Graduates leave legacy: Join your parish youth group!

CRYSTAL MARTINEZ | SPECIAL TO THE FLORIDA CATHOLIC

Published: 08.02.08

MILTON | As they were preparing to graduate from high school, members of the youth group at St. Rose of Lima Parish composed “legacies” for their younger peers, listing the top 10 reasons to join a youth group at a parish. Here’s a sampling of their reasons:

1. You learn more about your faith.
2. It brings you closer to your family and God.
3. You learn more about yourself and others.
4. You have fun.
5. You make new friends who are just like you.
6. Your experiences from then can be helpful for the future.
7. You laugh a lot.
8. You share tears.
9. You share joys/sorrows.
10. You meet very cool adults/young adults (core members).
— Raina Nolasco, Pace High School

1. You praise the Lord and have fun doing it!
2. You’re with people your own age who share the same beliefs as you do. Today, that is hard to find.
3. You have people who understand you better as a Catholic, because they are, too.
4. You can make the sign of the cross and no one looks at you weird.
5. You can better understand your Catholic faith, because its put into words you can understand.
6. People know that “necklace” you carry is in fact not a necklace, but a rosary.
7. You’re in a fun atmosphere where there is no pressure to be anything but yourself.
8. You’re in an atmosphere where you can have a good time and never have to worry, “Am I doing the right thing?”
9. You can say the Our Father and not feel awkward for stopping right after the “and deliver us from evil” part.
10. And you feel connected. A stronger bond, a more “universal” bond with the people around you. You can be Catholic and proud.
— Lindsey Isla, Pace High School

1. It gives you a chance to experience adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and reconciliation and grow in your connection with God.
2. It allows you to be creative.
3. It allows you to be yourself in a good manner.
4. It allows you to make new friends.
5. It takes away all your problems and allows you to relax.
6. It teaches us the value of God and everything he teaches.
7. They teach you how to pass on the Gospel.
8. It is an amazing way to experience God’s love and being filled with the Holy Spirit.
9. It keeps teens out of trouble and brings them closer to Christ.
10. It gives us a sense of responsibility of getting along with others and experience what it is like to be without our parents.
— Phillip Barrett, Pace High School

1. Learn more about God.
2. Learn more about your faith.
3. Lots of new people to meet.
4. Learn more about the friends you already have.
5. Fun games.
6. Good music.
7. Time to make great memories.
8. Learn to trust – if you don’t already.
9. Learn to hope – if you have forgotten how.
10. Relaxing.
— Rosario Flores, Milton High School

Martinez is the youth minister at St. Rose of Lima Parish.

Return to Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee Front Page