“To give is better than to receive” is an old adage we have heard throughout our lives. It applies to Christmas gifts and charitable donations and yet I’ve found that it has a special meaning as it relates to the giving of myself with the St. Walter Youth Ministry.
When I was asked to be an adult volunteer for the teens of our parish four years ago, I was honored. Being the product of the late 80’s incarnation of the St. Walter’s Youth Group it felt like I had come full circle in my growth as a Catholic. “The student now becomes the master” you might say. Imparting some of my knowledge and life-lessons upon the youth of our parish would be an ideal way to repay my debt to all of those who helped me through my turbulent teens. As it turns out, I still had many lessons to learn.
Yes, I did have the occasion to share my thoughts and to “give back,” so to speak. It was what I thought I wanted but I soon realized as I spent more time with these kids that I was receiving as much as I was giving. I hadn’t come full circle at all and, in fact, I was only beginning. These dynamic, faith-filled teens were teaching me as much as I was supposed to be teaching them and it was eye opening. The caring, creativity, vitality, and love I was hoping to share was being shared with me and then it finally occurred to me why volunteering with the St. Walter Youth Ministry was so special:
“And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.”
Christopher Prenger
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Tom Hollatz
My name is Tom Hollatz and I have been a member of St. Walter Parish since 1993. Although we were active participants in the church I really didn’t feel as though I belonged. I taught Religious Ed and served on the Art and Environment team yet somehow felt disconnected from the parish. That is until I came to Youth Ministry.
I was drawn to Youth Ministry about four years ago when I attended a parent meeting for the home study program. Mrs. Campe spoke about youth ministry to our group and I was intrigued. I began coming to the different activities offered to the teens of our parish and was totally surprised at how, although I was volunteering my time and energy, I was getting spiritually fed through these young people. Slowly I began to take on more challenges and actually began to run some of the events for the teens. With each event, I draw more and more energy from these young spiritual sponges. There certainly are many challenges facing a person who chooses to spend time with teens, however; the rewards are unbelievable.
I have gone on several retreats with the teens. These are usually comprised of long days followed by nights of little sleep. Over the course of a weekend retreat I may only sleep several short hours each night, yet somehow I return from each retreat with new-found energy and passion for the teens of our parish. The insight that our youth possesses is quite remarkable.
Two years ago our daughter joined youth ministry. It is then that my experience with the group really took off. Imagine a chance to participate in a variety of spiritual experiences along side of your child! Don’t get me wrong. I am not hovering over her and there are many times where we aren’t together at all even though we are at the same event. The sharing of youth ministry provides a springboard for further discussion and activity when we get back home with the rest of the family. We have participated in Discovery, YLC and Steubenville together. In 2008 we are headed to Australia for World Youth Day.
Youth Ministry may not be for everyone. However, if you are looking for a challenging way to give back to the parish then it is for you. If you can appreciate a youthful outlook and are ready for a young person’s insight then it is for you. There are events offered monthly, quarterly or annually that you can get involved with. Give youth ministry a chance and see how full your spiritual cup will become
Tom Hollatz
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Anna Marie Jamison
My family transferred from another parish to St. Walter about 6 years ago because I felt a need to “belong” to a parish not just attend weekly. I wanted to “belong” to a parish that had a sense of community. My children have been involved with the Family Centered Religious Education Program since we became members. As my children moved through the Family RE Program toward Confirmation, they were introduced to St. Walter Youth Ministry (SWYM) through the teens who volunteer to run the Confirmation Retreats. It was at this time that I met Karen Campe and some of the adults and teens who volunteer in SWYM. I was welcomed as a volunteer to help plan the first 7th grade Rally with Karen and another volunteer. Since then I have volunteered to help with many retreats, Confirmation and Discovery, plus other teen events. Talk about feeling like you belong! The teens who are involved with SWYM have so much to offer to us that it is truly amazing. They are full of laughter and fun, yet they are so very spiritual and they don’t even realize it! I am truly amazed at what I have learned from the SWYM teens! Many are very strong in their religion and beliefs and many are questioning their faith. At times when they are seeking answers about their faith, it is a wonderful and insightful feeling to see how they help each other and even the adults to understand God and life at a deeper level. I have personally met so many wonderful people through being a part of SWYM! Recently I was reading an article by Rick Warren (40 Days of Purpose) about trying to find your purpose in life and then find ways to support your purpose. At this point in my life, I feel that my purpose is to nurture my own children as well as the teens in SWYM. I have grown much stronger in my own faith! I have been able to take what I have learned from the teens and put it into “everyday” life. I consider myself to be very blessed to be able to volunteer with the wonderful group of teens and adults at St Walter who belong to Youth Ministry. I have found the community I had been seeking!
