Welcome to
High School Youth Ministry & Confirmation Preparation
Holy Cross Catholic Church
2009-2010

Holy Cross High School Youth Ministry meets on Sunday nights from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. for a combination of fun, faith-sharing, education, prayer and service activities. Youth Ministry gatherings are intermingled with Confirmation preparation. A monthly bulletin with a calendar of events is published and available on the Sunday preceding the beginning of each month in the back of the Church. We also have a space to announce youth related activities in the weekly parish bulletin (Youth Ministry Corner) and in the kiosk outside of the Church.

Preparation for the sacrament of Confirmation is a two-year process for high school students who will be at least 16 at the time of Confirmation. Separate sessions (on the same night) are held for first year and second year participants. During the first year, parents attend the sessions with the teens. During the second year, sponsors attend sessions with the candidates; if a sponsor cannot attend, a parent is asked to stand in. We hope to continue parent sessions to foster the faith development of parents and help them fulfill their role as the primary catechists of their children. For all candidates, active involvement in the parish is expected (attending Mass and participating in the life of the parish). Apostolic Service is another essential component of the process. Teens preparing for Confirmation keep a journal reflecting on the process, their service, and their continuing relationship with God. Each year of preparation includes a retreat day and at least one interview with the Confirmation coordinator. The second year also includes a required weekend retreat for the candidate. The date for Confirmation is set by the bishop’s office and is usually after Easter, in April or May.

Teens that were confirmed in elementary school as part of the RCIA process are encouraged to take part in the high school Confirmation preparation process; a special blessing is given at the time of Confirmation for those teens already confirmed. Preparation for other sacraments (Baptism and Eucharist) is also available by special arrangement with the Office of Youth Ministry.

Teens that are already confirmed are encouraged to continue to grow in their faith by staying active in the parish or youth ministry programs. There are many opportunities for leadership and service for our older teens. These are highlighted in our August newsletter.

There are many ways for teens, their parents, and the whole parish to be active in making Youth Ministry at Holy Cross a vibrant and fun experience. As a reminder, by diocesan policy all persons 18 and over working with young people must be fingerprinted. For more information about Youth Ministry at Holy Cross, please contact Mary Sue Babb in the Youth Ministry Office, 459-7540. You can also e-mail her at msbabb55@aol.com.

Holy Cross Youth Ministry Commission is committed to empowering the youth of our parish
by nurturing and affirming their gifts, talents and self-esteem.     

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Announcements

• See 2009-10 Confirmation Schedules
• Revised Confirmation Schedules

Calendars

2009 - 10 Youth Ministry Calendar (PDF)

• August, 2009 (PDF)
• September, 2009 (PDF)
• October, 2009 (PDF)
• November, 2009 (PDF)
• December, 2009 (PDF)
• January, 2010 (PDF)
• February, 2010 (PDF)
• March, 2010 (PDF)
• April, 2010 (PDF)
• May, 2010 (PDF)
• June,July, 2010 (PDF)

 

Junior High

Newsletters:

• May, 2010(PDF)
• Mar - Apr, 2010 (PDF)
• Jan - Feb, 2010
• Nov - Dec. 2009 (PDF)
• May 2009 (PDF)
• Mar - Apr, 2009(PDF)
• Jan - Feb, 2009(PDF)
• Nov - Dec, 2008 (PDF)
• Sept - Oct, 2008 (PDF)

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We meet on Thursday evening from 7:15 to 8:45 PM in the meeting room of the Parish Hall building, 170 High Street. Our group is open to 6,7,and 8th grade students who want to meet other Middle School youth, to learn more about our shared Catholic Faith and Church, and to better our understanding of ourselves and the GOD who cares for us.

We participate in parish activities, community service projects, celebrate special holidays, and best of all have food and fun. Our opening meeting is:

Thursday, September 17, 2009
7:15 to 8:45 PM


Parents are encouraged to attend this first meeting of the Middle School Group. It is our opportunity to introduce parents as well as youth to our program and to each other. It will be a time to share your goals and expectations for the program with us.

There is room on our registration form to indicate your talents and interests, ways you might assist with our program. Because Diocesan policy requires there be another adult at the meetings in cases of emergency, consider helping as a Meeting Assistant to aid us in fulfilling this requirement.

Attached are the Registration and Emergency Forms. You can bring these forms to our first meeting or mail to:

Middle School Youth Program
c/o Kathy Elmore, Coordinator
4 Oak Road
Santa Cruz, CA 95060

If you have any questions, call Kathy Elmore, 423-0369.
Click here for invitation (PDF).
(La informacion en el español en otro lado)

Forms:

• Registeration Form (PDF)

 





 

 

 

 

 

Nos reunimos los Jueves por la noche de 7:15 a 8:45 en el sotano del edificio 170 High Street. Nuestro grupo esta abierto para estudiantes de grados 6, 7 y 8 quienes quieren tener la oportunidad de concocer otros jovenes de la pre-secundaria, aprender mas de nuestra fe catolica y la iglesia que compartimos, mejor entendimento  de nosotros mismos y del DIOS que cuida de nosotros.

Participamos en actividades parroquiales, hacemos proyectos de servicios comunitarios, dias de campo especiales, celebramos dias de fiestas especiales y lo mejor de todo compartimos COMIDA Y DIVERSION!

