SPIRITUAL ACTIVITIES OVERVIEW
The center of the life of the CYO is its mission to bring young people into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. All else that youth ministry does is towards this goal. The St. Dominic CYO holds a monthly youth Mass at 5:30 PM on the second Sunday of each month where teenagers are the lectors, gift bearers, ushers, and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. Twice a year weekend retreats are held where 90-100 members gather to take a break from their daily routine and responsibilities and find time to be with each other and God. The Peer Ministry Team plans the theme, talks, and activities for each of these great weekend experiences.
The CYO sponsors a "teen hour" from 7:00 - 8:00 PM each Wednesday in the St. Dominic Eucharistic Adoration Chapel. Youth Board and Peer Ministry Team members are present each week to welcome other teens for an opportunity to pray before the Blessed Sacrament. Whether you can stay for 15 or 30 or 60 minutes, Jesus calls us to spend some quiet time with Him in the Eucharist. During the summer and holiday periods, certain Wednesdays are designated for special prayer services, recitation of the Rosary, and live praise and worship music.
SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
The Gospel call to serve those in need, and a theme of justice and apostolic outreach are one of the core activities of youth ministry, and therefore, of the St. Dominic CYO. There is at least one service project each month, often more. These projects include both service for the needy in the larger community, as well as service to and for our parish community. Community service projects have included home renovation with Rebuild Together, home construction with Habitat for Humanity, service at homeless shelters such as Ozanam Inn and the New Orleans Mission, tutoring at academically challenged schools, and work at facilities such as Second Harvester's Food Bank and St. Michael Special School. Within St. Dominic Parish, the CYO serves at the parish auction, the fair, and the Supper & Substance dinners for married couples. The service hours accumulated through the CYO can usually be applied to the service hour requirements of area high schools, and to meet service requirements for the Sacrament of Confirmation.
SOCIAL ACTIVITIES
The CYO sponsors a variety of social activities for teenagers in the parish so that they can build a sense of community with each other and feel that St. Dominic Parish is a true home for them. CYO sponsored social activities also provide a safe, structured environment of Christian values that serves as an alternative to just "hanging out" with nothing to do. The Annual End of Summer Lock Out, the annual Summer Trip, field trips to ice skating, the corn maze, canoeing, and much more are some examples of the activities that take place throughout the year.