Holy Infant Youth Ministry
Our mission at Holy Infant Youth Ministry is to create a community where young people authentically encounter Christ to be formed as a disciple.
News for High School
- Spring Retreat Registration is open!
- Summer Conference registration is open until January 25th
- Luke 18 Retreat Registrations will open up January 20th
- All High Schoolers are welcome to join us every Sunday and Tuesday from 7-9PM in the Youth House
News for Jr. High School
- Jr. High Youth Group will start back up Wednesday February 5th
- Snack n’ Scripture will be starting 3-4PM on Thursdays after school
- All 7th and 8tb graders are invited to join us every other Wednesday- you can find more information below!
- EDGE registration can be found under the “Jr. High” Tab below
High School Youth Group meets every Sunday and Tuesday from 7-9PM in the Youth House. All High schoolers are welcome to attend. These nights include games, talks, small groups, praise and worship and so much more!
Sundays are nights of formation, diving into topics relating to the faith and high school life, developing prayer life, and sharing with our community.
Every Tuesday we have “Arise” Where the Youth Room is open for homework, fellowship, and prayer.
Middle School Youth Group is for current 7th and 8th grade students. We meet every other Wednesday (unless otherwise listed) from 6:00pm – 8:00pm at the Youth House (237 Nancy Place). These nights are led by our EDGE Core Team, as well as an amazing group of our high school juniors and seniors.
The upcoming Middle School Nights are:
- February 5
- February 19
- March 12
- March 26
- April 9
- April 23
- May 7
Snack n’ Scripture is held at the Youth House from 3-4PM on Thursdays after school. We hang out, eat snacks, share about our days and then read the Gospel for the upcoming Sunday!
Modern Man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses.”
-Pope Paul VI
The Core Team, is a group of adult volunteers with a passion for the youth. They help lead small groups, give talks, and walk alongside teens in their journey with Christ. The hope is to have the Core Team be role models—providing a variety of examples for what it looks like to live a life of faith.
If you are interested in serving, please contact Alex Stenberg or fill out the application!
Core Team FAQs
1. So wait, What is it? I am so glad you asked! Core team is a group of volunteers who help lead and support the teens of St. Francis Assisi Parish, through our Youth Ministry program.
2. Who is eligible to be a member? Any adult 20+ years old who is living out their Catholic faith. Please note: this is NOT ONLY for young adults.
3. Why do we have it? Simply because Jesus had a core team (the apostles) and if we are trying to live a life that imitates Him, it is not a mission that can be done on alone. Also, I cannot reach/ connect with every teen in our parish- that would just be insane. The idea is that you bring your own unique gifts, talents, and perspectives, and more than likely, there is a teen similar to you! They need a variety of examples of what a practicing Catholic looks like.
4. What does the commitment look like? The Core Team is expected to be present every Sunday night, and on Tuesday nights whenever possible. There is also a Core meeting about once a month, and a retreat once per semester. There are other events that will take place throughout the semester and we would love and appreciate your involvement as much as possible. If you are concerned about your availability, talk to Alex and you can both discuss how to best proceed.
5. What are the expectations? As a Core member, you are expected to be a practicing Catholic on fire for your faith, a good role model to teens, and knowledgeable about the Catholic Church. This is NOT a paid position, and it is our hope that our Core members have a desire to help because they see the value in investing in the youth of our parish and Church.
6. Practically, what does the Core Team do? Throughout the year a core team member will; lead small groups, occasionally give talks to our teens, pray for our teens, attend retreats and events, and attend core team meetings (once a month). While at youth group, you are present and available to teens (even if it is talking to a girl about snakes for 30 minutes, and you don’t like snakes). Simply the fact that you show up, helps show the teens you care, but invest in them and you will be amazed at how the Lord works through you and in your heart. Other practical things a core team member can do is: attend the high schooler’s activities, ask them how their week was, ask how you can pray for them, talk to them during breaks, etc.
7. I want to contribute to the youth ministry program but do not have that much time to give. How can I help? We would love to have a list of parishioners to call on when we need the occasional help on retreats with providing meals or transportation. We would also love to have a group of parishioners committed to praying for our teens this is called our “Friends of HIYM”. If either of these sound like something you would want to be a part of, contact our youth minister, Alex Stenberg.
