By Mary Ellen Zangara, Special Writer
The newly formed Youth Group of Sacred Heart and Christ the King churches is already off to a great start with youth helping community members, learning spirituality and having some fun.
Organizers Sarina Urban and Melissa Reilly-Grecco along with their other committee members have had three successful meeting so far.
According to Ms. Urban the “Sacred Heart Church and Christ the King Church in Manville implemented a combined youth group program in November for their student parishioners and Christ the King School students in grades six through eight. Our program also invites our high school parishioners to attend as mentors. The youth group meets the second Saturday of the month and alternates youth group Mass between the two parishes. Our goal for this new youth group is to provide spiritual enrichment, stewardship to those in need and have some social fun.”
Ms. Urban explained what the group is all about.
”The students celebrate Mass together followed by a light dinner and participate in a stewardship activity. While our program is new to us, we are very happy with the turnout of students who participate each month,” she said.
For the service project for the November meeting, the students assembled 126 men’s hygiene kits which were given to a local men’s shelter. In December at the group meeting, the students exchanged a Christmas grab bag gift among themselves and also purchased a second gift to donate to a child in need. They also made cards to be distributed to the community.
At Saturday’s meeting, the students made snowflake decorations for the Eastern Star Nursing home. Each student spent time making the snowflakes to be donated.
Ms. Urban was pleased with the January attendance.
”Even with the nuisance of snowy weather on Saturday, we still had a good turnout. We were all proud that our young students trekked out in the snowy weather to participate in Mass and attend our youth group meeting,” she said. “It is so good to see that our students still carve out time from their busy, hectic weekend schedules to come to church, celebrate Mass and devote stewardship time. It is clearly apparent that God, Jesus and their Catholic faith are very important to them in their life. The youth mass has also been a great learning experience for some of the students who are participating in the readings and intercessions for the very first time,” she said.
According to Ms. Urban, the next service project will be going on for the month of January. “The youth group and children’s Liturgy will begin a new stewardship activity on a monthly basis by collecting items and other announced donations for local community charities. For the month of January, we are collecting knitted or crocheted hats, new hats, mittens, gloves, and scarves for men, women, infants, children, or teenagers,” she said.
”Please place your donated items in the boxes located in the church main vestibule entrance. We thank you kindly for your generous support.”
The next youth group meeting is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 12, beginning with 4:30 p.m. Mass at Christ the King church. All students in grades six through 12 are welcome.

