Youth Ministry Newsletter

July 2025

Dear Friends in Youth Ministry,

I hope you are having a wonderful and joyful summer so far! I’m so pleased to share the big news that was mentioned in last month’s newsletter…

Youth Ministry Services has grown, and we are so thrilled to let you know that we have added an Assistant Director to our team: Garth Pereira! Garth will be responsible for youth leadership development, and he comes with a wealth of experience, having worked with NET Ministries for 25 years! You may have already met Garth at one of our youth ministry and faith formation events, as Garth most recently served as Director of Faith Formation and Youth at the Olympic Peninsula Catholic Parishes (Parish Family #49). As part of our team, Garth will be working on reviving and re-envisioning the Ascend Leadership Retreat, which is scheduled for next July. He will also be helping with the expansion of the Catholic Lifesaver Corps, a peer-to-peer suicide prevention program where high school students are trained as facilitators in suicide prevention and then give talks to their peers at schools or parishes. In addition, Garth will be developing internship opportunities for young people in our parish settings. Please contact Garth at garth.pereira@seattlearch.org or 206-274-3149 if you’d like to:

Join the planning team for Ascend 2026
Schedule a student from Catholic Lifesaver Corps to speak to your youth group or class
Have questions about youth leadership development
Believe your parish would be a good fit for student internships
Just to say “Hi” or to get to know him better!

We are so excited to provide you support in the development of young leaders, and we look forward to the opportunity to introduce you to Garth!

The Youth Ministry Services Team is here to support you as you minister to the young people in your parishes or high schools! Please contact us with questions or if you’d like to schedule a visit! You can reach me at Kimberly.abadir@seattlearch.org, or 206-274-3175. We look forward to talking with you soon!

Blessings to you!

Kimberly

FEATURED ANNOUNCEMENTS

YOU HAVE A LITTLE MORE TIME TO APPLY FOR THE MTS GRADUATE STUDIES PROGRAM! (DEADLINE EXTENDED TO JULY 31ST)

Would you like to study theology in much greater depth and enhance your qualifications in ministry? You can earn a Master’s Degree in Theological Studies (MTS) through the Christifideles program. This 2-year program offers blended in person and online classes through a partnership between the Archdiocese of Seattle and Saint Martin’s University. Find all of the details and application HERE!

Here's a flyer with the program description and FAQ’s – please share it with others and spread the word! Now is a time to jump on this opportunity and apply – by the July 15th deadline!

FOR YOUR STUDENTS: UNPLUG WITH THE LORD RETREAT – August 12-14 at the Archbishop Brunett Retreat Center in Federal Way

Registration is Open! Please invite your high school juniors, seniors and recent graduates to attend this prayerful retreat at the beautiful Retreat Center in Federal Way, led by Fr. Chad Hill!

Unplug with the Lord is a 3-day/2-night retreat exploring ways to grow in relationship with God and discern His plan.

Here is the link to the Event Page – please pass it along!

THIS EVENT IS FOR YOU AND YOUR CORE TEAM!

ANNUAL YOUTH MINISTER AND VOLUNTEER TRAINING – August 23 at Holy Family, Kirkland

Join us on Saturday, August 23^rd from 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at Holy Family Parish in Kirkland for the annual training and networking event for youth ministers and teams of volunteers. Whether you’re new to youth ministry or you have been in the field for years, this gathering offers the chance to network with others and will provide helpful information for you as a minister, for the teens you minister to, and for the coming year in ministry!

Schedule:

9:30: Check-in

10:00: Welcome and Session 1: Equipping Teams

10:45: Break

11:00: Building Blocks and Breakouts (2 tracks: Small Groups / Giving Talks)

12:00: Mass

12:45: Lunch

1:30: Stretch

1:45: NEW! Confirmation Resource

2:15: Session 2: – Setting the Vision for Youth Ministry (for the coming year)

3:00: Break

3:10: Session 3: Providing Meaningful Events for your Youth

3:50: Closing Comments/Prayer

4:00: Depart

For more information and to register click here!

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS: APPLY TO SERVE ON THE ARCHDIOCESAN YOUTH COUNCIL – Share with your students!

Applications are now open for the Archdiocesan Youth Council! We invite high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors to apply to join this September! Council members represent and advocate for their peers, seeking input from their communities, parishes, and schools, and sharing feedback with Church leaders. We are seeking students from all 10 deaneries and cultural communities – we especially invite students from the Northern, Southern, Olympic, Pierce and South Seattle deaneries to apply!

Click here for additional information and a link to the application

ADDITIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

DID YOU KNOW?

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN!

There is a current capital campaign underway to support youth and young adult ministry in the Archdiocese of Seattle! Learn more with this flyer, and find additional details at Campaign for Youth and Young Adults - Archdiocese of Seattle.

CONFIRMATION RETREATS

The Confirmation Retreat schedule for the 2025-2026 year is almost ready! Dates are set and we are confirming the locations at parishes around the Archdiocese. We are offering one fall retreat, two in the winter/early spring, and two in the later spring. We will share all of the details soon – please feel free to contact me in the meantime at Kimberly.abadir@seattlearch.org if you have questions.

LET US KNOW IF YOU...

Have a leadership program for teens in your parish. How do they serve other students, what is their role, and what do you do to train or prepare them? Email both Kimberly and Garth!

HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS MINISTERS

Do you have any news or updates to share about ministry in your school? If so, please let me know!

ZOOM LINK FOR YOUTH MINISTRY’S VIRTUAL CAFE

Up next (Mark your calendar!): our next café takes place on Tuesday, August 19th from 2-3pm!

UPCOMING DATES

7/7 – 7/12/25: Camp Solanus for Girls (Middle School) (Black Lake Bible Camp, Olympia): https://www.stnicholascc.org/new-camp-for-girls
8/10 – 8/15/25: Camp Solanus for Boys (Middle School) (Camp Hamilton, Monroe): https://www.stnicholascc.org/camps
8/12 – 8/14/25: Unplug with the Lord Retreat (High School) Retreat (Archbishop Brunett Retreat Center, Federal Way) Info & Registration
8/23/25: Youth Minister and Volunteer Training (Holy Family, Kirkland) Info & Registration
11/15/25: CYC 2025 (Saint Martin’s University, Lacey)
3/21/26: MSE 2026 (Kennedy Catholic High School, Burien)

Youth Ministry Services