January was a busy and grace-filled month for Youth Ministry, filled with multiple retreats that gave our teens opportunities to encounter Jesus and grow in their faith. Retreats allow young people to step away from digital media and the pressures of everyday life, creating space for prayer, reflection, and building community.

Our middle school teens spent the evening in the hall from 5pm to midnight for the Twilight retreat with the theme of JOY. The night had games, music, talks, testimonies, and lots of fun. It was led entirely by our high school and college aged youth.

Our high school Confirmation teens were on retreat the last weekend of January at Camp Arroyo in Livermore. The retreat was focused on the Creed, helping them understand the foundations of our Catholic faith and how those beliefs shape their lives. During the weekend, teens experienced God’s presence through prayer, small group discussions, and praise and worship while being surrounded by God’s beautiful creation. Please pray for our Confirmation students during this Lenten season as they will be confirmed in May.

You can follow all the amazing events that are happening in youth ministry by following us on Instagram @straymondyouth.