YOUTH Ministry

“You (young people) are the promise of hope for so many of us. The world looks to you as you look around yourselves and say: we need you, we want you to come together to share with us in this common mission, as Church and in society, of announcing a message of true hope and of promoting peace, promoting harmony, among all peoples.”

— Pope Leo XIV's address to young people, June 14, 2025

St. Mary’s Youth Ministry - Our goal is to lead all teens of our parish closer to Jesus Christ by bringing teens to the celebration of the Eucharist, to the teachings of Christ and the Church, and to an experience of being loved and accepted within the community by:

  • Empowering young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in our world today
  • Drawing young people to responsible participation in the life, mission, and work of the Catholic faith community
  • Fostering the total personal and spiritual growth of each young person 


YOUTH MINISTRY - Grades 7-12

Contact: Christopher Jenkins |  cjenkins@stmarysrichmond.org


Youth Nights (Youth Faith Formation for Grades 7-12)

All 7th - 12th Grade youth are invited to participate in our Sunday Youth Night program series. These evenings provide the youth of parish with the opportunity to learn, eat, pray, play, serve, and grow together in faith and live as disciples of Jesus in our world today.

  • Program runs 6-8pm, starting in the Lower Commons
  • Dinner is provided
  • CLICK HERE for calendar
  • This gathered program serves as the Regular Formation option required for all high schoolers not attending Catholic high school preparing for Confirmation this year.


Youth Leadership Team

Are you a high school junior or senior  who wants to help lead your peers and serve as a member of our Youth Leadership Team, helping with Youth Nights by leading small group discussions, prayer, etc.? Want to live out your baptismal call and do some service? Need some service hours for school or college scholarships? If you’ve received Confirmation, and the answer is yes, then this might be for you. See Youth Leadership Team option as a registration option.


Adult Core Team

Are you a parish adult (18+) who wants to help support our teens in their journey of faith with Jesus Christ? We have a talented and generous team of adults and are looking to include new members to support the various activities planned for this year for our teens. We are seeking Catholic adults to respond to their baptismal call and serve! Very simply, a Core Team member's job is to share Jesus Christ with our teens. You don't have to be an expert on Scripture, and you don't need to have a theology degree. Your responsibility is to care for teens and show them that they are loved by God. Must VIRTUS trained and screened – to register for that trainings go HERE and select “Richmond, VA (Diocese) to get started. To volunteer, email Christopher Jenkins, Director of Youth Ministry, or 804-740-4044 x116


Youth Bible Study

Our Church teaches us that The Bible is "food for the soul" and tells us that frequent reading of the Scriptures helps us learn more about Jesus Christ. At St. Mary’s in 2025-26, we are hoping 1) to invite more youth to participate in bible studies already happening, and 2) create more opportunities for bible study. Current Bible Studies are:

 

Sunday High School Bible Study, hosted by Parishioner and Youth Leader Anne-Marie Condlin


  • Open to Grades 8-12
  • Well established welcoming group
  • A great group for 11th & 12th Grade teens who are confirmed
  • A great group for former (or new) Catholic Heart Work Campers
  • Anne-Marie is a Theology teacher at St. Gertrude’s High School
  • Home-based; meal is provided
  • Sundays, either 12:30 – 2pm for brunch; 6:30 – 8pm for dinner (schedule below)
  • Discusses the Sunday Readings from Sunday Mass and how they apply to daily life
  • Teens are welcome to come to any or all sessions as your schedule permits.
  • Parents are always welcome to join as well.
  • There are always 2 or more VIRTUS trained/screened adults at each meeting to ensure Safe Environment requirements
  • Youth interested in participating need to 1) register HERE; then 2) email Anne-Marie Condlin so she can add you to this group’s group communication week-to-week.
  • CLICK HERE for calendar of brunches/dinners.

 

St. Mary’s Parents of Youth –  If you have an idea for a bible study group (i.e., group for Grades 7+8, a group for only girls, a virtual gathered group, etc.) and are willing to co-develop and co-coordinate it, please contact Chris Jenkins. There are many formats and models that can be used, and there are many resources to aid study.


Confirmation Preparation

Preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation is open to all students, grade 10 and above. For more information,

contact Christopher Jenkins |   cjenkins@stmarysrichmond.org

or

CLICK HERE for information about this year's Confirmation Preparation program.


Diocesan Youth Conference

The Diocesan Youth Conference (DYC) is an annual weekend event that gathers high school youth from Diocese of Richmond parishes in one central location. DYC is a highly energetic and engaging opportunity for our high school teenagers to gather as a larger Church community and celebrate the richness of our Catholic faith.

  • SAVE-THE-DATE… “DYC”  is Fri – Sun, Feb. 20-22, 2026, at the Richmond Convention Center
  • Event registration typically occurs in late fall before the holidays.
  • To be our group added to a DYC 2026 interest list, email Chris Jenkins
  • CLICK HERE for the most recent info about DYC 2026 - Coming Soon


Catholic Heart Work Camp

Catholic Heart Work Camp is a week-long summer Catholic mission trip where teens (Grades 8-12) can grow spiritually, serve the community, meet other members of the Catholic Church, and renew their faith in God’s love. Campers play hard and work harder while transforming themselves and the world around them. In a world seeking purpose and connection, many Catholic youth are eager to make a meaningful impact while deepening their faith. They seek transformative opportunities that empower them to love as Jesus did and form genuine connections rooted in their Catholic identity.

  • Last June, over 50 campers served the community of Knoxville, Tennessee.
  • To be added to a CHWC 2026 INTEREST LIST, email Chris Jenkins
  • CLICK HERE for the most recent info about CHWC 2026


Calendars, Forms, etc


Sunday Night Youth Formation Calendar

2025-26 Teen Confirmation Preparation Calendar