Action Retreat: A parish-based retreat experience for freshmen beginning on a Saturday afternoon and ending Sunday evening. Incorporated into the weekend experience are witness talks, small group discussions, large group discussions and activities, ice breakers, Liturgy, prayer, singing and meals. We offer two Action Retreats per year. The first is in November and the second is in April. The retreat serves as a catalyst for deeper and more meaningful participation in the parish but does not ignore the developmental realities of 9th graders. 

Action Prep Team Meeting: Each Action Retreat is prepared and run by a team of about 16 upperclassmen and 6 adults. The leaders chosen for these teams are people who have expressed sincere interest in being on team and have shown leadership potential. One must go on an Action Retreat before one can be asked to be on Team. 

Antioch: According to the Acts of the Apostles, Antioch was the first Christian community. “It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.” - Acts 11:26. Antioch began as a small community and grew to the size of a city as big as Boston. We choose the name “Antioch” for one of our retreats because we are recreating the first Antioch; that is, we are building a city of God from small beginnings. 

Antioch Retreat: An age appropriate parish-based retreat experience beginning on a Friday night and ending early Sunday evening. Incorporated into the weekend experience are witness talks, small group discussions, large group discussions and activities, ice breakers, Reconciliation, Liturgy, prayer, singing and meals. We offer two Antioch Retreats per year. The first is in October at St. Pats and the second is in March at St. Vincents. The retreat serves as a catalyst for deeper and more meaningful participation in the parish. 

Antioch Prep Team Meeting: Each Antioch Retreat is prepared and run by a team of about 18 upperclassmen and 8 adults. The leaders chosen for these teams are people who have expressed sincere interest in being on team and have shown leadership potential. One must go on an Antioch Retreat before one can be asked to be on Team. 

Appalachia Help Week: A weeklong service opportunity (yearlong preparation-wise) in the summer, through which youth, college students and adults renovate homes owned by our brothers and sisters living in Preston County, WV. (10th graders and up only). 

Car Wash: An annual Appalachia fundraiser that takes place in late June. 

Catechist: Any adult who commits to sharing his or her faith with our youth in a formal way (typically on a retreat and follow-ups). 

Easter Vigil: A spiritually moving Mass which takes place on Easter Eve. This is the culmination of all our Eucharistic celebrations throughout the year. All parishioners, young and old, are encouraged to come and celebrate who we are. 

Eucharistic Minister Training: Any confirmed individual who feels called to be a Eucharistic Minister may be trained on scheduled dates. 

Eva’s Village: A soup kitchen in Paterson for which our parish cooks chili on a monthly basis. Five additional times a year, youth and adults come together to cook enough chili to serve 300. The next day more youth and adults transport and serve it to the homeless and hungry of Paterson. 

Family Advent Retreat: A half-day retreat for all families in the Parish Center. The retreat helps all involved focus more clearly on the meaning of the Advent season. All activities and discussions are age appropriate. 

Family Ministry Morning/Evening of Reflection: Part of the Family-based Religious Education Process run by our parish. Families come together to share and deepen their faith through age appropriate activities and faith sharing. 

God Unplugged: Our Youth Ministry choir/band. A group consisting of singers, guitar players, bass players, piano players, brass players, string players, harmonica players, and percussion players. This year God Unplugged will lead the assembly in song on Christmas day, the Confirmation Liturgy, the Retreat Liturgies and various other Masses throughout the year. Whatever instrument you play, we can work it in. Come share your talents. 

Lector Training: Any confirmed individual who feels called to be a Lector may be trained on scheduled dates.

Living Stations of the Cross: A prayer service led by Youth Ministry for the parish on the evening of Good Friday. It is a solemn celebration of our Lord’s final hours. The service is led through prayer, reflection, music, drama, and personal sharing. 

Living Stations Rehearsal: Anyone who wishes to offer their drama, musical, or leadership skills is welcome to participate, but must commit to all rehearsals. 

Monday Evening Freshman Gatherings: These gatherings are led by Junior and Senior Action team leaders and take place for 6 weeks following each Action retreat. Incorporated into a typical gathering is a witness talk, small group discussion, large group discussion, singing, prayer and service sign-ups. The first gathering takes place the week following each Action Retreat. Each gathering is Lectionary-based (meaning they follow the sequence of the Church calendar). Any Freshman who is in High School Youth Ministry is invited to any and all Monday evening gatherings. Come to as many as you can. 

Morristown Food Pantry: An interfaith food pantry in Morristown where we go on Saturday mornings once a month to sort canned food items, transport them to a pantry and stock the shelves. 

Mystagogia: An ancient term that means, “grasping the Mystery of God.” It is used when referring to the period of time in one’s faith journey directly following full initiation into the Church (celebrating the sacrament of Confirmation, or celebrating Baptism, Confirmation and First Eucharist at the Easter Vigil). It is often referred to as the “rookie year” for Catholics. In other words, fully initiated people have made it to the Big Leagues, but there is still much to be learned. 

