Dear Friends in Christ,

With this message, I want to let you know that our joint Youth Ministry partnership with St. John Neumann Parish ended on June 30, 2021.

Two years ago, we formed a partnership with St. John Neumann Parish to gather the youth of our parishes, leverage our resources and try out a new model of Youth Ministry. One of the realities of a joint Youth Ministry between parishes is that it offers shared leadership, but it also raises the challenge of keeping youth connected with their home parish. Since we start a new fiscal year on July 1, 2021, this seemed like the right time for our parish to reevaluate what we are offering to the youth of our parish. I extend thanks to Fr. Stefan Yap and Youth Ministry Assistant Gina Nino de Nightingale for welcoming and helping form our parish youth in the Triple V Youth Ministry over the past year.

On June 22, I hosted a Zoom meeting with several parents of teenagers in our parish to seek out their observations and thoughts on what they hope Youth Ministry might offer their teens in the way of support and faith formation. While I continue to think through their comments, I am also planning on meeting with Youth Ministry leaders in our archdiocese and others to see what model could meet the aims of parents and help our teens continue to know and grow closer to Jesus Christ. The parents strongly emphasized the need to hear from the teens themselves, so theirs is a voice I want to consider, as well.

I will leave you with this: Youth Ministry is a priority of mine and an important ministry in any parish community. As we reimagine Youth Ministry at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, I hope you will offer not only your patience, but also your time and support to rebuild this key ministry for our youth. I look forward to updating you on this topic as soon as I can.

Yours in Christ,
Fr. John Dillon