Youth Group Gatherings are scheduled every Sunday night 6:30 pm – 8:45 pm in the church hall.

At St. Isaac Jogues Catholic Church, the vision for Youth Ministry has been building on the fine traditions of the U.S. pastoral documents, “A Vision of Youth Ministry” and “Renewing the Vision,” as a response to the new challenges and opportunities of our day in accordance to the Catholic bishops of the United States. This vision is most importantly an affirmation of the faith, gifts, energy and the fresh ideas of the young people in the church today. It is a Christ-centered vision and it calls us to empower youth for the mission they have been given by the Lord Jesus Christ in their baptism.

Youth Ministry, as it is implemented at St. Isaac Jogues Catholic Church, has a multidimensional and comprehensive approach for all the baptized young people in the parish. It serves as an umbrella ministry, which embraces all adolescences in the parish regardless to their affiliation to the regular Sunday night youth activities. It calls all baptized young people to full participation in the celebration of the churches liturgy and in service in the available ministries of the parish.

Together, with the parish community and all of its resources, Youth Ministry at St. Isaac Jogues aims:

1. To empower young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in our world today.
2. To draw young people to responsible participation in the life, mission, and work of the Catholic faith community here and in the local diocese.
3. To foster the total personal and spiritual growth of each young person.

These goals are approached comprehensively through advocacy, catechesis, community life, evangelization, opportunities to serve in Justice issues, leadership development, pastoral care, and finally through regular prayer and worship as a community of believers.

Sunday Night Youth Meetings
Sunday night youth meetings are designed to offer fellowship, prayer, and faith formation for high school youth (9th to 12th grade) with a Catholic perspective. It also keeps them connected with the Catholic Church community through activities, events and service opportunities on a weekly basis. These meetings are open to all high school students and their friends from other religious denominations. Registration in high school youth ministry is required for regular participation, but youth visitors are welcome to come for up to two meetings before registering. Parents are always welcome to be our guest and are asked to support the ministry through volunteer service. It is our intension to provide a safe and comfortable environment for high school youth to gather on church property on a weekly basis. We operate Youth Ministry in accordance to the guidelines of the parish and the Diocese of Orlando.

• We offer fellowship as a chance for the youth to become better acquainted with each other from 6:30 pm to 7:00 pm and again from approximately 8:30 pm to 9:00 pm in the Parish Hall. From time to time, we may offer soft drinks and snacks.
• We offer prayer & worship in a variety of ways to try to meet the different needs and styles of each youth. We normally start with an opening prayer promptly at 7:00 pm. Depending on the prayer style, we offer the Word of God through scripture, lively music & hymns and a general meditation. The opening prayer can last 15 to 40 minutes. At the end of the night, we close with a prayer of intercession.
• We offer faith formation in small groups, similar to small Christian communities, where young people have an opportunity to share their faith in reflection to the Gospel and the teachings of the Catholic Church. These groups of young people are always challenged to respond to what they have learned in Christian service.
• We offer interactive activities with a purpose of supporting the message of each night. Usually, these activities are lively, engaging, entertaining and purposeful.
• We offer opportunities and information promoting both parish and Youth Ministry activities to connect the youth to other ministries and parish life.
• We offer guest speakers from our parish and from the wider community.
• We offer opportunities to serve as an obligation to our baptismal promise.
  

Peer Ministry is a ministry for high school teens that serves as a ministry of Leadership Development that calls forth, affirms and empowers the diverse gifts, talents, and abilities of young people in our faith community. Leadership roles in High School ministry are key in securing a responsible place in the parish community. Along with adult ministers, peer ministers work together in a team approach to serve the needs of the parish and its youth.

Peer Ministry offers:

• Training and formation as Catholic Christian Leaders.
• Monthly Leadership Meeting for planning, workshops and decision-making.
• Opportunities to serve in other areas of the parish.
• Adult mentorship and guidance in ministerial and personal concerns & development.
• Retreat leadership and planning.
  

