SPIRITUAL ACTIVITIES
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.
ATHLETICS
The CYO participates in a variety of athletic leagues sponsored by the Archdiocesan CYO/Youth Ministry Office. Sports usually offered include: Co-ed Volleyball, Co-ed Cabbageball, Boys' Flag Football, Girls' Flag Football, Boys' Basketball, and Girls' Basketball. Teens listed on their high school's varsity or JV roster with the LHSAA are not eligible for that same sport in CYO. All other teens are invited and encouraged to get involved as a way to meet other teens, compete in an atmosphere of Christian sportsmanship, and enjoy some recreation time.
LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
The Youth Board is the primary leadership group for the St. Dominic CYO. Made up of four officers, four program chairpersons, the representatives to the Archdiocesan youth council (Teen Cross) and various grade level representatives, the board works to plan all of the CYO's activities, serves as a voice for teens in the parish, and develops the leadership skills of its members. Eight of the positions are elected and the rest are appointed. Information on board positions and the annual election/selection process can be found in the CYO By-laws.
The Peer Ministry Team is made up of high school juniors and seniors selected each May through an application process. The team's primary work is in planning and leading the two major annual CYO retreats, an overnight experience each November on the weekend after Thanksgiving, and a two-night weekend retreat each Lent. The retreats routinely draw some 80-100 teenagers on each occasion. The Peer Ministry Team also works on other special projects of its choosing throughout the year. Some examples include its training retreat, a CYO-led parish Stations of the Cross in Lent, and faith-sharing/topic discussion nights. Along with the Youth Board, the Peer Ministry Team also serves as committed adorers at the weekly "teen hour" in the parish Eucharistic Adoration Chapel. For teens looking to make a difference in the spiritual life of the CYO, the Peer Ministry Team is a great place to get involved.