The purpose of any Youth Ministry program is to meet the needs of all teens.  We offer free programs for both middle school and high school students.  We offer community service opportunities for those who have quotas for school, and those who just like to help.  Either way young people are learning that helping those in need is carrying on Jesus’ mission.

TPE Connection is for middle school students that enjoy talking, playing, and eating with friends.  We will meet the spiritual, emotional and social needs of early teens, in an atmosphere where they can express their feelings and experience the unconditional love of Christ.  TPE Connection helps teens become an intricate part of the parish community.

Zero Hour is a program just for high school students, in a safe, easy-going atmosphere.  We will have sports or games, fun thought provoking activities, food, and prizes!  Teens are welcome to bring friends, even if they aren’t parishioners.  This is not Religious Ed, but a program for teens that would like more from their church and friends. 

We hold events throughout the year that young people love to be involved in.  The Diocesan Youth Convention is a great gathering of Catholic teens each February, and we hold fund-raisers to make sure anyone who wishes to attend can go.  The Souper Bowl of Caring is a collection we do to bring attention to how much money is spent on food and fun for Superbowl Sunday, and the money goes to people who are in need. 

Periodically we throw a “Career Dinner,” matching up teens with professionals from our parish in the career path of their choice.  Before Easter we have an Easter egg hunt, with admission being a small fee or non-perishable food items. 

Throughout the summer, we try to have community service opportunities at least once a week, different days and different places, to allow for busy schedules of teens.  Steubenville, Ohio, is the setting for the National Youth Conference each year- a life changing weekend for all who attend!  We all enjoy the overnight bike trek to Father Tom’s cottage in Canada, where we camp out on his front lawn, enjoy a camp fire, home Mass, friends, etc. 

In the fall Zero Hour and TPE start up again, and we plan things like our 24-Hour Fast to benefit a charity.  Weather-permitting, we like to hold a “Rake & Run in October or November.  Shoveling is a fun project for young people who like to help out neighbors.  The holidays bring about awareness once again of less fortunate people, and we do collections of various items for the needy.  Look for Jesus in a young person.  He’s there!