Anna Marie Jamison
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Sue Prociuk
I cannot begin to describe the difference that my life encountered when I became a part of Youth Ministry. I had no concept at all what youth ministry was about. I had never paid attention to it and my children were not yet old enough to be involved. In my teen days the church never had, or maybe it was that I wasn’t aware of, any avenue for teens to share or deepen their faith. What a wonderful concept. Having a place to go to because ‘you’ want to go deeper with your faith.
I was first invited to be involved in Youth Ministry over three years ago. I was asked to chaperone and lead small groups at a retreat that is held on campus called “Discovery”. What a huge commitment. Being a part of teen’s faith direction. Who am I? I now needed to make sure that I was worthy of being an instrument of the Lord.
I brought my doubts and concerns to Father Dennis. He encouraged me to get involved and convinced me that the teens would benefit from what he believed I had to offer. He also encouraged me to realize that I would be learning from them as well which is something he knew would be appealing to me. I always try to find ways to learn more about my faith, especially through the eyes and hearts of teens since I have five children of my own. Being a part of Youth Ministry at this time of my life excited and challenged me.
During my years of involvement with Youth Ministry I have been able to share this ministry with three of my five children. It is so rewarding to share a different level of faith with your own children, to be included and to watch them, not necessarily leading them, but observing the way their faith develops. I have also been able to deepen my knowledge and understanding of the Catholic faith by helping these teens grow in their faith. Watching a teen search for answers, develop and follow their faith and be a part of that journey is unexplainable.
What I feel most accomplished about in Youth Ministry is that I have given these teens some insight on what it is like to be a parent of a teen who is deepening, developing and discovering their faith. I believe it helps them to be more open to share and express their faith with their family. Family is where our faith life begins.
I invite and challenge you to step forward to see what you’re missing and what you can get out of leading the youth of our church, the youth of our world in their faith journey. The future of the Catholic Church is in our youth.
Sue Prociuk
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Denise Prociuk
I imagine there is a big difference between being an adult and a teen in our youth group, but I also believe everyone involved in our youth group would agree that we each learn something from each other. There is not one event or lesson learned that wouldn’t be possible without our adult leaders. I was invited into our youth group my freshman year by friends and fellow students, but the adults were the ones at the time that kept me coming back. They were and are so different then any adult I have ever had the opportunity to come to know. They became my friends and some of the closest people I share my faith with. This year I had the opportunity to lead right beside them in the Discovery retreat. Having my own mom on the planning team with me was also an interesting experience. It’s one thing to share with others how one of the adults has impacted you; it’s another to hear from your peers that your mom is one of those adults impacting them. There are so many experiences and decisions in my life that just wouldn’t have been right if it weren’t for the lessons these brave and brilliant adult leaders taught me, and I thank them. I encourage anyone out there interested in helping with our youth group to give it a shot. You’ll be surprised at what you learn as well.
Denise Prociuk
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Terri McNamara
I have been asked ‘why I choose to volunteer my time with St. Walter's Youth Ministry?’. At first, it was because a dear friend "volunteered" me as a person who would be "good". I took that to mean someone who would say ‘Yes’. When I was finally approached, I decided to not say ‘Yes’ initially as I wanted to think about it.
Some of my thoughts were, who was I to lead High School students towards God? Time and time again, I questioned my ability to lead teenagers. When I was growing up, I was just a CCD student. How was I qualified enough to become an adult leader?
After long deliberation and self-reflection, the thought that my sons would soon be of age to participate with SWYM and the fact that I did not want their religious or spiritual life to end after Confirmation, I decided to show them the importance of faith to me in hopes
that they would realize
that it too should be important to them.
