Jesca Rodriguez shares the following!
We are in our 2nd year of the Peer Ministry program here at Santa Cruz Catholic Church in Buda, TX, and it has already doubled from 7 to 14 youth. So many parents and church members are very impressed with all they have seen our youth doing.
Our youth started off a bit shy, unsure what all they were participating in and then got motivated when we told them they would be steering the ship for ideas to get their peers to participate in church activities.
We have noticed that their peers are more engaged and excited at youth events. Our pastors have also been fully engaged with our peer ministry youth and asking them for their thoughts and opinions. This has prompted them to feel more comfortable sharing ideas knowing that they will most likely be heard and likely implemented. Their leadership skills have definitely blossomed, and that is saying A LOT for some of our shy youth.
These youth have helped lead confirmations retreats, youth nights, small groups and are in the process of starting their own teen church podcast! They have also stepped up their roles by becoming ushers, altar servers and Eucharistic minsters during our youth mass. We are especially excited to hear from some of our middle school students who have already said they are looking forward to when it is their turn to be able to join peer ministry in high school!!!
This program has been a blessing to our parish, and we are excited to see where the Holy Spirit lead these youth!