St. Martin's Youth Ministry

It Takes a Community Investment!

It takes a welcoming community!
It takes a community that is committed to being open and welcoming to all its members.
The young will experience this open and welcome spirit of the community.
All people in the parish from pastor to parishioner have something to offer young people - a smile, a word of welcome, a handshake during the sign of peace, calling them by name…
Some people in the community have the gift of ministering to youth in a more direct way - you know who you are!
If you are not already working with youth, then offer your gift to the Pastor or Core Team on behalf of the youth and young adults in your parish.
Your gift has been given to you for a reason and the young people in your community need it, need you…
All of our people want to feel welcomed.
All of our people want to feel that they belong.
All of our people want to know more about the real meaning of life and what faith really means.
All of our people want to be inspired in their liturgies with homilies that speak to their hearts and music that energizes their bodies.
All of our people want to feel Christ’s presence in their lives.
All of our people are concerned about the poor and wish to do something about it.
- …and so do all of our young…

A wonderful new paradigm is unfolding in ministry to youth and young adults and its relation to all the ministries of the parish which are all valuable and necessary.

From “Renewing the Vision: A Framework For Catholic Youth Ministry”, Published by the United Conference of Catholic Bishops, available from the USCCB, www.usccb.org.

Destination Confirmation

Bishop Patrick McGrath has granted permission for our parish to modify the ages (14 - 18) when the Sacrament of Confirmation can be conferred upon the youth of our parish.

Destination Confirmation is St. Martin of Tours' self-paced Confirmation preparation process. It's a holistic and representative view of the Universal Church where students live their faith while preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Fr. Chris Bransfield and Liz Schoenwetter are coordinating the Confirmation process. For more information and a schedule of sessions, events and rites, please call the Catechetical Ministry Office at 289-9608 or email Liz Schoenwetter.

Destination Confirmation schedule. For an up-to-date schedule of Confirmation excursions, contact Liz Schoenwetter to join the participants' yahoo group.

Tahoe 2008

Each year in June, young people in Youth Ministry programs from throughout the state come together for fun, prayer, recreation, and community at Lake Tahoe. For more information, please contact the Youth Ministry team at 289-9608 or email Liz Schoenwetter.

Youth and Young Adult Immersion Programs

The Diocese of San Jose has begun sponsoring special Immersion programs for young people in the diocese, in which participants in these programs will have the opportunity to journey to Mexico, a Native American reservation, or even urban San Jose, Ca. For more information, please visit the diocesan website at http://www.dsj.org/service/YYA-Immersion.asp

World Youth Day 2008

Every year, Catholic youth from throughout the world gather for World Youth Day.

Although it is usually held in Europe, this year's event was in Australia! The Pope is always present at World Youth Day and many people from our diocese were able to attend.

For a virtual tour of this year's World Youth Day, here are some videos about the event.

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St. Martin of Tours Parish - San Jose, CA