• The goals of this portion of our religious education program are promoted through a continuous curriculum. Our catechists and assistants are parents and other dedicated parishioners who volunteer their time and services. The children meet in a classroom setting and are taught through well-planned lessons, prayer, classroom activities and special programs and projects. 
  This is a strong family-based program set in Catholic doctrine and tradition. We recognize parents as the children's first and foremost teachers of the faith and therefore expect involvement of parents at all levels of their children's religious education. 
• Sr. Rita Ann is the parish Director of Religious Education. Sister, along with the help of coordinators and an active Religious Education Committee, administer the program.Classes meet during the months of September through May. Registration for classes is held in the spring or as new parishioners register.

• Students in Grades 6-8 will meet every Sunday evening in October and January from 5:30-6:45pm. The goal of the junior high program is to provide the students further understanding of their faith through physical, emotional and cognitive methods. The fee is $110 per student. For more information, please e-mail Youth Ministry Coordinator

Confirmation Preparation Program

• Confirmation classes are held every year beginning in September and ending in May. This program is open to any high school student who has not yet been confirmed.  Most students participate in this program during the 9^th or 10^th grade. Classes are held on Wednesday nights from 7:30-9:00 pm throughout the school year with the Confirmation Liturgy scheduled for Sunday, April 29 at 2pm . An independent service project, an outline of a book and vocabulary, resume of your saint, and interview is required and expected to be completed by the end of April. Students must be registered YM members to participate in the Confirmation Preparation Liturgy Program. Cost is $160.

High School

• High School students have the opportunity to meet every Sunday evening starting in September and continuing May (with the option to continue through the summer) at 7:00 to 8:45pm. The fee is $110 per student.  Our high school program invites the students to reflect on the Catholic faith through these programs:  . 
  
  •  Dead Theologians Society- First and Last Sunday of each month at 7pm (Dinner included) The Dead Theologians Society is a  Catholic apostolate for high school age teens. Through the Saints of yesterday, the Dead Theologians Society inspires the youth of today to become the saints of tomorrow. Its motto is, “Dead to the World, alive in Christ!” This is inspired by Romans 6:11 where St. Paul tells us to be dead to sin but alive in Christ Jesus. Click: Our Promo Video
  • T.E.C. (Teens Encounter Christ) For boys and girls 16 and up. TEC (Teens Encounter Christ) is an opportunity for a special time in a young person's life. At TEC you can experience that you are not alone at the in between time of moving into adult life. In the three day weekend of TEC, you can experience being part of a vibrant, loving, and supportive faith community. Throughout a TEC weekend Team members consisting of adults and youth from various walks of life entrust to the participants their struggles, joys, and feelings they have experienced in their own lives. TEC provides a space to reflect upon one's own ideals, hopes, dreams, and problems; to discover a God that you can believe in. An experience in which you can encounter, Christ as risen and alive in your midst.
  •  Vincentian Marian Youth (VMY)- " To devote a portion of one's leisure to doing something for   someone else is one of the highest forms of recreation." -Gerald B. Fitzgerald Through Community, Prayer, Formation and Service to the Poor VMY strives is to create an environment, which empowers students in grades 8-12 to enter into communion with God in loving and serving the Church. This mission is accomplished by working with the St. Vincent De Paul Society where students are encouraged to live the Gospel and become aware of the needs of others here at St. Patrick Church of Merna and within our community.  Service projects are conducted throughout the year. Each activity is open to YM members and guests and is designed to enrich one's faith and promote a lifestyle of charity.   Many of our service projects include some fundraising requirements which may be used for donations to other organizations. Typical projects include Reverse Collection, Helping Hands, One Homeless Night, volunteering at the Midwest Food Bank, Work Camp Trips, Food Fasts. 
  • One Homeless Night/ VMY Mission Box Video
  • One Bread, One Cup is a five-day liturgical leadership conference for high school youth and the adults who minister to them. Conferences include catechesis, liturgical and spiritual formation, and theological reflection. There are opportunities for personal prayer, liturgical prayer, charity and action in a community of peers. At the conferences, youth and adults discover the Church’s treasures of Word, Sacrament and Mission and have opportunities for fellowship and fun (team building, outdoor recreation, variety show and dance). Participants come to appreciate the Benedictine balance of prayer, work and recreation. 

Fees

The Youth Ministry Registration Fee is $110 if paid by July 17 with an additional late fee of $35 after July 17. For those studetns enrolling in the Confirmation program the fee is $160.  The Confirmation fee is due in September. These fees are used to operate the YM Program. However, this modest fee does not cover the entire cost and it is necessary to have some additional fund raising events to help defray expenses.  Events to help defray the costs are a Sunday Breakfast on and the garage sale.

Sites-The following links are to websites that can provide additional resources for you.

 For Parents: