Youth Group - Fall 2020 Programs
Our youth group is alive and well - and due to current circumstances, there are more options than ever to find a formation program that works for your family! Below are descriptions and schedules for our core programs as well as announcements about special events. If you have not already registered for a youth program, please contact Steven Cottam at [email protected] or 804-262-7315 ext 237 and he'll help get you started.
To help you navigate this section, note that the page is laid out in the following order:
To help you navigate this section, note that the page is laid out in the following order:
- Upcoming Special Events
- High School and Middle School Youth Group - In-person
- High School and MIddle School Group - Virtual Classroom
- Confirmation Preparation
- Contact Info for Questions, Comments, and Concerns
Upcoming Special Events
Kickball Game! Our Lady of Lourdes vs. St. Benedict's
November 8th, 3:00-4:30
Our youth group has challenged the youth group from St. Benedict's to a game of good old fashioned kickball! The game is open to members of our parish in middle or high school (6th-12th grade). We'll host here at the OLL kickball field and the game is from 3:00-4:30 - a light snack will be provided after the game. If interested, please email me at [email protected] and let me know your student would like to play and so I can add them to the roster and the snack count. I hope to see you there!
November 8th, 3:00-4:30
Our youth group has challenged the youth group from St. Benedict's to a game of good old fashioned kickball! The game is open to members of our parish in middle or high school (6th-12th grade). We'll host here at the OLL kickball field and the game is from 3:00-4:30 - a light snack will be provided after the game. If interested, please email me at [email protected] and let me know your student would like to play and so I can add them to the roster and the snack count. I hope to see you there!
High School and Middle School Youth Group - In-person
Our high school and middle school groups meet on Sunday morning immediately following the 10am Mass.
When: Our normal youth group program will meet twice a month on Sundays from 11:15-12:30 (gathering right after the morning 10am mass, and right before the 1:00pm Spanish mass). As a general rule we will meet on the 2nd and 3rd Sundays of the month. Therefore, the schedule for the fall semester consists of six sessions and is set to be:
Where: This year we will be meeting in the main church building. The high school and middle school groups will take turns being in the commons (upstairs) and social hall (downstairs) depending on the activities planned for that week. Plan to always assemble in the commons, and you can receive directions from there if that is not where your group is set to be that week.
What to bring: This year we are very limited in our ability to pass out supplies to our students. If you could please plan on attending each week with a bible, a notebook or journal, and a pen or a pencil, that would be greatly appreciated.
Covid rules: Along with all the youth programs in the diocese at the moment, we are required to follow all the diocesan requirements regarding COVID-19 rules and regulations (most of which follow local government requirements). That means that masks covering the nose and mouth will need to be worn at all times, students must remain at least 6 feet apart from all non-family members in attendance, and we are required to take a temperature at the entrance to youth group each week (we will use a no-contact thermometer; those with a temperature higher than 100.4 will be unable until their temperature has dropped below that level). In order to have youth programs operate at Our Lady of Lourdes at this time we are required to follow these rules - therefore, your patience and assistance in following them is greatly appreciated.
When: Our normal youth group program will meet twice a month on Sundays from 11:15-12:30 (gathering right after the morning 10am mass, and right before the 1:00pm Spanish mass). As a general rule we will meet on the 2nd and 3rd Sundays of the month. Therefore, the schedule for the fall semester consists of six sessions and is set to be:
- October 11, 18,
- November 8, 15
- December 13, 20
Where: This year we will be meeting in the main church building. The high school and middle school groups will take turns being in the commons (upstairs) and social hall (downstairs) depending on the activities planned for that week. Plan to always assemble in the commons, and you can receive directions from there if that is not where your group is set to be that week.
What to bring: This year we are very limited in our ability to pass out supplies to our students. If you could please plan on attending each week with a bible, a notebook or journal, and a pen or a pencil, that would be greatly appreciated.
Covid rules: Along with all the youth programs in the diocese at the moment, we are required to follow all the diocesan requirements regarding COVID-19 rules and regulations (most of which follow local government requirements). That means that masks covering the nose and mouth will need to be worn at all times, students must remain at least 6 feet apart from all non-family members in attendance, and we are required to take a temperature at the entrance to youth group each week (we will use a no-contact thermometer; those with a temperature higher than 100.4 will be unable until their temperature has dropped below that level). In order to have youth programs operate at Our Lady of Lourdes at this time we are required to follow these rules - therefore, your patience and assistance in following them is greatly appreciated.
