In an effort to meet the needs of the St. Matthew middle and high school students, parents and youth were asked to provide input on the upcoming 2015-16 year.  We are still in need of more people to take on the organization and planning of social and service events.  Below is the outcome of our first planning meeting on July 7, 2015.
 

• There needs to be at least one service or social event each quarter.  These events will be organized by a group of youth with guidance from an adult volunteer.
• There will be a leadership/organizational training session on Saturday, September 12 at 2PM in the parish hall.  Anyone who will be helping organize or run an activity must attend this session - adults and youth.
• There is a need for separate middle and high school events.
• Service events can take place any time over the designated weekend and on those weekends, there will be NO Sunday morning TYM sessions.
• Suggested activities:
  • Christmas concert to raise money for service project, mission or other TYM activity.
  • Alternate service/social activities between Friday/Saturday or Sunday to provide youth with opportunities to participate in at least one event.
  • Contact the local battered women shelter to see how we might be able to assist them - Conor Towell is making this contact.
  • Have a Lock-in that would incorporate a service project, movie, bon fire, etc.
  • Consider running a mini-retreat or going to a retreat facility.
  • Attend a Christian Rock Concert as a group
  • Collaborate with other churches on guest speakers, service or social events.
  • Youth mass on Sunday evenings where youth handle all aspects of the mass.
  • High Ropes course in August
  • Attend Diocesean events like Youth Convention and Love My Life followed by social event as a group.
  • Go to Palace Pointe and perhaps pair middle school youth with high school mentor
  • Chosen by Christ Middle School retreat.  Need to start promoting early with testimonials on how fun it is.
  • High school youth run field day for middle school youth and possibly invite other denomination churches to join in.
  • Return to Avilia in the spring with youth run sessions and mass.
  • Stations of the Cross skits and potluck during Lent.
  • Living Rosary
  • Look at doing another mission trip to the mountains next summer.
  • Day beach trip
• Dates on the calander:
  • August 22 - High Ropes Course
  • September 12 - Organization Leadership Training
  • September 26 - TYM Kick off mass and social - teens organize games and food.
  • October 24 - Possible lock-in and service project at shelter (will show God's Not Dead with discussions)
  • November 8 or 15 - Youth mass at 5PM followed by pot luck
  • December 20 - Urban Ministries Dinner
  • January 16 - Love My Life rally and social event afterwards
  • February 26 or 27 - Palace Pointe
  • March 5 - Middle School Chosen by Christ event
  • March 13 - Stations of the Cross skits and pot luck
  • March 19 - Field Day
  • April 24 - Avila Day of Reflection
• Things that need improvement:
  • Better immediate followup discussions after service events
  • Encourage youth to write own Catholic song
  • Collaboration with other churches - all demoninations
  • Need volunteers to work on one event (or more) this year both adult and youth
  • Weekly sessions have got to be more structured - 10 minutes of talking max, more small group discussions, more visuals or movement activities, more interaction with youth.