Youth Ministry

On Saturday, March 23, the teens of St. Jerome joined our cluster parishes (St. Patrick's and Blessed Sacrament) for a day of service at the Alpha House in St. Petersburg. We had over 25 volunteers join us. The Alpha House supports single mothers and their children by providing housing and other resources for them. It was a blessing to be able to support the gift of life in a unique way by helping with a variety of tasks which needed to be completed. Thank you to all of the teens and adults who joined us!

The Youth Ministry program would like to thank all of the volunteers who helped us to put on a wonderful Fish Fry on February 22. With over 250 tickets sold, we needed as many hands on deck as possible! A very special thank you to Gary & Debbie Crook, Bob & Donna Siler, Don LaLuzrne, Don Gildea, Judge Jirotka, and Rita’s for your generosity and service. We appreciate the participation of the parish in this event. The money raised from the Fish Fry will not only benefit the youth program as a whole, but will also help in sponsoring several youth who will be attending LifeTeen’s Covecrest Camp in Georgia this June. Thank you for helping our teens grow closer to Christ and feel a part of our wonderful Church!

The weekend of November 16-18, high school teens from St. Jerome, Blessed Sacrament and St. Patrick’s, joined together for a retreat weekend away at Bethany Center in Lutz, FL. During this incredible weekend, the teens explored what faith is, what their own faith lives look like, and how they can share their faith with the world! Thank you for all of your support and prayers!

Here are words from St. Jerome teens who attended the retreat:

"I thought it was a very personal experience and it was what I had been needing. It helped me relax and trust more in God’s plans so I didn’t have to be as controlling. And it lasted past that weekend, I think about the retreat and all I learned, all the time. Whenever I feel things getting hard again, I remember how I felt during the retreat." –Kelli Doyle, Grade 12

"What I LOVED about this retreat was that we learned new methods of how to pray, I made new friends, and this retreat increased my faith!" –Giselle Ycaza, Grade 11

"I enjoyed being able to escape from my everyday routine and culture, to be able to look at myself and my faith. The chapel is really pretty and I enjoyed Mass because I felt I was being more sincere and honest with myself." –Emma Doyle, Grade 10

"This retreat was really special. I love you and I love Jesus!" – Luis Ycaza, Grade 9

"What I liked about the retreat was that I got to meet new people that I can share my faith with. And I was moved by the stories of faith the adult leaders told." – Kiki Valle, Grade 9