Volunteer Opportunities

The success of the Child and Youth Ministry Programs depends on the continual involvement of parents. Because faith is born and nurtured in the home, it is important that parents be involved in the ongoing faith formation of their children. We welcome and strongly encourage parents to work with the Catholic Formation staff in the following areas:

Catechist (Child/Youth Ministries & Confirmation)
Share your faith with the young people of our parish. Classes are held approximately 20 times a year, along with several large group activities. Catechist manual and materials provided. High school seniors encouraged.

Co-Catechist (Child/Youth Ministries & Confirmation)
“Team teach” with another catechist, either one or two semester(s). Catechist manual and materials provided. High school seniors encouraged.

Substitute Catechist (Child/Youth Ministries & Confirmation)
Teach a class for a catechist who is absent. All lesson plans and materials provided.

Classroom Aide ( Child Ministry)
Assist a catechist with children during class sessions.

Room Parents
Grades K4-Gr 5: Phone parents for classroom needs.
Grades 6-8: Parents who can be available on an as-needed basis to assist catechist with service projects, classroom projects, or carpooling for fieldtrips.

Chaperones (Youth Ministry-Critical Need)

Overnight Retreats—Two Friday to Saturday retreats are conducted annually for grades 9/10 and three Friday to Sunday retreats are held annually for those in Confirmation prep. The need is critical for male/female overnight chaperones.

Youth Ministry Social Activities - Annual events include: Trips to Six Flags, Noah's Ark, a Haunted House, as well as Dodgeball League and a middle school Lock-In.

Office Help (Child/Youth Ministries)
Frequent daytime projects involving collating/stapling papers, and stuffing and labeling envelopes for mailings. Typical tasks are phoning families with reminders, pulling together class materials, filing.

Child Ministry Committee
Members help plan projects and collaborate with Assoc. Director for Child Ministry Director on topics of interest for students, grades K-5. Meets 6-8 times a year.

Youth Ministry Committee
Help plan projects and collaborate with Assoc. Director for Youth Ministry on topics of interest for students, grades 6-11. Meets 4-6 times a year.

Liturgy of the Word for Children
At one of the Sunday Masses, from October to April, children are invited by Father to come forward at the beginning of Mass to participate in a reflection of the Sunday Gospel as found in the Children’s Lectionary. A catechist and volunteers lead the children out to another room where they read the story and proceed to bring it alive with the children through discussion and activities. Children rejoin their parents in the pew after the homily. Time commitment depends on number of volunteers. Materials provided.

Outreach Leaders
Outreach is a summer service project for high school students. They sign on in October and, along with adult leaders, meet to learn about the purpose of service as the Gospel’s call to justice. All prepare spiritually, while fundraising and learning that serving one another is fun! The weeklong service projects have taken teens to South Dakota, Chicago, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska and Appalachia. Each site promises a rewarding experience for the volunteers and for the many people whose lives they touch.

11/01/06