St. Joseph Catholic Church Senior High Youth Ministry Parent Handbook

Parochial Administrator Reverend Jeremiah L. Payne

Deacons Reverend Mr. Frank Falotico Reverend Mr. Gary Hessen Reverend Mr. Joseph Moran Reverend Mr. Michael P. Mintern Reverend Mr. Alfred P. Somma Reverend Mr. James Stokes

Youth Ministry Open- Director of Religious Education Faith Pokorny - Youth Coordinator

Religious Education Office 321-727-1565 (8:30am - 4:30pm) 321-676-2579 (fax) www.st-joe.org (website)

Parish Religious Education Program Mission Statement

It is our purpose to assist families, adults, young adults, teens and children to enter into a life-long relationship with God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit through the catechesis set forth by the Roman Catholic Church. It is the responsibility of the catechetical ministries to help support families accept the challenge that the Gospel places before them in the modern world.

As a Catholic Community, we will always stress the importance of weekly participation in the Holy Eucharist. We encourage you to make the faith journey with your child and make Mass a “Family Affair” St. Joseph Catholic Church Senior High Youth Ministry Calendar 2016 - 2017

DATE TIME EVENT COMMENTS August 14 5:30pm Paperwork Parent & Kick-off Attendance meeting Required,1st hr. August 21 6:00pm Regular meeting August 28 6:00pm Regular meeting September 8:00am Night of Joy 2pm (Sun.) 10-11 (Sat.) Disney pick-up, Pool side September 6:00pm Regular 25 meeting Sept 30th & TBA Fund Raiser Community Oct 1st yard sale Wear y.g. shirt October 2 1:30 - Life Chain Strawbridge Av 3:00pm Families are Near the encouraged railroad tracks to attend! October 13- Hours of Fall Festival Signup sheets 16 the Hot chocolate will be available festival Lemonade & Wear y.g. shirt Jail October 23 6:00pm Honoring the Miller Street deceased Church November 6 6:00pm Regular meeting St. Joseph Catholic Church Senior High Youth Ministry Calendar 2016 - 2017

DATE TIME EVENT COMMENTS November 6:00pm Thanks- Bring your 13 giving family & a Potluck covered dish December 3 Palm Bay Service Manager Scene Holiday hours Wear y.g. shirt parade December After all Fundraiser Presale tickets 3-4 masses Wear y.g. Cook Off shirt December After all Fundraiser Cook Off 10 masses Wear y.g. shirt December 5:30pm Advent Nursing Home 17 (Sat.) Caroling Wear y.g. shirt December 8:00pm Advent Pokorny Home 17 (Sat.) Party Dec. & Jan. ------Christmas Merry 12/18-01/09 Break Christmas & Happy New Year! January 8 6:00pm Skit Practice Respect Life

January 15 5-6:00pm Ski Retreat Parents’ meeting attendance & required

January 15 6:00pm Skit Practice Respect Life St. Joseph Catholic Church Senior High Youth Ministry Calendar 2016 - 2017

DATE TIME EVENT COMMENTS January 18 6:00pm Respect Life Skits Wednesday Wear y.g. performed for shirt PREP -community service January 22 6:00pm Regular meeting February 5 6:00pm Regular meeting February 11 7:30am Fundraiser Rent-A-Youth Saturday -5:00pm Wear y.g. shirt February 18- TBA Ski Retreat West Virginia 21 March 1 7:00pm Ash Church Wednesday Wednesday Wear y.g. shirt March 5 6:00pm Regular meeting March 12 6:00pm Regular meeting March 19 6:00pm Scavenger Permission Hunt slips Wear y.g. shirt April 14 2:00pm Reenactment Good Friday April 16 ------No meeting Easter Break St. Joseph Catholic Church Senior High Youth Ministry Calendar 2016 - 2017

DATE TIME EVENT COMMENTS April 21-22 TBA Fundraiser Community Wear y.g. yard sale shirt April 30 6:00pm Regular meeting May 5-7 TBA Easter Camping out Fri-Sun Retreat on church property May 21 1:00pm Parish picnic

June 4 6:00pm 8th Graders Last meeting Welcomed June 6 TBA Senior Dinner for Tuesday Farwell graduates ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH 5330 BABCOCK ST NE PALM BAY FL 32905

High School Youth Ministry Policies & Procedures

Dear Parents/Guardians/Young People Youth Ministry involves first and foremost, not programs but relationships. Relationships that form youth ministry are those that form community and mediate the grace of Christ, challenging young people to greater growth and openness to God. Renewing the Vision 1976

In an effort to create relationships centered on Jesus Christ we must work together to bring about an atmosphere of peace, kindness, joy and love. To achieve that end, the following is required to take place. Please sign and return the attached page – keep these policies for your reference.