Reunion de Apertura
Jueves, 17 Septiembre, 2009
7:15 PM to 8:45 PM

Se Sugiere a los padres asistir a la primera reunion del Grupo de Jovenes de la Escuela Secundaria. Es nuestra oportunidad informar a los padres sobre nuestro programa asi come a los jovenes y presentarlos unos a otros.  Este sera un tiemp para compartir con nosotros sus metas y expectaciones para el programs de Jovenes de la Pre-Secundaria de Holy Cross. Algunas veces necesitaremos padres voluntarios para que nuestro programa pueda tener éxito. En la forma de registracion hay un espacio donde tiene la oportunidad de compartir sus talentos en intereses.
Adjuno estan las formas de inscripcion que las puede traer a nuestra primera reunion o envirala por correo a:

Middle School Youth Program
c/o Kathy Elmore
4 Oak Road
Santa Cruz, CA 95060


Si tienen cualquier pregunta puede llamar a Kathy Elmore, 423-0369 o Claudia Manrique 458-3041.

• Formas de registracion (PDF)

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Youth Ministry News

 

• Vol. 7.1 - August, 2009 (PDF)
• Vol. 7.2 - September, 2009 (PDF)
• Vol. 7.3 - October, 2009 (PDF)
• Vol. 7.4 - November, 2009 (PDF)
• Vol. 7.5 - December, 2009 (PDF)
• Vol. 7.6 - January, 2010 (PDF)
• Vol. 7.7 - February, 2010 (PDF)
• Vol. 7.8 - March, 2010 (PDF)
• Vol. 7.9 - April, 2010 (PDF)
• Vol. 7.10 - May, 2010 (PDF)
• Vol. 7.11 - Summer, 2010 (PDF)

    

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Guidelines

Confirmation:

• Confirmation 1 Schedule (PDF)
• Confirmation 2 Schedule (PDF)

Confirmation Guidelines
Holy Cross Parish
Revised: July, 2009

Confirmation is a sacrament which completes a person’s initiation into the Church. It initiates him/her into a way of living that will continue for the rest of his/her life. Pope Paul VI stated in his 1971 Apostolic Constitution of the Sacrament of Confirmation, “By the sacrament of Confirmation, the baptized are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with special strength of the Holy Spirit . . . they are true witnesses of Christ and more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.” Confirmation preparation facilitates the deepening of a candidate’s relationship to Jesus and his Gospel message, preparing him/her to take on his/her mission as Christ in the world. The Church strongly encourages all of the baptized to complete their initiation into the Church.

At Holy Cross, the opportunity to celebrate the sacrament of Confirmation is offered to our high school students. This sacrament involves a choice on the part of the candidate; a person does not have to be confirmed in high school. Confirmation is an important step in a person’s faith journey. It is a time of conversion, a new commitment to faith (at their own level and understanding), being initiated into a new way of living in Jesus Christ. It requires a commitment on the part of the candidate and his or her family and sponsor.

According to diocesan guidelines:

• Confirmation is a 2 year process.
• Candidates should be at least 16 years old, or finishing their sophomore year in High School, at the time of Confirmation.
• Regular (weekly) attendance at Mass, Confirmation sessions and retreats, and participation in parish and youth ministry events is required.
• A copy of the candidate’s baptismal certificate must be on file with the Youth Ministry office, unless baptized at Holy Cross and recorded in the church register.
• Confirmation is a sacrament linked to apostolic service. Candidates are called to participate in service opportunities within the parish and local community. Ideally, this takes place with their families and sponsor. As disciples of Christ, they are to give of their time, talent and treasure.
• Candidates will chose a Confirmation name. It can be their baptismal name or the name of a saint they feel is a model or guide for them.
• Candidates will choose a sponsor to make this faith journey with them. Ideally, the sponsor should live in the area and be in frequent contact with the candidate. If this is not possible, a mentor from the parish or nearby Catholic community should be asked to journey with the candidate.
• Preceding the sacrament of Confirmation, candidates must write a letter to the bishop requesting the sacrament of Confirmation. The candidates will be given guidance in writing this letter.
• There will be several interviews with the Confirmation coordinator or one of the catechists during the Confirmation preparation process. Candidates must express a firm and free desire to receive the sacrament of Confirmation before being confirmed.

In addition, the family is expected to participate in the Confirmation preparation process by:

• Attending Mass each week;
• Supporting the candidate physically, emotionally and spiritually;
• Participating in apostolic service with your teen;
• During the first year of preparation, parents are asked to attend the Confirmation preparation sessions with their teen;
• Helping with refreshments, projects and other activities. All adults are mandated to be fingerprinted in order to work with youth in our diocese. All parents are encouraged to be fingerprinted so they can be chaperones, drivers, and help with our activities;
• Continue in your own faith formation by taking advantage of adult faith formation opportunities in our parish and diocese.

Sponsors

Each candidate will choose a sponsor. This should be done during the first half of the first year of Confirmation preparation. Sponsors should be able to attend the Confirmation preparation sessions (toward the end of the first year and all throughout the second year of Confirmation preparation), participate with their candidate in some apostolic service activities, and attend the Confirmation rehearsal and celebration. If a sponsor lives out of town at a distance that makes these duties difficult to fulfill, someone in the parish or local area may serve as a companion and mentor to the candidate.

Qualifications for a confirmation sponsor are as follows:

• A Catholic not less than 16 years old;
• Has received the sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation (the Church recognizes that a person cannot transmit what they themselves do not have);
• Is a practicing Catholic and is both willing and able to fulfill the role of sponsor;
• Is not the parent of the candidate.

Sponsors:

• Are not super-Christians, but are a model for the candidate;
• Are willing to develop an ongoing relationship with the candidate (continuing even after Confirmation);
• Are good listeners, non-judgmental and willing to walk the faith journey with the candidate;
• Should be willing to meet with the candidate on a regular basis prior to the sacrament of Confirmation and make a commitment to continue the faith journey after Confirmation;
• Are assistants to the parents in transmitting the Catholic faith to a young person.

Forms

• Youth Ministry & Confirmation Registration Form (pdf)
• Youth Ministry Emergency Info & Permission Form (pdf)