Teen Advisory  Board:  Our Teen Advisory Board  meets on specific Sundays throughout the year.  Confirmed teens are invited to help us to shape the future of Youth Ministry at St. E’s. Please keep this amazing group of teen leaders in your prayers, as they work together to write a new chapter in SPARK Teen Ministry! If you are a confirmed high school or college student and would like to serve on the board, please contact Corinne Kilkeary or Shannon Jones.

Peer Leaders, expand your leadership role in the parish by serving as Teen Leaders in our monthly events. This will be a great opportunity to continue to build your leadership skills, grow your faith, and make a difference!

Adults, SPARK Teen Ministry depends upon your partnership! If you would like to join our adult volunteer/mentor team, please contact Corinne Kilkeary or Shannon Jones for more details.

Set out on the journey by contacting
Corinne Kilkeary at youthministry@stelizabethschurch.org or Shannon Jones at confirmation@stelizabethschurch.org

December 2021

Wishing you all joy, friends. 
    
Oh come, let us adore Him… The Advent season is upon us, a time to reflect on our year, bring peace to our hearts and prepare ourselves for the arrival of our Blessed Savior.   Thank you for all you have done to turn the SPARK within you into the FIRE of God’s love for others.  

Here are some highlights from our November activities:

-You have spread God’s love to many families in Paterson through the gift of food and full tummies by providing 90 packs of food for the children of El Mundo De Colores preschool with our BackPack Program.

-Neighbors in need all across NJ will be warmer in the cold NJ winter thanks to the 335+ coats collected by the TAB teens and sent to the Jersey Cares annual coat drive.

-Month 3 of our Spiritual Adoption approaches, and many prayers are lifting the spirits and opening the hearts of pregnant mothers looking for support.  

My SPARK friends!  You have been hard at work with the Holy Spirit, fulfilling many corporal works of mercy.  We have fed the hungry, reached out to the shut in, helped to teach the ignorant and clothe the needy.  God’s Christmas Star shines down on St. Elizabeth’s now and guides us during our December Service Opportunities.
 
Become a SPARK Christmas Elf!

The amazing members of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish support all of our service efforts throughout the year; let us take the time to make their holidays brighter and say "Thank You!"   We will do this by giving them the gift of time.  How?   SPARK TEENS will transform into SPARK ELVES on Saturday December 18, 2021 from 2pm-5pm.  Join us as we change the Community Room into Santa’s Workshop and offer to wrap Christmas Gifts for our parishioners.  

We will invite members of St. Elizabeth’s to bring us their Christmas gifts so we can wrap them.  There are two shifts to choose from:  2pm-3:30pm and 3:30pm-5pm.  As you sign-up for a shift, kindly consider bringing a donation of gift-wrapping supplies (wrapping paper, tape, peel and stick tags, ribbon, scissors, etc.….) for us to use in our wrapping endeavors.

Wearing Christmas clothing is welcome, break out those Santa hats, reindeer antlers and ugly Christmas sweaters!   There is no better time or place to spread some Christmas cheer than in our own home church!  If you cannot attend, but would like to donate wrapping supplies, there will be a labeled box in the community room to drop off donations beginning December 3, 2021.  Thank you for your generosity and creativity!!

Please Click here to Become a SPARK Elf!

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Share a Cup of Christmas Cheer

All are invited to "Share a Cup of Christmas Cheer" with our friends at the Mount Olive Manor.  Please purchase a festive holiday mug, fill with individually wrapped candies, and place in a small gift bag, along with a greeting card. Cards should be generic; kindly address to "Dear Friend" and sign from "Your Friends at St. Elizabeth's." A simple handwritten greeting would be much appreciated! 

Drop off to the designated spot in the St. E's Community Room during the weekend of December 18/19 at any time. We're aiming to donate 110 candy filled mugs.  For planning purposes, kindly sign up for one or more mugs below. Please note that this is an interfaith/ecumenical project. Thank you, as always, for your kindness and generosity!   

Please click here to help spread cheer!

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Toy Drive 

Our Confirmation Program will be sponsoring our annual Christmas Toy Drive, benefiting the children served by the Fr. English Center/Catholic Charities in Paterson. As in the past, we will be collecting new, unwrapped toys for children of all ages after Masses on December 4/5 and December 11/12. A truck will be stationed outside the church as the designated drop-off point; kindly place your donations directly in the truck. Your kindness and generosity are always appreciated!

Calling Teen Mass Ministers!

Our Teen Mass will take place on December 18, 2021 at 5pm.  We will joyously celebrate the birth of our Savior in prayer, song and hospitality at our mass.  Let us share with each other and with our congregation amazing worship led by our SPARK Teens.  You make the hearts of our congregation fill with joy and love when you share your time and talents serving in our Teen Mass Ministries.  We always welcome new and seasoned lectors, singers/musicians, ushers, and gift bearers.  If the Holy Spirit is nudging you towards being a lector, but you are still not sure about it, one of our seasoned Teen Lectors has generously offered to practice with you and help put you at ease! 

Please click here for the chance to celebrate at the Teen Mass!

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Christmas Ushers needed!

In the past, Gerry Carlton, our head Minister of Hospitality, has called on SPARK Teens to help usher at the 3pm and 5pm Christmas Eve Masses.  These Masses are popular and well attended.  The ushers truly appreciate and enjoy having the extra help of our wonderful teens!  There are several spots available.  Please click the button below to explore all the possibilities!  Thank you so much for the gift of your time and talents in this extra ministry opportunity!  You will help to make the celebration of Christmas at our church even more special!   I will be attending the 3pm mass, so I can help connect the teens who volunteer to the adult ushers prior to the beginning of mass. We ask that you please arrive 20-30 minutes before the beginning of mass to meet the other ushers and have plenty of time to ask questions and get oriented.   If you would like to volunteer, but find there are no spots available, not to worry!  Simply contact me and I will let Gerry know.  The more the merrier!!  Thank you for the generous gift of your time!

Please Click Here to be a Christmas Mass Usher!!

Baby Jesus, please fill our hearts with your love and peace this Christmas season and all the year through.   Show us the way to you as we seek to serve you by serving each other.  My friends, I thank God for you every day.  You all have my deepest wishes for a Blessed and Joyous Christmas and peace in 2022.  Looking forward to many more opportunities to gather with you soon!

God Bless,
Corinne

Corinne Kilkeary
Youth Minister
youthministry@stelizabethschurch.org

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May the Peace and Joy of the Christmas Season be with you now and throughout the New Year!