Saint Mary's Youth Ministry

A group gathers for a picture after serving Sunday Supper at St. Hugh of Lincoln Parish in Huntington Station.

St. Mary's Youth Ministry provides a healthy, safe environment where teenagers come together and come to understand that they're a part of something greater than themselves - a Catholic community.

Pat McDonough, MA, MS, PD
Director

St. Mary’s Youth Ministry meets the needs of today’s teens through creative and comprehensive programming designed to deepen their Catholic identity and maturing faith through catechesis, service, sacraments and prayer. High school students are invited to examine the challenges of adolescence through faith, through their relationship with Jesus and our church.

Youth Ministry meetings, which follow the 5:00 pm Sunday Mass, include speakers, discussions and films on important issues as well as strategic planning for the many opportunities that are created for teens who want to serve the poor in Christ’s name.

When the cold weather arrives, St. Mary's Youth Ministry gathers linens and blankets for homeless shelters.

Our service trips include day visits to Catholic Worker in Manhattan, Mother Theresa’s Convent in the Bronx, Catholic Underground, St. Hugh’s Soup Kitchen in Huntington, Hour Children in Astoria, Providence House in Queens, and Momma’s House in Jericho, just to name a few. Summer trips have included Guatemala, Appalachia, a native American Indian reservation, and a poor parish in Portland, Oregon.

Adolescent Catechesis
In addition to Sunday night programming and service trips, St. Mary’s Youth Ministry offers continuing Faith Formation classes for high school students attending public school. On Monday evenings, teens are divided into age appropriate classes that offer an abbreviated Catholic school curriculum that seeks to enrich their journey of faith. All classes are taught by high school professionals with Masters degrees in theology and 30 years of experience in Catholic education.

For more information on any youth-sponsored activities, please call Pat McDonough at 627-5759 or send an E-mail to mcdonough1028@optonline.net

Some of St. Mary's teens pray the rosary with their moms at "Tuesdays with Mary", a group which meets in the chapel every Tuesday afternoon.

St. Mary's Youth Ministry welcomes Immaculee Illabagiza, survivor of the Rwandan genocide and author of NY Times bestseller, "Left to Tell.