Mystagogia Retreat: A retreat for Juniors and Seniors designed to challenge them to “grasp the Mystery of God.” It is held in conjunction with St. Vincent Youth Ministry in Madison and Christ the King Youth Ministry in New Vernon and takes place in a remote location (probably LBI). The retreat begins on a Friday night and ends early Sunday evening. Incorporated into the weekend experience are witness talks, small group discussions, large group discussions and activities, ice breakers, Liturgy, prayer, singing and meals. This retreat (as all retreats) is age appropriate.

Mystagogia Prep Team Meeting: The Mystagogia Retreat is prepared and run by a team of about 16 upperclassmen and 6 adults. The leaders chosen for these teams are people who have expressed sincere interest in being on team and have shown leadership potential. 

Mystagogia Follow-up Gatherings: Weekly gatherings of team leaders and candidates who have attended the Mystagogia Retreat. Incorporated into a typical follow-up gathering is a witness talk, small group discussion, large group discussion, singing, prayer and service sign-ups. The first gathering takes place the week following the actual retreat. Each gathering is Lectionary-based (meaning they follow the sequence of the Church calendar). Anyone who is in the 11th grade or higher is invited to any and all follow-up gatherings, regardless of whether or not they have been on the Mystagogia Retreat. 

New Jersey Catholic Youth Rally: A Sunday trip (usually in May) to Great Adventure with Catholic youth from all over the state. The day is concluded with a celebration of Eucharist led by one of our Bishops in the stadium. 

Parish Picnic: A chance to gather as a parish family and have fun with all generations. Youth Ministry is responsible for the children's activites and games. 

Parish Retreat: Both youth and adults are encouraged to join the rest of the parish in three evenings of reflection during Lent. 

Rite of Covenant Reflection: A one hour long evening of reflection for sophomores preparing for the sacrament of Confirmation and their parents. The focus is on “discernment” and the meaning of the “Rite of Covenant” ritual. This reflection takes place immediately before the Rite of Covenant Liturgy. 

Rite of Covenant: A ritual that takes place during the 5:00 pm Sunday Mass. It is designed to allow our community to symbolically acknowledge our sophomores (or second year Confirmation candidates) as they enter into the Period of Discernment (the period of time in which they are asked to discern whether or not they wish to confirm their Baptism). It is also an opportunity for our sophomores to symbolically express their willingness to fully enter into this stage with an open mind and heart. 

Rite of Invitation Reflection: A gathering for freshmen who wish to participate in Youth Ministry (and consequently prepare for Confirmation) and their parents. This gathering takes place in early September immediately following the Rite of Invitation Mass on Sunday evening at 5:00 pm. The focus is on welcoming the youth into Youth Ministry and explaining the Youth Ministry process to the youth and parents. 

Rite of Entrance: A ritual for freshman that takes place at Sunday 5:00 pm Mass during the Action Retreats. It is designed to allow our community to symbolically acknowledge our freshmen (or first year Confirmation candidates) as they begin their journey through high school Youth Ministry. It is also an opportunity for our freshmen to symbolically express their willingness to fully participate in Youth Ministry. 

Rite of Confirmation Reflection/Rehearsal: A chance for those coming forward for the sacrament of Confirmation to gather with their sponsors and parents and reflect on the meaning of Confirmation. The evening also serves as a chance to rehearse for the Confirmation ritual. 

Rite of Confirmation: A ritual that takes place during a Eucharistic Liturgy and through which the sacrament of Confirmation is celebrated. Those who come forward do the following: confirm their Baptism, complete the sacraments of Initiation, recognize, acknowledge and celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit, commit to embrace Christianity, commit to accept and practice Roman Catholicism, commit to share the gift of themselves with the St. Patrick Parish community, and begin a new life as a disciple of Jesus. 

Sunday Evening Youth Ministry Gatherings: These gatherings for High School Youth Ministry teens in grades 9-12 take place approximately twice a month throughout the school year. These gatherings begin by celebrating the 5:00 pm Sunday liturgy as a group and then proceeding to the parish center afterwards to share a dinner of pizza. Once a month the gathering will have a catechetical program incorporated into it (a guest speaker, a teen giving a reflection with discussion to follow, etc.) and once a month the gathering will be strictly social with pizza, drinks, music and activities. These gatherings will give the youth more opportunity to gather as a community and bond with their peers in faith. 

Virtus Program: The Protecting God’s Children program for adults over 18 years of age who are working with, volunteering with, or ministering to children. The program is designed to raise awareness of best practices to prevent risk of abuse to minors. For the protection of all our youth, any adult who wishes to be involved in Youth Ministry (retreat team, host home, driver, etc.) is required to attend the training session. 

Wednesday Evening 10th-12th Grade Gatherings: These gatherings are led by Junior and Senior Antioch team leaders and take place for 6 weeks following each Antioch Retreat. Incorporated into a typical follow-up gathering is a witness talk, small group discussion, large group discussion, singing, prayer and service sign-ups. The first gathering takes place the week following each Antioch retreat. Each gathering is Lectionary-based (meaning they follow the sequence of the Church calendar). Anyone who is in the 10th grade or higher is invited to any and all Wednesday Evening Gatherings. Come to as many as you can.