Past Youth Speak Out

One of my biggest regrets was not spending enough time at Youth Group. I was one of the ones that always played the "too busy" card... Which now I realize is completely backwards. If I have trouble making time for God, then maybe my priorities were not where they should have been. Youth group created a community that understood the most important aspect of my life. It gave me a chance to grow as a person and as a Catholic with people my age. I truly wish I had taken advantage of everything that was there for us.
       ~Katie V.

For me, youth group was an opportunity to make new friends and to learn through others’ experiences. Very simply, though, it was fun. I also came up at a time where the group ahead of me was very active in youth group and other parish activities (and that group included older siblings of mine). Point is, for me, it was never about should I try out youth group but when will I be old enough to go?
      ~Alex B.

Youth group was a place where I could talk about religion freely with peers that shared the same views. Most of my peers I knew from school, others I met through youth group that attended surrounding schools. I loved all the activities that were offered at youth group and the memories I made!!

By being a part of youth group I was able to growth in my faith as well as make life long friends and memories in the church I so dearly love. I can't thank enough all that have participated in youth group over the years - it was nothing but great experiences for me!
      ~Lauren K.

I joined youth group when we first moved into town. It really helped me get to know people in the church. I really liked going because it was people that were my age & I was able to talk about my faith with them. We always went on so many trips & outings for fun or for community service. It was nothing like a class…always fun & interesting. I'm sad that you stop going once you graduate high school.
      ~Allie S.

I made some lifelong friends through youth group. It allowed me to take a break from the rigors of school, sports, etc and really get to know people I might not get to otherwise. I had a lot of fun in youth group and is honestly one of the experiences I remember most about my teenage years even 12 to 14 years later.
      ~Nick B.

Youth Group was a place to hang out with good friends, grow in faith, play games, discuss meaningful topics, eat good food, and goof around. I loved going because I didn't have to think about schoolwork or sports but instead focused on faith & community. It also gave me the chance to catch up with friends that went to other schools or were in different classes. In hindsight, and as a major bonus, Youth Group provided me with significant resume builders & life experiences that continue to benefit me today.
      ~Lexie S.

Initially, for me, Youth Group was a sign of growing up or a right of passage. My siblings were involved and active and I wanted to be as well. Because of the location, there were kids from at least 4 different schools coming to youth group regularly while I was there. Friendly school rivalries were always fun and it was a great networking tool. This gave me a chance to be a role model in front of people that didn't know my siblings as well as people from my own high school. I got to know more people at Purdue through people from St. Michael's than I did from my own high school.
      ~Chet B.

Youth Group and Life Teen (once I was in high school) gave me the opportunity to gather with my friends and learn about God, faith, and religion…and how to weave those beliefs into my everyday life. Being a teenager is all about learning and trying new things and keeping God present in my life. It encouraged me to make good decisions, be a better person, and to not only do well, but to do good. Youth Group and Life Teen built a solid foundation that I'm still building on as I get older and make decisions for myself and my family. It created in me a belief that God has a beautiful and wonderful plan for my life. All in all, my faith was deepened by the things I learned and experienced during Youth Group and Life Teen and that faith has kept me strong during difficult times, and also gave me reason to celebrate during the great times!
      ~Brittany W.

Being the youngest Blomeke, there were many things I considered to be rites of passage, that I had seen my siblings involved with and enjoy. Altar serving, 4H, the list goes on. Youth Group was definitely part of that list. I'll further agree with Chet that what I enjoyed most was getting to know people from other schools. It was always fun during baseball or basketball season playing DeKalb or Hamilton and having that friendly rivalry with people I met through Youth Group. I credit Youth Group, too, with teaching me to recognize my blessings, things I would otherwise have taken for granted. I can't tell you how many times I've thought about the  Famine (Food Fast) and how fortunate I am compared to others in the world. Youth Group helped me develop lifelong friendships while growing as a person and having a ton of fun!
     ~Doug B.