So once again, I said ‘yes’. My dear friend was right. My participation in this event was so much different than all of my other volunteer experiences. You see, volunteering at the local school or the library was a little more social than necessary. Generally there were more volunteers than needed. It is not that way at SWYM. Volunteers are needed and used. They participate in every activity and are welcomed with open arms by the Youth.
Also, remember when I said that I was worried that I did not have what it took to lead today's youth. Well I was wrong, just like most things in life, young adults just need an environment that is conducive and open to talking and exploring their thoughts on God.
At SWYM, we all learn from each other. My first Discovery retreat (3 years ago) left me in awe. Today's Youth are awesome and spiritual. I really felt good about our future if these are some of our future leaders. To me that is what makes it all worth it and
keeps me coming back.
By the way, my oldest son did decide to participate this year. It just put the exclamation point on the whole experience for me. Thank you SWYM for this wonderful opportunity!
Terri McNamara
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Dan Schmalzer
As humans we all make mistakes, it is a way of life. As a young adult, it seems we make more mistakes, and hopefully we learn more from these mistakes. Maybe it is how we handled the situation, maybe we have seen others go through the same thing and react the same way they did, or maybe it is because we talked to someone; and that person said something that caused you to really think about your situation and how to cope with it.
Personally, I am a talker. I have to talk through a problem, or it gnaws at me. The people I really like to talk to are the adults in the St. Walter Youth Ministry. They always seem to know what to say, even if they say “I don’t know what to say.” They listen to you with respect. I trust and respect them because they always seem to be there for us teens whenever we need them. Whether it is going out for pie on a Sunday night, or meeting for breakfast or just talking on the phone, they are there. Sure, I talk with my parents about my problems, but it is also nice to talk with someone else beside your parents; you get a different point of view.
The adults are mentors to us young adults. It is so easy now to get mixed in with the wrong groups of people, and to make mistakes that could stay with you forever. But with Youth Ministries and other groups, kids are heard. Don’t make the mistake of not meeting the teens of St. Walters Youth Ministry. Come and visit an activity, whether a coffee house, teen night or even this years’ Relay for Life. I guarantee, you will have as much fun as the teens. You never know whose life you might help, a teens’, or maybe even your own.
Dan Schmalzer
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Brian Nagurski
I have been a part of the St. Walter’s Youth Ministry for a better part of 5 years. I use the term better part because that is exactly as I would describe it. I have had the privilege of getting to know some fascinating young adults who are not only shaping the face of our community but leading the way to a stronger bond with God. They have been an inspiration to me and a challenge to my own Catholic faith.
When Karen Campe our Youth minister approached me and asked if I would be interested in volunteering my time as an Adult mentor I had some reservations. I was involved in the St. Walter’s Youth Ministry Program in it’s beginnings when I was a young adult. I felt so far removed from the experience that I had no idea what to expect. I kept wondering how I would relate to “kids” who I felt I had very little in common with. I had been out of college for close to 10 years and most of my friends where at the stages of getting married and starting families. I quickly realized that not only was it easy to relate to these “young adults” but I also had a lot to learn from them.
Like many of my friends I went to graduated high school, went of to college, landed the first job and started a career. Life always seemed to get faster and faster with faith and connecting with God being put lower and lower on the priority list. I had my whole life to figure my place in the world and explore the mysteries of my faith. I was living in the here and now and letting life’s busy schedule dictate what I put emphasis towards. Also, like many of my friends, I figured reconnecting with God was done more when you were married and restarted the weekly “habits” as kids came along.
My experience with the Youth ministry program has made me realize that reconnection with the St. Walter’s community was that missing piece that doesn’t need to be missing. The young adults in the program are so advanced not only in their perspectives on life but in their faith in God. I have always had difficulty in saying that I “give my time “ to youth ministry because I feel I have received so mush more in return and that the time invested is such a faith building experience that I can never thank Karen enough for the opportunity to “volunteer”. I would encourage anyone who is considering ministry to “just do it”. The regret will ultimately that they had not been involved sooner.
Brian Nagurski
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