UPCOMING EVENTS:
June 6th: Internet Safety Presentation with FBI Special Agent Mark Thompson - 7PM St. Ann Church. Parents of teens strongly urged to attend.
June 11th: 11:30 AM Choir practice
June 11th: Final regular Youth Group Gathering, 7PM St. Ann Church.
June 18th: 11:30 AM Choir practice
June 25th: Youth Mass 10:30 AM St. Ann
June 26th: Six Flags/Darien lake trip, 8AM - 5PM
Under the guidance of the Pastor, the Youth Minister, and the collaboration of the staff, volunteers, and the parish, Our Lady of the Valley seeks to:
- Empower young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in our world today
- Draw young people to responsible participation in the life, mission, and work of the Catholic faith community
- Foster the total personal and
spiritual growth of each young person
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Do you make time for sports? Instant
messaging? Surfing the Net? |
Did you know that...
· Catholic instruction is incorporated into every meeting?
· Some of our youths are being pressured to leave the Faith?
· Kids come because they want to?
· Our youths are asking how to defend the Faith to their friends, family members, and teachers (apologetics)?
· Scripture reading or reference is an integral part of our gatherings?
In 1998 our youth named the group
"Exodus" to underscore the faith journey
that all of us--young and old, are
making. Exodus Youth Group meets every 1st and 3rd Sunday
of the month at St. Ann's
Church library and is open to any 7th-12th grader
who wants to grow, learn, and have fun
with other Christian youth.
The meetings loosely follow the
following format:
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"After snacks, social time, and announcements, various activities are used to help us recognize our role in the modern world and help us make wise choices. There is role-playing, journaling, and analysis of modern culture and how it affects our lives. The reality of peer pressure as a significant obstacle is often addressed. We are challenged to find our true vocation. We delve more deeply into our prayer
life. Exodus meetings always close with age-appropriate prayer or meditations, often with music and candles."
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MRS. MIK'S RULES:
"What's Said At Youth Group
Stays At Youth Group"
(also known
as the "Las Vegas" rule)
"Cliques Not Allowed"
(we're all brothers and sisters in
Christ)
"No
Gossiping"
(the tongue is a weapon of mass
destruction)
"Inappropriate Language
Unacceptable"
(and
I decide what is "inappropriate")
"If Someone Is Sharing, Be
Quiet."
(if it isn't your
mouth, please shut it)
"Bring Enough Snacks To Share"
(eating without fair distribution makes
people feel very...sniff...unloved)
"What I Say, Goes"
(some people call this the "Mrs. Mik is always right"
rule, but this is totally untrue.
I very often admit when I am wrong, however, I AM, AND
ALWAYS WILL BE, EXCLUSIVELY, THE BOSS! * )
Currently we are averaging 15-20 kids
per gathering.
PARENTS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME TO COME TO
ANY MEETING, ANY TIME.
There are also many special events
that young people (6th-12th grade)
and their families are encouraged to
participate in:
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ALL ARE WELCOMED AT YOUTH GROUP.
EACH YOUNG PERSON IS TO RESPECT THE
INDIVIDUALITY, AGE,
AND SOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT OF THE OTHER.
WE ARE A FAMILY, AND BEAUTIFUL FRIENDSHIPS
HAVE DEVELOPED AT OUR GATHERINGS.
We have a supportive parent network
& three very special, "regular" volunteers:
Mrs. Haley, Mrs. Flaitz, "Mrs.
Mac"
(we love
you ladies!)
* WELCOME BABY LAURA ROSE AND
CONGRATULATIONS MRS. FLAITZ! *
For more
information, feel free to contact Amy Mikolajczyk, Youth
Minister,
at the OLOV office
Wednesdays and Fridays 10:30AM - 1PM: 324-5811.
All other times she is home with "ze bebes" so you can
email her
at the link found at
the bottom of this page.
The Exodus logo above was created in 1998
with the following symbols:
The
Cross (Christ gathers everything unto Himself)
4 steeples (original worship sites of the
"cluster")
"P.E.G."
(participation, empowerment, growth of youth)
Rosaries (Devotion to the Blessed Virgin
Mary)
Host (Eucharist is central
to who we are as Catholics)
* except in rare cases when our esteemed
pastor feels he must
override my decisions... :) which he
hasn't yet, thanks Fr. Pat!
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"OK, that all looks nice, but what
do the teens |
"It's really difficult to truly describe how much attending youth group a couple times a month really means to me. It has changed the way I perceive all aspects of my life; school, sports, and what kind of things I do with my free time. At each meeting, I learn something new and enlightening that helps me live my life as a better Christian, and less concerned with only myself. This is my third year attending youth group, and I really wish I would have joined sooner. It's such a good feeling to know that there are people your own age that you can relate to through faith, rather than the "normal teenage activities." It's like a big, happy family, who can do fun things together, and can live their lives prospering in the eyes of God. I really cannot think of anything I'd rather do with my Sunday evenings, than learn, pray, laugh, and share stories with God and the rest of this loving 'family.' "
"Youth Group has been a faith-filled journey. When I go to the meetings I go because I want to. I go because every meeting is one to look forward to and I know it will be another adventurous journey into who I really am or who I should try to be. It's not just a social experience, but a new understanding of true faith in God. There are younger friends that I can help with their faith, and there are older kids who I can learn from and trust in their judgment. It's good to know there are other kids my age who share in the same beliefs as I do. Youth Group is very important in my life. If I wasn't able to attend it I would definitely not be the person that I am right now."
"Youth Group has meant so much to me over the past year. I've met new friends, and found a new love for God. Youth group has meaning for so many of us who go. I thank God for all those who help us find the path to God."
"Youth Group is very important to me because I get to learn more about the Catholic faith in fun ways. I've gotten to become friends with those younger and older than me, which has given me a chance to mentor to younger kids and learn a lot from the older ones. I get to reach out to those in need through our various service projects. I've learned that there's more to life than school or sports. Through youth group I have learned that faith in God is the most important thing and I have become a more tolerant, more educated, and more spiritual person."
"Youth group in so many ways helped me mature.
It helped me learn not to be afraid of who I am, a Child of God. With the
encouragement of Mrs. Mikolajczyk and other youth group members, I've really
overcome the tension or self-consciousness that most teenagers have. Youth group
is like a home away from home, where everyone accepts you for you. And that
acceptance helped me be comfortable with myself, my faith, and my life. It's
impossible to explain youth group in just a paragraph, but if there's one thing
that I love the most, it's the unity of the members. There's no doubt that Holy
Spirit is keeping us together. Just last year, great friends from youth group
graduated and went to college. I am still in contact them. In contact meaning
praying for them, them praying for me, and talking about important issues that
are good to discuss with fellow teenage Catholics. All of these great feelings
come from Youth Group."
contact Mrs. Mik here: 