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DETOUR TO CAMP ABBEY FOR WINTER RETREAT

The normal route to Camp Abbey taking Hwy 190, which becomes Hwy 25, and then a right onto Million Dollar Road, and then a right onto KC Camp Road is NOT AVAILABLE.  The bridge on Million Dollar Road over the Bogue Falaya River is CLOSED. 

To reach Camp Abbey you must turn off of Hwy 190 in Covington onto Hwy 437/Lee Road.  Take Hwy 437/Lee Road to (the other end of) Million Dollar Road where you will take a left.  At that point, follow GPS to reach Camp Abbey, 77002 KC Camp Road, Covington. (When you make the left onto Million Dollar Road you may see a sign warning of closed bridge; coming from this direction you will reach Camp Abbey before the closed bridge.) This detour adds 15 minutes to the drive time to/from Camp Abbey.

 

 

Athletics

The CYO participates in a variety of athletic leagues sponsored by the Archdiocesan CYO/Youth Ministry Office. Sports 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 specific 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.  

 

Spiritual

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.

Other opportunities for spiritual development arise throughout the year.  Check the calendar and newsletter for more information.

 

Service

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.

A special service project of the CYO is a periodic Mission Trip, a out of town experience to work with the needy and less fortunate in another community.  The 2003, 2004, and 2005 Mission Trips were to Catholic Heart Workcamps.   After the interruption due to Hurricane Katrina and our parish rebuilding, we returned to Catholic HEART Workcamp in 2011, and offer the trip annually.

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

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.

A special service project of the CYO is a periodic Mission Trip, a out of town experience to work with the needy and less fortunate in another community.  The 2003, 2004, and 2005 Mission Trips were to Catholic Heart Workcamps.   After the interruption due to Hurricane Katrina and our parish rebuilding, we returned to Catholic HEART Workcamp in 2011, and offer the trip annually.

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.

 

Archdiocesan

The St. Dominic CYO is part of a larger youth ministry community in the Archdiocese of New Orleans.  Whatever their title, parish youth ministry programs from around the Archdiocese have many opportunities to come together as the larger young Church of New Orleans.  Many of these events have more information posted at www.cyo-no.org. Some examples of these events are:

  • World Youth Day (Archdiocesan H.S. Conference & Junior High Rally) - www.wydno.com
  • March for Life Trip to Washington, D.C.
  • Youth Leadership Celebration
  • Youth Revival
  • Abbey Youth Festival www.abbeyyouthfest.org
  • Walk for the Hungry
  • Catholic Leadership Institute (CLI) - www.cyo-no.org
  • Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) Retreats - www.tecneworleans.com
  • Trips to the bi-ennial National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) - www.nfcym.org