Here we are in Sydney Australia for World Youth Day 2008 with pilgrims from all over the world. Our time here has been faith-filled, reflective, exciting, and life-changing. Only something as powerful as the Holy Spirit could peacefully bring together young adults from around the globe for four days. We saw pilgrims from everywhere. We spent hours walking the grounds for the World Youth Day events. One morning we met the most incredible people at Papa New Guinea. We sang together, they gave us t-shirts, and we promised to send them a hand-made guitar from one of our teens. We met Aussie teens who taught us to dance and spontaneously joined hands with some pilgrims from New Zealand to form a huge prayer circle. It was awesome. We sang and danced with teens from Tahiti as we cruised around the Harbor coast. Like all the other pilgrims, we toured the city sights as well. We toured the Darling Harbor, The Rocks, the Harbor Bridge, the Sydney Tower, the OZ Trek, and viewed the city from the 360 degree panorama observation deck, and the Sydney Aquarium. After touring the Sydney Opera House, an incredible experience, Mrs. Ferroni “scored big” with box tickets for the Sydney Symphony. As we listened to Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis being performed, our hearts stirred. The food was fantastic- we ate everything and everywhere- from the Harbor to the circular quay, we toured the beaches, ran into the Pacific, hiked 3.5 miles along the shore cliffs as we prayed the Rosary, and we celebrated Mass at sunset looking at the moon rise over the ocean. The events leading up the Papal Mass were exciting. The Pope and the Pope Mobile brought cheers. Mass with half a million youth from around the world was indescribable. The Eucharist was everywhere! The Holy Spirit was strong and powerful. Our hearts were touched by the Holy Father. Our three days in the Blue Mountains left us speechless. After the most beautiful city, we found ourselves in the midst of the majestic mountains, valleys, and caves. Everyday was clear, crisp, and refreshing. You truly discover how blessed you are when you celebrate Mass alongside 400,000 year old caves, a waterfall, and a small pool that we stumbled upon while walking a trail. While on our pilgrimage, our families and parish were constantly in our hearts and prayers. We are grateful for this opportunity. We come home to you refreshed and renew in the spirit. Amen. Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! Oy! Oy! Oy!
The Church of St. John and St. Mary Youth and Family

This program has participated in a wide variety of retreats for all ages. Retreats are an important part of every Catholics prayer life. At each stage and age of life, retreats provide us with the necessary " time out" from our busy lives We need to pull away or "retreat" in order to spend some quality time with God and each other. The Capuchin Youth and Family Center in Garrison NY( CYFM) provides Women's, Men's,Young Adult, Teen and Family retreats and programs. All parish retreats involving our youth take place at CYFM. Some retreats are an afternoon, day or overnight. Please visit the CYFM web site:( www.CYFM.org ) for more information.

Our Parish Youth participate in retreats as part of their CCD Classes, Confirmation Preparation, and H.S. Youth Ministry Program.

Eighth Grade CCD Overnight Retreat

Images of God

As part of the eight grade curriculum, our students have the opportunity to participate in the Annual Eighth Grade Retreat. This retreat is a custom designed to meet our students needs.

The goals of this retreat are:

To bring our parish eight graders, attending two middle schools, together before entering High School as one Catholic Community. Providing them with the opportunity to form bonds and friendships.
To provide the opportunity to reflect on their Image of God as creator, redeemer, and friend. Students will examine where their relationship is with God and ways to make it stronger. This retreat experience is always fun and faith building Through a series of interactive games, teen presentations, Gospel skits, music and prayer our teens build their Catholic Community and reflect on their image of God.

Ninth Grade Confirmation Overnight Retreat

Living the Sacrament

The ninth grade retreat is part of the Confirmation preparation program. This retreat is required of all students preparing for confirmation.

The goals of this retreat are:

1. To reflect on the Holy Sacrament of Confirmation

2. To understanding the Gifts of the Holy Spirit

3. To affirm the adult commitment to the Church

H.S. Retreats

Girls and Boys DDA Retreats

DDA stands for Day, by Day Agape. These three day, single sex retreats begin on Thursday evenings and end on Sunday afternoon with a large community youth mass. Each retreat has a retreat team that meets for five weeks in order to prepare for the retreat. Each team is made up of adults and teens from the tri-state area that have completed a DDA retreat AND leadership training retreat. These retreats are unique in that they are lead by teenagers for teenagers.

They allow young adults in the Church to experience the love of Christ with other young Catholics and grow in their own relationship with God.

The Goals of the DDA program:

What is The Leadership Training program?

The leadership training Program is a co-ed weekend retreat,(Friday thru Sunday) that is offered to students that have completed a DDA weekend. This program is designed to empower the youth of our parish to become peer ministers for future retreats and to give them leadership roles in the church.

The Goals Of Leadership Training Program

1. To offer young people an opportunity to learn leadership skills:

2. To offer young people Christian leadership skills by incorporating the dynamics of Catholic Youth Evangelization.

Once students have completed DDA and Leadership Training, they are chosen to help lead the parish eight grade and Confirmation retreats as well as being called to lead other CYFM retreats/outreach programs.

Students must apply for all DDA/Leadership retreats through the Parish Youth & Family Office. For information and a list of times and dates Please call the parish office: 914-238-3260 ext.110