The newly formed Youth Ministry at St. Gerard Majella Parish in Paterson, N.J., is working to create a meaningful place where faith, friendship, and community truly come together. Under the guidance of Msgr. George Hundt, St. Gerard’s pastor, and advisors Kathleen Lockard and Mike Stracco, St. Gerard’s teens are learning that the church isn’t just a building and that they’re part of something bigger.
St. Gerard’s youth ministry is a space where young people can show up as they are, grow in their faith, build real friendships, and start to see how their beliefs connect to everyday life. Through conversation, shared experiences, and service, they’re learning that being part of the Church means being connected, involved, and present.
Some of the youth activity highlights throughout the year include: the Christmas Nativity, where the youth ministry members bring the story of Christ’s birth to life, creating moments of prayer, especially during important seasons like Lent; the Prayer Bowl where parishioners are invited to submit their intentions and the teens take time to pray for those intentions; and the “Souper Bowl” event which this year saw more than 400 cans donated for the diocesan food pantry.
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Several youth ministry members will also be joining Msgr. Hundt on a service trip to Appalachia, putting their faith into action. To help make opportunities like this possible, the group has been actively raising funds through a gardening bulb sale.
As the Youth Ministry continues to grow, the goal stays the same: to help form young people who are grounded in faith, committed to service, and connected to their community.