In addition to high school retreats, we offer 1 to 2 middle school retreats where high school youth and young adults work together to help develop community with the young people in middle school.

Volunteer Youth Ministers

The position of Volunteer Youth Minister (VYM) is a position we ask all adults to consider in prayer. VYMs are involved in leadership, teaching, mentoring, and planning. A VYM must be willing to be a role-model to youth sharing their Christian life style as a true disciple of Jesus Christ. Therefore, a VYM must be fully initiated and a practicing Catholic. To become a VYM, we hope that the adult, 23 year old or older, has taken time to experience what Youth Ministry is all about and discern it just like you would a vocation. VYMs are adult Lay Ministers who commit their time and talents to work with the young people of the church. It is their primary ministry in the church and all other involvement is secondary. VYMs must also commit to continuing education and must work on earning a Certificate in Youth Ministry Studies through the Center of Ministry Development. All VYMs work in Youth Ministry under the direct supervision of the Director of Youth Ministry and serve within the limits of all the policies of the parish and diocese. This is probably the most fulfilling way to serve in a parish environment, working with young people insuring the future of our church.

For more information or exact meeting times, contact Susan Bitter through the church office or send her an email.

Cub Scouts do fun things with other kids! They get to wear a cool uniform, go places, and see things. They play all kinds of sports and build things, like race cars and bird houses. Want to learn a secret code? Want to learn about wild animals? If you're a boy in the first through fifth grades (ages 7 to 10), go Cub Scouting!

Cub Scout Pack #111 offers a year-round family program. Parents, leaders, and the church work together to achieve the following aims of Cub Scouts:

• Influence the development of character and encourage spiritual growth.
• Help boys develop habits and attitudes of good citizenship.
• Encourage good sportsmanship and pride in growing strong in mind and body.
• Improve understanding within the family.
• Strengthen boy’s ability to get along with other boys and respect other people.
• Foster a sense of personal achievement by helping boys develop new interests and skills.
• Show to be helpful and do one’s best.
• Provide fun and exciting new things to do.
• Prepare them to become Boy Scouts.

We’re proud of Cub Scouting and what it offers to young people and their families. We believe in all of the aims above and support parents achieve them in small groups called dens and as a whole through activities with the Pack. Parents are encouraged to get actively involved.

Boy Scouts get away from it all! They camp, hike, and fish in the great outdoors. They get together in troops, and try out new experiences. Boy Scouting is available to boys who are 11 through 17 years old, or who have earned the Arrow of Light Award, or have completed the fifth grade. Boy Scouts is a boy run program offering opportunities for growth and leadership.

Boy Scout Troop #111 meets every Monday night (7 pm to 9 pm) in the modular building on church grounds. The troop has an active outdoor programs and camps one weekend per month for 9 months out of the year. They attend a week long summer camp at the end of every June.

Venturing offers a program that is fun and full of challenge and adventure for young men and women who are 14 (and have completed the eighth grade) through 20 years of age. Learn more about this high adventure youth ministry by becoming an active part of Venture Crew #111 at St. Isaac Jogues. This group of youth and young adults come together to experience the great outdoors as they better acquainted with God’s creation in nature. Join us as we go camping, canoeing, hiking, pack packing, rock climbing, white water rafting or play a friendly game of paint ball. As you do these things learn how to plan and lead your peers in extra-ordinary adventures.

Venture Crew #111 meetings every second Sunday of each month (6:30 pm – 8:30 pm) at St. Isaac Jogues (room #3). This crew is active with a lot of planned activities. Contact us for more information or stop by one of our meetings.

• Connect Young Adults with Jesus Christ who will introduce them to God’s vision
• Connect Young Adults with the Faith Community of St. Isaac Jogues
• Connect Young Adults with the Mission of the Church in the World
• Connect Young Adults with their peers and build community

The Young Adult Group meets on Sundays at 2:30 p.m. in Modular B in a small group environment with scripture study, faith sharing, activities, and an exciting retreat every year. The active members of this group also respond to the needs of the parish in service in the community. It’s all about sharing what you have with one another!