Marion St. Mary Youth Group

01/24/2025

We’ve had a great trip, so thank you all for your prayers and support! Please pray for our safe trip home tonight, and for the conversion of hearts to cherish life at all stages!

01/24/2025

We made it safely to DC yesterday in time for mass at the Basilica! Pray for us today as we celebrate mass this morning at the Life Fest Rally before heading to the March for Life this afternoon!

11/08/2024

Happy Friday! Don't forget we have a great retreat planned for this Sunday starting at 3pm in the Commons!

See you then!

10/27/2024

Looking forward to the hayride tonight! It’s going to be chilly, so be sure to dress warmly and stick around for the campfire time afterward!

Meet in the Commons at 6pm!

10/20/2024

Make sure you come to our regular meeting tonight at 6pm to help plan out the hayride event together! We’ll also have dinner (chicken tenders with Chick-fil-a sauce 🤤), games, and start our discussion on “Why is there something rather than nothing?”

Can’t wait to see you there!

It's that time of year! Mark your calendars and plan for a fun evening with dinner and a campfire after the hayride.

Safety in numbers, so bring a friend!

Meet in the parking lot at St Mary Catholic Church

10/11/2024

It's that time of year! Mark your calendars and plan for a fun evening with dinner and a campfire after the hayride.

Safety in numbers, so bring a friend!

Meet in the parking lot at St Mary Catholic Church

09/29/2024

Come see what's new! Youth Group meets Oct 6 for Game Night & dinner, 6-8p in Commons. Friends are welcome, Confirmation and high school students.

09/22/2024

"Why is everything so messed up?" It's a question that brings many to despair. Look at the broken state of the world. It's easy to understand how someone could believe the story being told in this quote.

But there is another story. There's another lens to look through, seeing the exact same brokenness as the author of this quote, but coming away with a radically different conclusion. One that brings hope and purpose.

You and your friends are invited to join the youth group tonight as we start a new video series to explore these themes and to be able to answer some fundamental questions about our existence.

See you at St Mary Catholic Church in the commons from 6-8 for dinner, discussion, and games!

09/08/2024

YouthGroup: 6-7p on Sun. will be a meet & greet dinner for the youth group and the new youth director, Charles Martindell. Hope to see you at the Commons!

09/07/2024

Youth Group kicks off tomorrow evening! We hope you’ll join us from 6-7pm in the Commons. Pizza, games, faith, and fellowship will be freely shared!

St. John Paul II, pray for us!

08/11/2024

Letter from Mark Starrs:

Back in December, I told Fr. Shikina that this would be my last year leading youth ministry at St. Mary. Between my work schedule, grandchildren, having adult kids on the West Coast and in the middle of the country, one still in college, coaching, and just feeling it's time to let someone younger take over - I discerned it was time to "retire" as youth minister. It started in 1993, taking a group of teens from the parish to see the Pope in Denver for World Youth Day, and it ended with my last event, this past Saturday - a small gathering of teens and parents, my wife and our two beloved priests sitting around a fire, listening to my oldest son and his wife share their faith journey: "stay involved in youth group, pray daily, and never give up on the Mass and the Eucharist - it is here where we encounter Christ and His love and His strength the most."

I want to say thank you to everyone who helped out over the years - to those who were part of the original crew for the first 17 years, when I did this full time, and those who helped with my second go around these past 8 years. I wish I could thank you by name, but there are so, so many people that helped - as core members, small group leaders, music ministry, drivers and chaperones on trips and service projects, providing food, helping with LifeTeen nights, being a guest speaker or using your talents to entertain, opening up your home for Super Bowl parties, hayrides, bonfires, swimming, and other gatherings; for those who gave donations, large and small, so we could put on special events; those who supported our pancake breakfasts and other fundraisers; for all those who would pray for our teens; for the priests who would say Mass on retreats and hear confessions by candlelight. Know that you all were a blessing in serving our young people and are deeply, deeply appreciated.

And finally, to all the teens that I had the privilege to serve and to get to know: I will miss you, but I will see you around at Mass - take heed of the message above that my son and his wife shared. To the teens from the past who are now in your 20s, 30s, and 40s, - so many good memories! If you are active in your faith, continue to stay close to the Lord and His church. If you have fallen away or drifted from our Lord, remember the words of Jesus, "I have come that you may have life, and have it abundantly." Know that the joy and meaning you are seeking can be found in a relationship with Jesus and He desires to nourish and strengthen you through the Mass -- with his body and blood in the Eucharist and in the church community. Consider returning to Him and the Church. You are loved and in my prayers!

With love and gratitude to God,
Mark Starrs

07/18/2024

This year's group attending the Steubenville Youth Conference.