/files/SWAT/SWATLogo.jpg

S.W.A.T. for High School Students
A St. Joseph Youth Ministry

 


 

At this time, SWAT is not an active youth ministry at St. Joe’s.


High School Youth Ministry at St. Joe’s is entering into a phase of transition.  This fall, high school and adult parishioners will be encouraged to take part in a process of visioning for the future of HS Youth Ministry.


More details about this process and how to become involved will be posted on our website as they become available.


Feel free to review this SWAT webpage to familiarize yourself with some recent youth ministry programming at St. Joe’s.  Please also consider becoming part of the visioning process for the future of High School Youth Ministry.


During this transition time you are invited to contact Regina Thibeau, Director of Religious Ed, with your inquiries at (847) 362-5797.


Please keep the young people of St. Joseph Parish in your prayers as the congregation moves forward to plan for their spiritual needs.

 

Link to other High School Youth Ministry Pages

Youth Ministries Overview

Appalachia Service Project (ASP) Group

 

Here's what we've during 2009-2010 in S.W.A.T.

/files/SWAT/great america.bmpGREAT AMERICA

What a fun day at Great America!  And what a great reminder that God is the ultimate engineer, creating order and force in this world and granting humans knowledge to build rollercoasters like the Raging Bull and Superman.  SWAT participants enjoyed many other blessings, like water rides and air-conditioned restaurants on a hot summer day.  And not to overlook the delicious wonder of funnel cakes!

/files/SWAT/soup pot.gifSOUP KITCHEN

A brand new group of teens, adults, and families participated in SWAT's night of service at the Waukegan soup kitchen.  Through prayer and great teamwork we served a meal to individuals in need and completed all the prep and clean-up work to support this ministry.  Thank you to everyone who joined the team!

/files/SWAT/2009 shadow stations in color_Resized_124x66.gifSHADOW STATIONS OF THE CROSS

Youth Ministry's version of the traditional Stations of the Cross prayer experience uses backlighting, shadow projection, and dramatic narration to tell the story of Jesus's arrest and crucifixtion.  This year, pre-recorded shadow scenes were presented on the large screen while a dedicated team of live narrators led the congregation in prayer. 

/files/SWAT/soup pot.gifSOUP KITCHEN

Serving at the Waukegan Soup Kitchen gave us the opportunity to meet and serve many individuals and families in need of a good meal.  We prepared and served a meal of soup, sandwiches, salad, and dessert.  We prepped and cleaned the dining room area.  And of course we met some wonderful people.

Guiding theme for the night: In the Service of Life

/files/SWAT/picture gallery/ski clip art.jpgALL-NIGHT SKI TRIP

What a great night!  Joining hundreds of teens from all over the Chicagoland area, 18 teens and 3 adults from St. Joe's spent the entire night skiing and snowboarding at Chesnut Mountain Resort in Galena, IL.  That's right...this wasn't an overnight ski trip, it was an all night ski trip!  With music inside the lodge and bon fires out by the slopes for warmth, the time flew by...and then we all crashed and slept on the bus ride home.

/files/SWAT/picture gallery/TSAL_350x125banner1.gifTO SAVE A LIFE 3-PART MOVIE EVENTS.W.A.T. went to the movies to see the new film, To Save A Life, and spent some times discussing relationships, suicide, faith, and the question "What do I want my life to be about?"  If you haven't gotten the chance to see this movie, check it out while it's still in theaters.  It's getting rave reviews for being bold and honest and exposing a lot of struggles that teens in this day and age experience every day.

VISIT FANDANGO to read a plot summary, fan reviews, and rating info and to watch the movie trailer and clips.

/files/SWAT/Souper Bowl logo.gifSOUPER BOWL OF CARING

Thank you for supporting the Souper Bowl of Caring!  Teens from St. Joe's who were generous with their time and parishioners who were generous with their donations together raised $2,558.37!!  Donations were sent to support the St. Joseph Food Pantry, Waukegan Food Pantry, and Catholic Relief Services for aid to Haiti.

Souper Bowl Prayer:

"Lord, even as we enjoy the Super Bowl football game, help us be mindful of those who are without a bowl of soup to eat"

/files/SWAT/touching hands.jpgVICARIATE SERVICE DAY

High school students from St. Joe's joined other teens from the region to serve throughout Lake County.  Service projects included sorting donated toys at the Catholic Charities warehouses in Waukegan, Christmas carolling at Condell Hospital, cooking dinner for the firemen of Gurnee at the firehouse, decorating and carolling for Christmas with mother and their children at local women's shelters, and more.  The day of service closed with a pizza dinner and a teen mass hosted at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Gurnee.

Prayer of Selflessness:

Beloved God, teach me to be generous,

To serve You as You do deserve,

To give without counting the cost,

To labor without seeking rest,

To spend myself without looking for any other reward other than that of knowing that I do Your Holy will.

Amen.

/files/SWAT/soup pot.gifSOUP KITCHENServing at the Waukegan Soup Kitchen gave us the opportunity to meet and serve many individuals and families in need of a good meal.  We prepared and served a meal of soup, sandwiches, salad, and dessert.  We heated up the kitchen washing dishes.  We prepped and cleaned the dining room area.  And of course we met some wonderful people.

Scripture passage:  Matthew 25:  31-40

/files/SWAT/IMG_8966.JPG WORLD'S LARGEST CORN MAZE

This evening was a flash back to simple fun of the past.  After stopping for dinner at a classic 50's style drive-in, we proceeded to get lost in the corn.  Searching our way out by the light of the stars served as a beautiful setting to reflect upon the many ways that Christ finds each of us when we feel lost and guides us along our unique paths of life and faith.

Scripture passages:  Matthew 18: 12-24         Matthew 5: 13-16

                                      Matthew 9: 27-31           Matthew 20: 30-34

                                                                            John 9: 1-7

/files/SWAT/movie clip art.jpgMOVIE NIGHT

"Freedom Writers" was the featured film of the night.  We watched the movie, snacked on some pizza, and shared some dialogue about perserverance, relationships, and where God is leading us in our lives.

Scripture passage:  Hebrews 12: 1-13

  CLICK HERE to see a few highlights from last year.

/files/SWAT/time warp.jpg