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Youth

Cathedral Campus Youth Ministry

Cathedral Campus Youth Ministry is a joint ministry of the Cathedral parish and school with and for young people in grades 6 through12. In August of 2007, more than twenty adult leaders from the parish, school, diocese and wider community came together in prayer to envision a comprehensive program of youth ministry for the Cathedral based upon the plan of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishop’s, Renewing the Vision. Since that time, the young people of the parish and school have been engaged in a number of activities including the restoration of the Youth Room on the second floor of the Elementary School Building; the blazing of a trail and setting of outdoor Stations of the Cross at Our Lady Queen of Peace Retreat Center in Dancyville, Tennessee; a night of fun at the Delta Fair and Music Festival; and a Lock-In at which an overall theme for this year’s ministry was announced, “Who’s Your Hero?”

Regular weekly meetings of CCYM occur on Sunday afternoons in the Youth Room. Grades 6-8 meet from 4:00 until 5:30 p.m. and grades 9-12 meet from 6:00 until 7:30 p.m. Meetings generally consist of song, prayer, program, and planning. In addition to these weekly meetings, CCYM engages in a number of other activities, primarily centered around service. CCYM currently has planned a morning at the St. Vincent de Paul Society’s soup kitchen, and a return to Our Lady Queen of Peace Retreat Center for additional outdoor work. In addition, there are plans to attend the Diocesan-wide youth event at Chickasaw State Park on October 6, and the Theology of the Body Conference at Holy Rosary Church, October 12-13.

CCYM’s most ambitious project is the planning of a mission trip to our sister parish, Notre Dame d'Altagrace in Layaye, Haiti, next June. The group heard from Debra Bartelli and Jared Powelson on Sunday, September 23, about the people of Layaye and their desire to improve their schools. The young people have organized the collection of pennies and other small change across the campus of the school to help to support the salaries of the teachers in Layaye. In addition, a number of fundraising events have been planned to defray the costs of their transportation to Layaye, including movie nights on the grounds, a pet carnival in conjunction with the annual Blessing of the Pets on October 4, and the production of a music CD to be available just in time for Christmas gift giving.

There are a number of ways to support the ministry of CCYM:

- The most important of these is prayer. Those who are involved in CCYM represent the young church of today. They are faced with a number of important choices, including the choice of life-style and vocation. They need all of our prayers.

- If you are of the ages between 10 and 19, or in grades 6 through 12, get involved. Attend the regular weekly meetings or pick another event to get your feet wet. The calendar of events is posted here, and updated regularly. If you have ideas, especially for ways in which CCYM can provide service to the parish, school, or wider community, let us know.

- If you are an adult with a special talent or story to tell, let us know. Jennie Latta is serving as volunteer coordinator of youth ministries this year. You may contact her after the 6:30 a.m. Mass most any morning of the week, or at 901-237-8956, or at jennie.latta@gmail.com, or through Facebook, at Cathedral Campus Youth Ministry.

If you would like to make a monetary contribution to CCYM to support the ministry in general or the mission trip to Haiti, make your check payable to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and designate your gift for CCYM or for CCYM - Haiti mission.

Athletics

The sports program, offered through the Cathedral school, is available to all parish children in grades K-8.  For more information, please contact the school Athletic Director, Wade Heigle, at (901) 435-5326.

Scouts

Cub Scouts, offered through the Cathedral school, is open to all boys in the parish, grades 1-5. The Cub Scouts meet weekly during the school year in the school cafeteria. Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts are coordinated jointly with other midtown scout groups. For more information, please contact the Elementary School at (901) 725-2710.

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