SSJ Cathedral Youth Group

06/02/2026

06/01/2026

Youth Ministry Leader Interviews Are Open!

Do you want to help young people grow in their faith, build community, and become disciples of Jesus Christ?

SS. Simon and Jude Youth Ministry is looking for teens and young adults who are interested in serving as leaders during the upcoming ministry year.

Whether you have been involved for years or are considering leadership for the first time, we invite you to prayerfully consider serving with our team.

📧 Contact Jen Pitera at mailto:[email protected] to schedule an interview and learn more about serving on our Core Team.

Returning leaders, please check your email for details about this year's interview process.

Feel free to share this post with a friend who may be interested in serving our parish and walking alongside other young people in their faith journey.

05/14/2026

Register Today at…

https://simonjude.org/vbs

05/04/2026

☘️Calling all friends of the Loreto Sisters☘️

We are rallying our fellow SSJ Irish to get our Sisters a new ride the Convent Cruiser to go along with their new home at Mary Ward Convent!

Be part of making this happen…Donate today!

Or join us at Raising Cane’s on May 11 from 3 to 9 PM at the location listed on the pic to support the cause!

Let’s come together and get the Convent Cruiser rolling and a reality for our beloved Sisters! ✌🏽🫶🏽☘️

https://pushpay.com/g/supporttheloretosisters?fnd=PoVDAdiCzLxOJSo4rGNUqQ&r=No&lang=en&src=qrcode

05/02/2026

So long, April… and hello, May!

Our teens have been nothing short of incredible this past month. From standing as sponsors for their favorite “littles” at Confirmation Masses, to giving their all in spring sports across the valley, we have seen dedication, leadership, and heart in every corner. Whether on the lacrosse fields at XCP, the volleyball courts at BCP or beyond, our teens continue to show up and represent with excellence.

The stage came alive as our St. Mary’s Knights transported us into the world of Anastasia, with teens shining both in the spotlight and behind the scenes. Their talent and teamwork brought something special to life.

We closed the month with a moment of great pride for our Boy Scout Troop. Six young men achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, with five completing their Eagle project right here at the Cathedral. Your leadership, commitment, and generosity have made a lasting impact on our parish and community. Thank you, gentlemen.

April was full. April was busy. April was beautiful.

As we step into May, we turn our hearts to Mama Mary in her special month. May we follow her example of humble faith and entrust all that lies ahead to her care. ✌🏽🫶🏽☘️

04/05/2026

Happy Easter SSJ! This Lent has been something special... From LA Congress to the school play to the sacred moments of Holy Week, our teens and core team have been showing up in every way. Serving at Mass, stepping into leadership, and working behind the scenes.

Along the way, our junior high finished Alpha, and our high school teens closed out the year by sending off our seniors with a blessing and, of course, the best dodgeball tournament ever. Faith was not just talked about. It was lived.

Holy Thursday they helped light the way in the Garden of Repose. Good Friday they showed us love through the Living Stations by SSJ Class of 2026. And all throughout, our teens and team were serving everywhere you looked. Easter reminds us of the truth... The story does not end at the cross. “We are the Easter people and Alleluia is our song.” — St. John Paul II… Alleluia! ✌🏽🫶🏽☘️

03/31/2026

We’re so proud of our very own Natalia!
Check out this awesome episode of Prep Rally from the Diocese of Phoenix featuring her story, faith, and witness. ☘️

Take a moment to watch and support one of our own:

The Prep Rally podcast highlights incredible students and stories from Catholic high schools across our diocese.

Let’s show Natalia some love in the comments! ✌🏽🫶🏽🔨

In this month's episode of "Prep Rally", students from Xavier College Prep and Notre Dame Prep share how service has shaped their faith, strengthened their r...

03/02/2026

Our Alpha 2026 teens had a meaningful Day Away today and they truly opened their hearts to the Holy Spirit 🙏✨

The Alpha Day Away is all about stepping back, going deeper, and making space for God to move. Through prayer, films, and small groups, our teens encountered the Lord in a real and personal way.❤️

Huge thanks to our amazing Team Leaders for walking with them so faithfully, and to Beth Barr for creating a spirit of joyful hospitality that made everyone feel welcomed and cared for! 😊

Come, Holy Spirit, keep moving in these hearts 🔥

03/01/2026

February was FULL. 💛✝️ The kind of full where you step back and say, “Only God could fit this much joy into one month.”

We started by celebrating Senior Night for Jake, honoring one of our own in a big milestone moment. From there, it was sidelines and school spirit at Soccer with Carlos, Natalia, Jesus, and Anthony at Brophy ⚽ and then off to see Maggie, our Mighty Titan, competing at TWO levels in basketball 🏀🔥. We got to cheer on Brody at a hockey game.🏒Watching them all play with grit, confidence, and joy is such a gift.

Mid month we got a little competitive at All Star Olympics Night, full of laughter, teamwork, and heart. A beautiful reminder of the joy our teens bring to this community.

Then Lent began and we went deeper. We wrapped the month with a powerful night on Exorcisms with Deacon Tony 😳🔥 rooted in Christ’s victory and welcomed our high school teens preparing for their sacraments for a Holy Grounds night we will not forget. The Holy Spirit is moving.

We closed February at the 27th Annual School Auction 🎉 surrounded by friends, alumni, and generations of SSJ family.
Joyful. Competitive. Prayerful. Powerful.
Catholic. Youth. Fun. Filled with grace.
Onward through Lent. Hearts ready. ✝️💜

02/23/2026

Today we made the journey home under clear blue skies, the mountains rising in the distance and the desert stretching wide around us. The car was filled with faith filled conversation and grateful reflection. Looking back on these days at Congress, the sense of belonging to the universal Church was unmistakable.

Time away has a way of refining the heart. What we received has already begun to take root. From hearing Jason invite us to let the Holy Spirit reignite the flame, to walking alongside Bianca and witnessing her mission lived with quiet fidelity, we were reminded that SSJ is part of something far greater than ourselves. And yet, in those moments, we also recognized something deeply familiar. The same Spirit moving. The same courage in mission. The same love for Christ and His Church. It felt like a glimpse of home.

There is something about going away that makes you cherish home more deeply. The mountains. The desert. The people. And then that moment when the Papal cross comes into view and you turn into the front circle, a quiet sense of peace and comfort washes over you. You are not just back. You are home.

SSJ, we love our home. We are humbled to be part of a community striving to renew hearts, experience Christ more deeply, and celebrate the Gospel lived boldly in the world.

Thank you for following along and praying with us. Your prayers matter, and we carry you with us in all that we do.✌🏽🫶🏽☘️