October 6, 2022
Youth Groups Return!
Kicking off our youth ministry here for the new year with a new name. All 7-8th grade youth of St. Margaret Mary CC are invited to be a part of Rooted! Our next After School Edition of Rooted will be Wednesday, November 2, 2022 from 2:45 PM to 4:15 PM!
St. Margaret Mary said “Look upon yourself as a tree planted beside the water, which bears its fruit in due season; the more it is shaken by the wind, the deeper it strikes its roots into the ground.”
We've navigated a lot over the last years. Consider this your invitation to put down roots and become rooted in our parish community. All our welcome to be a part, whether it's for the first time or it's just been a long time. We can't wait to see you there!
If attending, please fill out a 2022-2023 Youth Ministry Annual Form. This covers permission for all youth ministry sponsored events held on campus. This form only needs to be filled out once per year: https://bit.ly/SMMYM22-23
Contact Emileigh Ledgerwood for more information on how to get involved! Adult volunteers are needed!
"I need nothing but God, and to lose myself in the heart of Jesus." - St. Margaret Mary.
All high school youth are invited to join Agape! We will meet the third Thursday of the month from 6-8 PM for our regular group meetings.
Additional opportunities include retreats, youth conferences, service, regional social events, and don't forget summer mission trip!
Our first meeting will be OCTOBER 20, 2022! So #savethedate and join us for a night of fall fun and festivities with friends! Adult volunteers are needed!
Ask yourself (or parents ask your kids), who would you want to intentionally hang out with for an hour each week? What adult would you want to be your small group mentor? Think of 4-8 friends. Think of adults in our faith community AND let Ms. Emileigh know!
We are building our YDisciple groups soon and can't wait! More information on the YDisciple program will be coming out soon!
How to sign up for a small group will be coming out soon! But go ahead and be thinking of who you would invite!
Calling all 7-8th grade girls of the St. Margaret Mary Catholic Community (and friends)! We are going to be starting a new small group just for you called Blaze! Link to register below. Deadline to register is October 14, 2022 so we can kick this off the first week of November.
Blaze is brought to you by Walking With Purpose and is funded in part for our community this year thanks to a grant from CEF Louisville!
As we jump back into youth ministry gatherings, I am asking for you to prayerfully consider saying yes to serving the young people of our community. St. Margaret Mary Catholic Community has a mission to be disciples who know, love, and serve God. If you have a heart for young people (in any capacity) then stop, invite the Holy Spirit in, and see if God is calling you to say yes.
We have a variety of ways to be a part of this ministry.
Large Group Nights:
Rooted (junior high ministry) needs adults for "After School Edition" on the first Wednesdays of the month from 2:45 PM - 4:15 PM.
Agape (senior high ministry) will have our "Third Thursdays" from 6-8 PM.
Snack Crew
Do you love to bake or cook? Do you have insider knowledge on what snacks kids absolutely love? Join the Snack Crew! Responsibilities include shopping for or providing goodies for our Large Group Nights "After School Edition" or "Third Thursdays" once a month.
YDisciple Small Group Mentors & Hosts:
Groups of 4-8 youth divided by age/gender (Jr. High Girls/Boys and Sr. High Girls/Boys) will be arranged and are flexible in meeting space and time based on availability of the group. We are looking for Mentors (those who will help lead the group in dialogue) and Hosts (those who would be willing open their home to a group of young people and provide a welcoming environment to our small groups.
This ministry opportunity is the early stages of being formed. If interested, either sign up at the link above and Emileigh will reach out to you or email her at eledgerwood@stmm.org and we can meet to discuss what this ministry would involve.
Blaze Masterpiece Small Group Mentor
This special small group specifically for junior high girls will be starting hopefully the beginning of November. Weekly date and time of meeting to be determined by the participants' schedules. Emileigh Ledgerwood will be the primary leader for the program, but a second adult leader is needed for safe environment requirements.
If interested, please email Emileigh at eledgerwood@stmm.org and we can meet to discuss what this ministry would involve.
