Ascension Church
808 S. East Avenue
Oak Park, IL 60304708/848-2703
This program is designed to foster the spiritual growth of high school teens by drawing them into responsible participation in the life, vision and work of the faith community. Youth Ministry is composed of teens living in the parish and adults who serve as mentors through participation in various activities. The program is led by a full-time Director of Youth Ministry who works to implement various activities designed to meet the goals of the group. Youth Ministry assists in the development and sharing of teens' unique gifts with the larger community in areas of education, spirituality, service and social activities.
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| We are looking for your input! We have developed surveys for teens and parents that gives us feedback about programs that you would be interested in attending. Please take a few minutes to complete them! | |||
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View the complete Youth Ministry Calendar Download our Program Overview to keep on hand |
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| PRAYER | RETREATS | SERVICE | SOCIAL |
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Taizé We invite all youth to be a part of this ecumenical prayer service. Taizé Prayer is an Ecumenical form of Prayer modeled after an ecumenical community founded in the 1940's by Br. Roger in Taizé, France. The purpose of the prayer is meant to foster reconciliation and peace among all people. Christians of all traditions share in this ecumenical group. A committee prepares the prayer space one hour before the service.
The Taizé Prayer Service is held every year on January 1, the World Day of Prayer for Peace, at 7:30 PM. Each month, February through December, Taizé Prayer is held on the First Friday at 7:30 PM.
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Teen Takeover Every year the doors of Ascension are opened to teens from the community. The school, gym, and church become the home of high school students for 25 hours as they explore the real issues that teens face. From Friday night to Saturday night, we play games, share our stories, and grow together. This retreat is put on by a team of 20 teens and 5 adults who spend the year preparing. More information and applications will be available in the Spring.
Freshmen & Sophomore Retreat Looking for a chance to get away from the holiday rush? Need a break from school? During the winter we are offering a chance for freshmen or sophomores to do just that. It’ll be a fun filled two days that will help build community in Oak Park/River Forest and let you explore your faith. Teens from St. Luke’s, St. Giles, and Ascension will gather together to build community.
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Appalachia Service Project (ASP) ASP is a program that is devoted to helping make the homes of people in need in KY, WV, VA, and TN warmer, safer, and drier. Groups of Ascension teens have been participating in this program for over 10 years. The program has grown considerably so that in recent years, we have been taking from 10 to 12 work crews to Appalachia. A work crew is comprised of 5 teens and 2 adults, one of whom serves in the capacity of carpenter. Throughout the year, teens and adults participate in fundraising and formation meetings to prepare for the experience. Applications are turned in during the fall so be on the lookout for next years trip. Go to ASP Web site
This past summer, 50 teens and 20 adults traveled to Knox and Knott Co. Kentucky from June 14th - June 22nd. We worked on a variety of projects including replacing floors, digging a drainage ditch, and setting a foundation. Many teens learned new skills using power tools and working outside their comfort zone. On the return trip Saturday, we spent the afternoon at a picnic after spending the week apart. Saturday night was filled with stories and sharing of our experiences. Check back soon to read stories from teens about their week on ASP!
The following forms need to be filled out by any teen or adult interested in participating in ASP. Please take the time to read through all the material before making the commitment to join.
To complete the forms:
1. Click on the appropriate link below
2. Fill in the fillable fields on page 2 and 3
3. Print the application and sign page 4
4. Turn application in with your deposit to the Parish Center
Please note that the date for ASP has changed to July 25th - August 2nd
ASP 2009 Teen Leader Application
Young Neighbors In Action (YNIA) YNIA is a much smaller program than ASP. We usually send about 19 teens and 5 adults on this trip. Projects vary and can include construction, making meals for prisoners, and running day camp programs for children. The focus of this trip is a mixture of cultural issues, Catholic social teaching, and serving the poor. Like ASP, this program requires a year of fundraising and formation. Applications for the 2009 trip will be available soon. Go to YNIA Web site
Our 2008 week with Young Neighbors was spent working at three different places. Part of the group spent their time serving breakfast and cleaning dishes at the Casa de los Pobres - A Fransiscan Sisters Mission that served the poorest of the poor. While there, they had a chance to distribute food at the pantry, teach Catechism class, and play with the many kids that hung out at the Mission. The rest of the group spent the week packing food at "El Banco" which is the Tijuana food bank and helping with construction projects at La Morita Mission. They worked alongside a group from Seattle, Washington and made many new friends. You can see pictures of their time together at our Photo Gallery. You can also view a slideshow of last year's pictures.
Public Action to Deliver Shelter (PADS) As the
fall begins, so does the need for volunteers to help staff the PADS program.
Every third Friday of the month, teens help prepare and serve dinner for
homeless people from the area. We meet at 6:30 p.m. at St. John Lutheran
Church in Forest Park (305 Circle Ave). All teens are welcome but we ask
that you RSVP by the Wednesday before. This month's PADS will be taking
place on Friday October 19th. If you are interested in donating food
or your time, call to get your name on the volunteer list. Go
to PADS Website
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Great America Trip -
Who doesn’t like scary monsters and even more terrifying roller coasters?!? Every year the Youth Ministry program will sponsors a trip to Great America Frightfest. All high school teens (and 8th graders) are welcome to join us.
Ski Trip -
We host a day long ski trip to Sunburst Ski Resort in Wisconsin. This year's trip took place on Saturday February 21st. Here are some pictures!
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Volunteering We are always looking for help running our events. There are several leadership opportunities for young adults who relate well to teens. We are also in need of parents to help chaperone some of our larger events or participate in our fundraising activities. Adult Volunteers that will have regular contact with teens are required to go through appropriate training.
If you have any other questions or would like to take part in one of our programs, please contact Dan Lawler (Youth Minister) at 708.434.1555 or e-mail.
