St. Elizabeth's High School Youth Ministry   The teenage years are full of questions and challenges. At St. Elizabeth's we recognize that the time between Confirmation and adulthood is a terrific opportunity to guide young people toward spiritual growth. Our Youth Ministry programs seek to empower young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in our world today, and to bring our teenagers into participation in the life, mission and work of our Catholic faith community. Throughout the year we offer events that foster the total personal and spiritual growth of each young person. Activities range from spiritual to social to community service. Teens participate in the Antioch and Covenant Retreats, as well as service projects such as the Habitat for Humanity program, Great Adventure and ski weekends, twice monthly youth Masses and Living Stations of the Cross. These programs are open to all high-schoolaged youth. Please check the bulletin throughout the year for information, dates and times.

Youth Mass Our youth Mass is particularly directed toward the youth of our parish, both to come together in worship and to serve. Our youth Mass will be held twice a month, and is open to anyone who would like to worship with the youth.

Coordinator: Gina Marie Alala     Phone: 201-891-1122  x222

Sunday Night Youth Group Youth group meetings will take place after our youth Masses on Sunday nights, and are open to all people of high school age. At these meetings we will further explore the readings from Mass, and come to share more fully in our identity as young Catholic men and women.

Coordinator: Gina Marie Alala     Phone: 201-891-1122  x222

Sunday Morning Youth Group Our Sunday morning youth group will meet after 10:00 AM Mass on most weeks we don't have a planned youth Mass. At this time, our focus will be on serving the community of our parish as well as surrounding communities. Our planned service will incorporate times of reflection so that we might come to know the importance of our Catholic servanthood.

Coordinator: Gina Marie Alala     Phone: 201-891-1122  x222

Antioch Retreats Our Antioch weekends are peer-led retreats that seek to grow our youth community in size and strength. These experiences are focused on developing relationships with one another as representative of our relationships with Jesus. The retreats will be great events of friendship and Christian fellowship, and are open to any person of high school age.

Coordinator: Gina Marie Alala     Phone: 201-891-1122  x222

Covenant Retreat The Covenant Retreat is open to all teens of high school age. An overnight event run by a team of adult volunteers, the main focus of our experience takes place at the church, and retreatants sleep off site at host homes.

Coordinator: Gina Marie Alala     Phone: 201-891-1122  x222

Emmaus Retreat This weekend long retreat is intended for those youth who have participated in one of our retreats, and are looking to take the next step on their spiritual journey. The focus of this retreat is grounded in the Eucharist, the pinnacle faith experience of the Church. This retreat will be run in collaboration with neighboring parishes, particularly the Church of the Presentation. The retreat is run by a team of high school juniors and seniors, and is open to all high school juniors and seniors who have had a previous retreat experience.

Coordinator: Gina Marie Alala     Phone: 201-891-1122  x222

V-206 Summer Service Trip Our summer service trip provides a habitat for humanity type experience to the youth of our parish. These experiences usually require travel, and a week away from home in service of others. The trip is generally open to all youth of high school age.

Coordinator: Gina Marie Alala     Phone: 201-891-1122  x222

Bible Study Our Bible study group will meet throughout the year to break open the Word of God according to our group's needs. Bible study will take place at least once a month, and serve as a lighthouse group: to pray for and to guide youth group. This group is open to all youth of high school age.

Coordinator: Gina Marie Alala     Phone: 201-891-1122  x222

Youth Ministry - Adult Volunteers  It takes the entire community to achieve the goals of St. Elizabeth's youth ministry. Our youth are encouraged to assume active leadership roles in everything we do, but we still need adult support to help carry out our objectives. Below are volunteer opportunities for those adults who want to help make this happen:

V-207 Core Team Our core team runs our post-Mass youth group on Sunday nights.  This is a month-to-month commitment, and involves one preparation and generally two youth groups per month.

V-208 Service Project Leaders Our service project leaders will participate in our youth group that runs after 10:00 AM Masses on the weekends we do not celebrate a youth Mass. Leaders will serve with the youth in acts of service throughout our community.

V-209 Youth Mass Ministers Youth Mass Ministers participate in the youth Mass as lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, ushers and other such responsibilities.

V-210 Summer Service Project Volunteers Our summer service project is a weeklong experience that is focused in prayer and reflection. The work itself is similar to habitat for humanity projects.

V-211 General Support If you have anything you would like to share with the youth of our parish, we would love to hear from you. As a youth group, we have many forums that are conducive to speakers, activities, service projects, and the like. We're always open to different experiences, so come share your time and talents with us.