SMYLE

 

S.M.Y.L.E. - "St. Michael's Youth Love Everyone"

SMYLE is the overall name the youth chose for our youth ministry. SMYLE emphasizes several things: Spiritual Formation, Service, and Leadership Development.

Junior Highs

Confirmation is a 3-year program of spiritual formation for youth in Grades 6 and up. Worship, weekly classes, service projects and overnight retreats make for a variety of fun learning experiences designed to build relationships with God, self, and others. Midweek classes are held on Wednesday nights at the church. Confirmands take on leadership roles in worship on a regular basis. Service projects take place throughout the year, and include anything from local food pantry visits to disaster relief at the New Jersey shore after Hurricane Sandy. Overnight retreats are sometimes with our own group, and at least once or twice a year include youth from area churches. Questions about confirmation should be directed to the Pastor.

Senior Highs

Post-Confirmation youth meet during the year for service projects, retreats, mission trips, and leadership development. A highlight of the year is a Summer Mission Trip, most recently with Appalachia Service Project (ASP). At ASP, the senior highs and their adult advisors help rebuild the homes and lives of people in the US who are living in extreme poverty. It is a life-changing event for both the youth and the families they help. During the year, the youth serve as leaders in worship and on church committees and boards. They often mentor younger youth, and are eager to help out wherever possible. They also help plan and attend retreats and service days with youth from all over Southeastern PA.