1. I understand that I am required to behave in a Christian manner at all Youth Ministry and church gatherings, meetings, events, and functions (and should outside of these as well). 2. I understand that I must be 14-18 years of age to be a member of Youth Ministry. 3. I understand that it is the responsibility of my parents and me to register in the parish and Youth Ministry by filling out all the respective forms. 4. I understand that events and functions of Youth Ministry outside of the weekly meetings require parents/guardians to fill out permission slips and liability forms per event. 5. I understand that while in attendance at youth group meetings, events, retreats or any other function sponsored by the Youth Ministry that I am required to remain present, unless a parent or guardian gives permission, verbally or written, to leave said function. 6. I understand that if I invite a high school friend to a youth group meeting who is not a registered youth group member that a written permission note from parent/guardian is required. 7. I understand that youth group meetings are generally held every Sunday in the parish center (unless otherwise specified) from 6:00pm to 8:30pm and that my parents are required to provide transportation to and from meetings and/or other events, retreats, etc. 8. I understand that due to diocesan mandates, Youth Ministry Team Members are not allowed to provide transportation to or from a meeting, retreat or sponsored event. 9. I understand that Youth Ministry Team Members are only required to stay thirty (30) minutes after a sponsored event. If there is no other resource to transport me home, law enforcement may be notified.

10. I understand that there are consequences for inappropriate behavior according to parish guidelines which are:

a. Two team leaders will discreetly call me aside to correct the behavior. b. My parents/guardians will be called if inappropriate behavior continues. c. All disciplinary actions are required to be documented. d. Continued inappropriate behavior may lead to temporary or permanent suspension from youth group ministry. e. All disciplinary actions will be discerned by the Pastor, Director of Religious Education, and Youth Ministry Coordinator.

11. I understand that if my parents/guardians are chronically late in picking me up that it may jeopardize my youth group membership. 12. I understand that the Youth Ministry Team is responsible to end all meetings, events and retreats at the designated time given to parent/ guardians. 13. I understand that fundraising benefits the entire youth group and that my participation is required for a least 75% of the events.*

*Fundraising provides each youth an opportunity to offset expenses for retreats and counterbalance charging for membership in the youth group. SAFETY AND HEALTH

+ Fingerprinting Policy of the Diocese of Orlando, “Child Sexual Abuse and Prevention Booklet” and Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule and the Diocese of Orlando may be viewed on the following websites: www.st-joe.org and www.orlandodiocese.org.; click on link “Who We Are”.

+ Medication: Medicine is never dispensed by those in the parish religious education program. If children require medicine, parents must be required to come to class to dispense it themselves or to make other arrangements.

CUSTODY ISSUES

+ Parents and Guardians who do not share joint custody must provide paperwork which expresses sole custody.

SOCIAL NETWORKING POLICY

+ Social networking opportunities are available and are the latest in technological options for communication. Before launching any social networking project, evaluate its appropriateness in ministry. These guidelines apply to Catholic social networking sites, as well as secular social networking sites.

It is essential to the nature of ministry that parents/guardians are fully aware of all mediums being used to keep in contact with their young person for ministerial purposes. The intent of communication policy is that we give witness to the Good News in such a way that we create a safe environment for all vulnerable populations, which is open, transparent and involves the parents/guardians of the young people as partners.

It is important that ministry is not used to establish private one-on-one relationships with youth and our methods of communication must reflect this. In the event this media is violated in any way, we may have to deny assess or close it. Photo/Video Permission Form St. Joseph Catholic Church, Palm Bay, FL Youth Ministry

Student Name______

Family Name______

□ I, the undersigned parent or legal guardian of

______,

Do hereby consent, authorize and grant permission to the Diocese of Orlando, Orlando, Florida, its agents, employees or duly authorized representatives to take photographs or video or said child and do further consent to the publication, circulation and dissemination of said photographs or video or any duplication or facsimiles thereof for any purposes if deem proper.

In granting such permission, I hereby relinquish and give to the Diocese of Orlando, Orlando, Florida, all rights, title and interest I may have in the finished pictures, negatives, reproductions or copies, and further waive any and all rights to approve the use of such photographs or video and so release any and all claims of any nature whatsoever arisen for their use.

Photographs and videos will never be done in an offensive or negative manner. Discretion regarding posting of photographs and/or videos will be used at all times. Safety of our children is first and foremost in all areas of ministerial and pastoral care.

□ I do NOT permit my child to be photographed, etc…...

______/______Parent/Guardian Signature Date

Dear Parents,

This is your copy of the Senior High Youth Ministry Handbook for St. Joseph Catholic Church. In order that you might better understand the philosophy and requirements of this ministry, it is important that you thoroughly read this booklet.

Please sign and return the slip below which indicates that you have read and accepted the rules and regulations.

In His Name,

Open Director of Religious Education

------Tear here and return

I have read and do accept the rules and regulations as printed in this booklet.

Student’s Name______(Print Full Name)

Mother’s/Guardian Signature______

Father’s/Guardian Signature______

Date______