2026-2027 Youth Ministry Year

The Church of the Nativity High School Youth Ministry Program fosters the spiritual, intellectual, and social growth of young people and empowers them to serve as disciples of Jesus while drawing them to responsible participation in the life of the Church.

The Church of the Nativity High School Youth Ministry Program involves 4 components and is based on these church documents that established the foundational principals of Youth Ministry: 

• A Vision of Youth Ministry
• Renewing the Vision
• Doctrinal Elements of a Curriculum Framework for the Development of Catechetical Materials for Young People of High School Age - USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops)
• plus the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

The 4 components of our Youth Ministry Program are:

1. Educational/Catechesis

This is the most important component and is accomplished mainly through our Sunday Topic Nights from September to June. Sunday Topic Nights are about ongoing Faith Formation and challenging teens to apply and live all aspects of their Catholic faith in everyday life. Our Sunday Topic Night topics come from the documents listed above, our 4 year curriculum from St. Mary's Press, Catechism of the Catholic Church, and our Topic Survey of the most requested topics from the parents and teens that is given at the start of each year and at the New teen and New Parent Orientation Meeting. This method allows for both a Catechetical systematic structure and the flexibility to cover current events. Attending our Sunday Topic Nights for 2 years also provides teens with the faith formation background to become eligible for the Confirmation Immediate Preparation Classes. 

 2.  Service Projects

There are regularly scheduled Service Projects as well as many other pop-up service projects offered to the teens during the year.

 3.  Social Events

We do Social Events about every other month and the teens vote on what to do, such as bowling, mini golf, movie, and go-karting nights.

 4. Confirmation Immediate Preparation Program

The Confirmation Immediate Preparation Program runs from February through May every year. The “Confirmation Immediate Preparation Class” is specifically and only education on the Sacrament of Confirmation for eligible (those who have been in our program for 2 years) sophomores, juniors, or seniors and is in addition to our Sunday Topic Nights. It involves classes, a Retreat, small homework assignments, and successfully completing a Final Interview. Confirmation is only 1 of the 4 parts along a teen’s Faith Formation journey within the Nativity Youth Ministry Program, not the end or “graduation” from Faith Formation and Youth Ministry. It is important to remember it’s place in the bigger picture of the overall and ongoing Youth Ministry Program. Teens are expected to continue with their Youth Ministry involvement after Confirmation as part of their lifelong education in our Catholic faith and to live out their Confirmation commitments. “There is more to parish youth ministry than preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation and it's celebration which is only one component or part of the total process of catechesis and faith development for adolescents”. (Diocesan Policy #310)

            For more information on Confirmation go to our Confirmation page.

 

If you would like more information on the Nativity High School Youth Ministry Program please contact Mike James, Director of Catechetical Ministry, at mjames@nativitycatholic.org.

2026-2027 Youth Ministry Registration

Registration for the 2026-2027 Youth Ministry year is now open. Why is it important for all teens to register for the Youth Ministry Program? We track all teens in the parish throughout their high school years in the Youth Ministry Program, whether they go to a public or Catholic high school. It is also important for us to have them on our class lists to determine their eligibility for the additional Confirmation Immediate Preparation Classes at the appropriate time. For more information on the sacrament of Confirmation please see our Confirmation page here on this website.

To register for Youth Ministry properly:

• If your family isn't already registered parishioners please fill out the Parish Registration Form
• Fill out the Youth Ministry Registration Form and Topic Survey (as a parent)
• Mail all forms back to the parish along with the Registration Fee by September 20, 2026.

 

September 20, 2026 - New Teen and New Parent Orientation

Our New Teen and New Parent Orientation will be on Catechetical Sunday, Sunday September 20, 2026, from 5-6:15pm in the Commons. All freshmen, new teens, and most importantly their parents are invited to come and hear about the Youth Ministry Program and Confirmation Program requirements. This is the only meeting we ask new parents to attend during their teen’s 4 years in the program so they can hear how the Youth Ministry Program works, especially the Confirmation piece of Youth Ministry in sophomore, junior, or senior year. There will be plenty of time for questions after the presentation. This Orientation Meeting is actually pretty important because each parish has a different model of Youth Ministry and different model of Confirmation Preparation so it is important to know and understand how we do it at Church of the Nativity. Returning teens and families are not required to attend as it will be information they heard in previous years. 

September 27, 2026 - Get to Know You Night

 

Our second meeting on September 27, 2026 is for all freshmen-seniors from 5-6:15pm. It will be a "Get To Know You Night" where the new freshmen from last year's grade 8 of Faith Formation and the Nativity School and any new teens are introduced to the returning teens to do sharing and icebreaker activities to help ease their transition into High School. We will also discuss our learning model and small groups for the first part of the year.

October 4, 2026 - Honoring Family

 

Our topic at our October 4 meeting will be Honoring Family and is based on the 4^th commandment “Honor your father and mother.” Where does this commandment fit in relation to the other 9?  What did Pope Benedict say about the family?  How do children show honor, gratitude, and obedience to parents?  We will answer these questions and more.  We will also go over the bible readings from mass, have small sharing groups, and play some icebreakers.  All freshmen-seniors attending public or Catholic high school are invited to join us from 5-6:15pm in the Commons.

October 11, 2026 - Honoring Family - Pt. 2

 

Our topic at our October 11 meeting will be Honoring Family - Pt. 2. and is based on the 4^th commandment “Honor your father and mother.”  What are parents responsibilities in raising children?  How does the 4th commandment apply outside the family?  How does the natural law apple to the 4th commandment?  We will answer these questions and more.  We will also go over the bible readings from mass, have small sharing groups, and play some icebreakers.  All freshmen-seniors attending public or Catholic high school are invited to join us from 5-6:15pm in the Commons.

 

October 18, 2026 - Safe Environment

 

In compliance with the Diocese of San Diego’s Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, the topic of Safe Environment will be introduced to your teenager at our Topic Night on Sunday October 18, 2026 from 5-6:15pm.  Emails will be sent to all parents with a Parent Letter, Parent Conversation Resource from the Diocese, and the PowerPoint that your teens will be shown according to their grade level.  If you have any questions please email mjames@nativitycatholic.org

For more information on the Diocesan Safe Environment Program go to https://www.safeinourdiocese.org/.