Youth Ministry
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Youth on a MissionYouth On A Mission, or YOAM (pronounced YOME), is a Catholic leadership training for high school youth leaders. It is an investment in the young Church of today for the Church of tomorrow. YOAM is not a retreat, but a leadership formation for youth leaders who are ready for the next step in their development as disciples of Jesus Christ. For this reason, YOAM is not for everyone, but for those teens nominated by their parish or school leaders* to serve in their community. During YOAM, youth leaders will:
- Encounter Christ
- Learn practical skills for servant leadership
- Discover God’s call to evangelize
- Be empowered to serve in leadership with their parish/school community
Learn More
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Eureka Mission TripSave the Date | July 13-18
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7th Grade St. John Healdsburg pilgrimageWednesday, February 5th, 2025
St. John's students traveled around their popular town of Healdsburg as pilgrims rather than in cars as usual. Their walking retreat was a new way for them to pray.
"Every step is a prayer" taught by the Kaisha Pomo, became the day's theme after their freezing morning started with a typical student body Mass before they applied thousands of prayers to their city.
Director of Youth Ministry Stephen Morris, and the Diocese's unofficial pilgrimage guide, shared the history of Healdsburg from the Plaza to Oak Mound cemetery to the famous Memorial Bridge. Students learned of the relationship between Healdsburg and Sonoma county through an understanding of the entrepreneurs that established and farmed the land.
Students walked with a prayerful heart, realizing the importance of remembering "who walked before them."
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8th Grade Day: "Pilgrims of Hope"Friday, January 24, 2025On Friday, January 24 all of our Diocese Catholic School 8th graders gathered at St. Vincent de Paul College Prep in Petaluma to celebrate their faith and connection. The day began with a skit from the SVdP emphasizing the overwhelming transition into high school some 8th graders face.
Then International Catholic Hip Hop artists Joe Melendrez took the stage with his loud rapping and praying, a style that the students were absolutely unaccustomed too. Joe invited the 8th graders into the "God Pit" at the foot of the stage and led them in prayer and singing while they all jumped around. A youthful and joyful exuberance was heard throughout the campus.
This beautiful annual event kicks-off Catholic Schools week, and is a collaboration between Superintendent Dr. Adrian Peterson and Youth and Young Adult Director Stephen Morris.
The day also included a prayer exercise where students scribbled down their burdens on slips of paper and laid them at the cross. After lunch Joe Melendrez hosted a Vocations panel that included the newly ordained Fr. Maurico Rodriguez, Sr. Mary Emmanuel MSSR, and Young Adult Gigi Bazzano (Cardinal Newman '19) with her new baby Noah who stole the show.
The entire auditorium fell silent when the Blessed Sacrament was exposed for a short Adoration time. In order to celebrate the true joy and hope of our faith, students were invited to spend time with our Lord fully present in the Eucharist.
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