All Saints,  Holy Spirit, St. Aloysius, St. Bonaventure

Arise is the youth group of St Matthew Parish. Arise is a place where high school teens from 9th to 12th grade can come to find fellowship, fun, and faith. Our goal is to foster a relational, service-oriented, and Eucharistic place for the teens to learn and grow through high school. We want to create an environment for teens to create community, a personal relationship with Jesus, and make lifelong memories. Our parish’s goal is to help teens also to come into community with the parish as a whole and know that they are supported and prayed for by everyone in our church family. 

Matthew 17:7 “But Jesus came and touched them, saying ‘rise, and have no fear’”. 

I believe, God led me to this verse for many reasons, the first being that He is asking all of us to rise and not be afraid to go. This verse is after the transfiguration of our Lord when the disciples were scared and even asked to stay at the top of the mountain. Our Lord says no, we much rise and be not afraid. God is calling each of us to Sunday mass and after to go out into the world bringing His love to everyone we meet.  Second, because it says that He came, yes, a simple concept but how many times as humans due we question is God going to show up for us. This short but powerful verse is showing us that God not only shows up for all of us he even takes it a step further to touch us, telling us to go out and have no fear.  Thirdly, He physically touched them. Today we can forget how much a physical encounter with Jesus truly means. Many times, in the Bible, is there a miracle performed by Jesus that only takes a touch or breath, a physical encounter with Jesus. He continues to give us those encounters through the liturgy, at Mass where we get to receive our Lord in Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity in the Eucharist!  

Arise is centered on this earth, giving each teen a safe place to encounter God, learn His love for them and then learn to go out and give that love to others.  

One of the things we strive to do as a youth ministry is partner with parents. The Catholic Church teaches that it is the parents who have the primary role of catechist in handing the faith on to their children. Everything the Church does regarding youth ministry is really meant to be a supplement. (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2223)

With that being said, there will be resource available for parents in the future as the program grows. I am here to help you in the role of handing down our faith the best way I can. 

Thank you for entrusting your teen(s) with St Matthew youth group Arise! The core members and I are very excited to walk with the teens in their faith journey and to assist you as parents in fostering a foundation that will set your teens up to continue their faith life in college. We have many fun nights planned with Glow in the dark and Resurrection Party and many more to come. Teens are not just coming to learn more about our faith but to have so much fun, relieve stress, and make lifelong friends. Keep an eye on our summer schedule and Fall Schedule! There will be some family nights coming!  

Thank you for all you do for your teenagers. Please don't hesitate to reach out if there is anything we can do to help!

Do you have used items in your house that you do not know what to do with? Have you ever thought about donating to the Youth Group at St Matthew Parish? Please consider donating the items to the youth group to help us build a welcoming and growing environment in the youth room! Visit the Youth Group Donations page to the left to see the items we are looking for right now. Items will change as the need changes. 
Thank you in advance Morgan, the core team, and the teens really appreicate every donation!