High School and Middle School Youth Group - Virtual Classroom
Our high school and middle school group meets on Sunday evenings via zoom. Generally we will all start together and watch a video lesson together, and then we will break into our age-specific small groups to discuss the topic and pray together.
When: our weekly youth group will meet most Sundays through zoom from 7:00-8:15. As a general rule we will meet on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Sundays of the month, also skipping for major holidays. We'll skip the first Sunday of the month to make room for our high school friends' Confirmation modules and to make room for you to attend the family formation workshops (if you so desire; more on that below). Therefore, the schedule for the fall semester consists of eight sessions and is set to be:
What: For the fall semester, we will be working our way through a video curriculum series called "The Search," which will ask us to stop and reflect on the biggest questions of our life and our faith. What is important in life? How ought I to live? Who is God, and how do I get to know Him? Why should I follow Jesus? What's the point of the Church? Each week we will watch a short 20-30 minute video on our core subject, and then will spend the rest of time in discussion and prayer together. There is a participant guide for you to write in and follow along with as well, and I will be working on getting those to you by hand-off, drop-off, or mail sometime in the next two weeks.
How: To gather for youth group, we will be using zoom. You can access our zoom room starting at about 6:50 each night. I (Mr. Steven) send out the link via email to all the parents of registered participants - if you have not received the link (or need it again) then email me at [email protected]. The zoom room will have a waiting room enabled, and I will admit folks from there. Please make sure you are using an identifiable username (consider something like first name last initial, or first initial last name, etc.) as, for security purposes, I won't admit folks I don't recognize.
To foster participation in the group, during times of discussion and prayer (basically anytime except when the video is playing) I am going to ask students to leave their cameras on - so please plan accordingly by helping your student be dressed as you would for normal youth group and in a part of the house that is acceptable for this purpose (i.e. probably not a good idea for them to come in jammies and with the computer perched atop a messy pile of clothes, or such); while this might involve a bit more preparation, it's just not possible to foster any sort of group interaction if everyone has their screens blacked out.
When: our weekly youth group will meet most Sundays through zoom from 7:00-8:15. As a general rule we will meet on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Sundays of the month, also skipping for major holidays. We'll skip the first Sunday of the month to make room for our high school friends' Confirmation modules and to make room for you to attend the family formation workshops (if you so desire; more on that below). Therefore, the schedule for the fall semester consists of eight sessions and is set to be:
- October 11, 18, 25
- November 8, 15, 22
- December 13, 20
What: For the fall semester, we will be working our way through a video curriculum series called "The Search," which will ask us to stop and reflect on the biggest questions of our life and our faith. What is important in life? How ought I to live? Who is God, and how do I get to know Him? Why should I follow Jesus? What's the point of the Church? Each week we will watch a short 20-30 minute video on our core subject, and then will spend the rest of time in discussion and prayer together. There is a participant guide for you to write in and follow along with as well, and I will be working on getting those to you by hand-off, drop-off, or mail sometime in the next two weeks.
How: To gather for youth group, we will be using zoom. You can access our zoom room starting at about 6:50 each night. I (Mr. Steven) send out the link via email to all the parents of registered participants - if you have not received the link (or need it again) then email me at [email protected]. The zoom room will have a waiting room enabled, and I will admit folks from there. Please make sure you are using an identifiable username (consider something like first name last initial, or first initial last name, etc.) as, for security purposes, I won't admit folks I don't recognize.
To foster participation in the group, during times of discussion and prayer (basically anytime except when the video is playing) I am going to ask students to leave their cameras on - so please plan accordingly by helping your student be dressed as you would for normal youth group and in a part of the house that is acceptable for this purpose (i.e. probably not a good idea for them to come in jammies and with the computer perched atop a messy pile of clothes, or such); while this might involve a bit more preparation, it's just not possible to foster any sort of group interaction if everyone has their screens blacked out.
Questions, Comments, Concerns, Inquiries?
If you need help with any of the above programs, or if there is any way we can assist you in helping your student join us for faith formation, then please don't hesitate to contact our Youth Ministry Director Steven Cottam at [email protected] or 804-262-7315 ext 237