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.

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 [email protected] 

March 2023
    
Greetings SPARK Teens and Families AND our 8th Graders and Families!!,

We are entering the holiest season of our Church year, Lent.  Let us spend these 40 days offering our prayers, sacrifices, and service to prepare our hearts to accept the risen Christ and celebrate the most amazing part of the life of Christ: His Resurrection on Easter Sunday!  

I’d like to Congratulate our Newly Confirmed SPARK team members!  You are truly leaders for our youth and Parish Community.  I look forward to having you join our Teen Advisory Board (TAB)  to strengthen your faith through leadership and service.  
Please also welcome the teens and families of our 8^th graders, who will begin their Confirmation Journey in the fall.  We are blessed to have you join our SPARK Teen Ministry and look forward to the talents you will use to serve our Parish and Community.  Please join us in any of our service activities this month. 
 
Reflecting on February, a special thank you to all the Teens who created Inspirational and Beautiful Cards for the Market Street Mission Graduates!  We have over 50 cards that will surely help these Men know that they are loved!  Check out our Website for some pictures of the event.
  
There are many opportunities to serve with SPARK and TAB this month, please read through to see which ones are a good fit for you!!! 
 
***Remember to submit your service tickets online for all of your precious time donated*** 

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Bridges Outreach Lunch Making Extravaganza and Teen Stations of the Cross March 10, 2023

As we make sacrifices during this time of Lent and grow closer to our Lord, many of our neighbors in NJ are in need, every moment of every day.  

Let us share our hearts and God’s love with them as we make lunches to be delivered in Irvington, NJ in conjunction with Bridges Outreach   Join us on Friday March 10, 2023 at 5:45pm, as we gather in the Community Room to prepare 150 Bagged Lunches as a physical demonstration of God’s love for those in need.  
You may sign-up below to bring items needed for the lunches.  You are truly being the hands of God as you help our neighbors.  Thank you!
Click Here to join in!

Immediately following the Lunch Making Extravaganza, please stay and pray for those we are serving during the Teen Stations of the Cross, Friday March 10 at 7pm. There are many opportunities for teens to lead this beautiful prayer that teaches us to walk in the footsteps of our Lord in the hours before his crucifixion. See the sign-up below to help lead as a reader or musician/singer.  We offer our gifts and discomforts to you, Jesus, who sacrificed everything for us!
Click to be a reader or singer/musician!

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Year of Birthday Cheer: March 12, 2023
You continue to deliver love to the Mt. Olive Manor Seniors!  This month there are 9 Birthdays to celebrate; I do ask that you use the button below to sign-up so we are able to track the proper amount needed.  Please drop off your 1 dozen cupcakes, card, and balloon by 12pm, Sunday, March 12, 2023.   You will receive a reminder email a few days before your donation is needed!  Many thanks for spreading cheer! 
Please CLICK HERE to spread cheer!

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Lenten Reflections Online

Fr. Stan has invited the SPARK Teen Ministry to participate in our Parish's online reflection program this Lent. Each week 1 written Teen Reflection will be featured in a special place on the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton website for you and all our parishioners to use with their own private prayer and reflection.  

When we reflect on God's Word we come to know Him better.  In this way we can grow closer to Him and more effectively share His love with those around us.  

Please use the link below to read all of our parish reflections for the first Sunday of Lent.  Checkout Evie Pabalan representing the Teens!  She did a wonderful job!
Link to Parish Online Reflections Here

If you would like to participate in this ministry, there are still some dates open, please CLICK HERE for more information

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Create An Easter Banner and Centerpieces! (images of examples above!)
March 18, 2023 @ 3pm, in the Community Room
Let's make a joyful space for our friends at Market Street Mission.  The men and women being served meals at the Mission have a cafeteria that needs some Easer Cheer.  You will create a Banner and Table Centerpieces filled with Joyful reminders of Jesus' Easter Miracle.  Use your creativity as a means to share the Lord's message to those whose hearts need a reminder of how much they are loved! Afterwards, stay to offer prayers of thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father at the Teen Mass.  
Click Here to help create Easter Joy!

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Teen Mass, March 18, 2023 5pm
We always love to welcome teens to our Mass ministries: lectors, ushers, gift bearers, altar servers, singers and musicians are needed and appreciated.  Please sign up below to share your gifts with the Community and enrich our Holy Celebration.  Thank you for your example of discipleship!
Click Here to be a Teen Mass Minister!

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A Call for Egg Hunt Volunteers, April 2, 2023 10am-2pm
Calling all Teens! Spring is in the air and Easter approaches. Let's join together and help the young children of our Parish celebrate the joy of Jesus' Resurrection with a traditional Egg Hunt on the Parish Lawn! We need teens to donate snacks, help hide eggs, oversee various age groups as they hunt, and assist with crafts after the hunt is over. There is plenty to do for all! Please indicate below how you are willing to serve! Many thanks for your time and talents, Teens!!! 
Click here to Be an Egg Hunt Leader!!

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THE SHOE DRIVE IS HERE! January 8-March 7, 2023
We are in our 6th week of the Shoe Drive and have been getting a tremendous response!  We already have over 72 bags of shoes, way more than halfway there!

There is still opportunity to help with shoe collection.  Kindly sign-up below to help our parish, the planet and families overseas!  We need YOUR help to make it a success. TAB and SPARK teens are invited to volunteer as Shoe Drive Collection Minsters!  When you assist with shoe collection for our fundraiser, you will be serving God's Community is so many ways!  Click Here to See how our Shoes help!
Please help SPARK build up the Body of Christ in our Community and around the Globe!  Many thanks for your commitment and support.

If you have any questions, please contact Corinne Kilkeary at [email protected] 
Kindly Click Here to sign up for a specific week and location!
Please keep track of your time for parish service hours!

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And please remember these ongoing opportunities for service:

Video Ministry: Teens Wanted!!
Ralph Meola is our resident video/technology guru.  Have you watched Mass online over the past 2-3 years?  We have him to thank!  Now, Ralph is looking for interested Teens to learn how to use the new media room for live streaming masses.  You can become part of this brand-new Video Ministry.  If you are interested, please CLICK HERE to answer the poll question!

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I know there is a lot of information here!  I believe in you, my friends.  You have a fire in your hearts meant to be shared with the world.  Not only do you hold the future of our parish in your hands, you are the current leaders that other teens look up to!  I am always praying for you.  Thank you for your open and willing hearts and generous spirit, in Jesus' name!  If you have questions about any of these activities, do not hesitate to contact me!

Many Blessings,
Corinne

Corinne Kilkeary
Youth Minister
[email protected]

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+ Remember to sign up your little ones for the Easter Egg Hunt held on 4/2/2023 after 11am mass!