As long as you are up to date on safe environment and background check, I invite you to prayerfully consider being a part of our youth ministry support teams. Perhaps you know of a parishioner in our community who would make an awesome edition to this ministry. Please connect us! I would love your expertise as we grow this team of adults who have a heart for supporting our young people and connecting them to the Church community.
Upcoming Service Opportunities
Service opportunities are open to all 7-12th grade youth of the St. Margaret Mary Community (and friends) as of the 2022-2023 school year unless noted otherwise. Safe Environment Trained & Background Checked Adults may volunteer as space allows/chaperones.
Summer Mission Trip 2023
Early Bird Registration is Now Live!
This year our mission trip for the summer is to the Alive in You in Knoxville, TN! Alive in You is a Catholic mission trip & conference program (more details below) for middle school and high school students. We are adding on a “fun” day at the beginning of our trip, June 26. The trip itself is June 26-July 2. We are partnering with other parishes because that helps lower the cost of the trip for all of us, and allows us to bring more students. The trip is open to current seventh through twelfth graders who attend St. Edward, St. Margaret Mary, Immaculate Conception, or are registered in one of those churches youth groups.
We are charging $350 for the trip, even though the actual cost for each student is well over $500. An initial non-refundable deposit of $100 (only $50 prior to November 1) is due with registration in order to reserve spots. In order to alleviate this financial burden for families, we will be having several fundraisers in the coming months. The final payment for students will be due on May 15, 2023. Each parish has scholarships available, so please do not hesitate to reach out to your youth minister if cost is a worry for you.
About Alive in You: https://aliveinyou.com/
From their website: “The vision of Alive in You is to enable our participants to open their hearts and allow Christ to become the center of their lives. Our goal is to educate, motivate and provide young people with a life changing Catholic experience. Alive in You is grounded in the beliefs and teachings of the Catholic Church and we strive to provide the perfect balance of faith, service, education and fun. It is most important that our participants return home with a practical sense of how to live their faith. Through education and experiencing the Sacraments, they will have a renewed sense of their Catholic identity and a firm foundation to continue their walk with Christ.”
Around the Parish
October 12 - S.W.A.P. Night - Speaker TBA
October 19 - Pax Night Out at The Melting Pot
October 26 - No Pax gathering; Parish Adoration available 6:30-7:30 PM
Announcing S.W.A.P. Nights (Socials With A Purpose)! Join us the second Wednesday of every month for dinner and a guest speaker! October's date is October 12th! Topics will vary and suggestions are welcome. Join us for an optional Holy Hour from 6:30-7:30 PM, dinner and speaker from 7:30-8:30 PM.
You may have seen our pic from Activate Games last night or RecBar back in August and wondered what was that about? Well, third Wednesdays of the month are our dedicated to a "Pax Night Out," where we head out on the town for a different social adventure!
On October 19th, we are headed to the Melting Pot for Dessert & Drinks! Come meet new friends, reconnect with old ones, and just enjoy good company. (RSVP Coming Soon!)
Are you a young adult looking for a Church community? Come join us! All young adults, ages 18-40 are welcome to be a part of Pax Young Adult Ministry. Contact Emileigh Ledgerwood for more information.
Young Adult Trip to SEEK23!
Do you hear it?
Wherever you are, whatever you do, right in this moment: You’re being called.
Not by the world, but by Someone not of this world. Not merely to survive, but to thrive in His abundance. Not for empty desires, but for the fullness of His promise of eternal life.
This January, we invite you to join us for SEEK23, a five-day event where you can leave old things behind and answer a new call to greatness, holiness, joy and mission.
The first 6 people to commit will receive a guaranteed $100 off the event pass!
Stand up. Dust yourself off. It’s time to follow.
“Fear not; rise, He is calling you.” (Mk 10:49)
Around the Diocese
Important Links to Remember
We have a new webpage for our youth and young adult ministry here at St. Margaret Mary! It has all the links for current and upcoming events, plus permission slips. We also have a new Facebook page! Follow, like, and stay up to date on all the things going on!
Peace in Christ,
Emileigh Ledgerwood
Youth & Young Adult Ministry Coordinator
St. Margaret Mary Catholic Community