please talk to Joe about this St. Therese’s greeter ministry! We are also always looking for assistance with sacristaning. Contact Joe, and we can set up a way to shadow our sacristans! For the boys, we are hoping to build up a culture where they are able to serve at the altar and so consider their own vocation to the ministerial priesthood. We are working to train high school boys as well, with some adults, to have a cohort of fraternity around altar serving. Finally, for all youth, we have sacramental preparation at Bosco in English, especially for the younger kids. We have invited high schoolers to help with these classes, and we are always looking for more help!
Fr. Lou Cunningham
Pastor of the Lakewood Catholic Parish Family