8. What should I do if I am interested in volunteering with the Youth Ministry program? If you would like to learn more or would like to discuss the possibility of being on our high school Core Team, middle school Core Team, our prayer team, or our team of extra helpers, reach out to Alex Stenberg.
Other Upcoming Events
- High School Luke 18 Applications will open January 20th
- Spring Retreat will be February 15th
- Luke 18- April 4-6, 2025
Alex Stenberg
Director of Youth Ministry
Alex is a Kansas native, and graduated in 2019 from Benedictine College with Degrees in Theology and Youth Ministry, and immediately started pursuing a master’s in business administration. Upon graduation, Alex started a career in youth ministry in St. Louis and has worked at parishes in the county. Alex loves ice cream, coffee, and talking to teens about how much Jesus loves them. Her goal is to form Catholic missionary disciples that know the radical love that comes from Jesus and His church.
Contact
- Email- youthminister@holyinfantballwin.org
- Phone- (636) 227- 7440 x128
Luke 18 2025
April 4-6, 2025
$100 – 8TH GRADERS
Luke 18 is a retreat that our high schoolers put on for the 8th graders. All talks are given by the high schoolers, all small groups are lead by the high schoolers. They get to walk along side your teen through the weekend, and share their experience and love for God. The goal is to have a personal encounter with Jesus, and to help your teen realize they are good, and they are loved.
Steubenville
JULY 18-20, 2025 – SPRINGFIELD, MO
$300 – HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS (INCOMING FRESHMEN- GRADUATED SENIORS)
Please join us for an awesome weekend at Missouri state with 3,000 other young catholics from across the midwest! Stuebenville is a weekend away with your friends where we pray, play, sing, and hear from some famous speakers about how to live and grow in our faith! Spots are limited, so don’t hesitate to sign up!!
You can check out Steubenville’s website at Steubystl.com
Spring Retreat
February 15 – The Barn at Bethany Farms (Cottleville)
$25 – HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
Join HIYM for a day to reset, relax, and refresh before the business of Luke 18 prep. It will be a day retreat from 8:30AM-5:30PM giving you plenty of time to still do homework and have a weekend.
This year we will be focusing on Leisure and Friendship based on the scripture John 1:39
“He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon.”
LTLC
June 23-27, 2025 @Atchison, KS
$695- Current 10th-12th Graders
A dynamic, prayerful, and impactful week of talks and activities that help teens become the leaders and disciples that God is calling them to be. They are given practical leadership skills, but not before inspiring them to be a disciple.
Teens will have time to adore the Lord in Eucharistic Adoration, participate in powerful worship, receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, gain practical leadership skills, and meet other teens from across the country who are committed to discipleship and evangelization.
BCYC
June 20-22 -Atchison, KS
$200– Current 8th-9th Graders
Benedictine college puts on both a weeklong and weekend experiences. They help students encounter God through the benedictine virtues of Community, Stability, and Simplicity. Fun games and activities live along side prayer and learning at BCYC.
In the past your teen might have gone to LifeTeen Camp Hidden Lake. Now that your teen is in high school we are promoting for them to go to BCYC.
This registration is on your own, teens attend as individuals, but can request roommates and can all go the same week. If they choose to attend the weekend conference along with the week long camp, you will only be in charge of getting your teen to Atchsion and I meet them for the weekend conference and bring them home from there.
Early bird pricing ends February 1st (Contact Alex for an additional promo code)
Fall Retreat- REGISTRATION CLOSED
November 8-10, 2024 @Pallottine
$250- High School Students
join HIYM to Pallotine for a weekend of rest, prayer, friends and fun.
We will meet at the Holy Infant Youth House on Friday, November 8th at 5:30pm and travel by bus to Pallottine. We will return on Sunday, November 10th for noon Mass, which all families are encouraged to attend.
Contact Alex Stenberg at youthminsiter@holyinfantballwin.org or 636-227-7440 Ext 128 with any questions or concerns.
Spots are limited, so don’t hesitate to sign up!!
Totus Tuus 2025
-HOLY INFANT – $60
I am excited to announce that we are bringing back Totus Tuus to Holy Infant this summer from June 5th-9th. This will be taking place of VBS. There is a day program for our incoming 1st-6th graders from 8:30am-3:00pm. We will also be offering an evening program for our incoming 7th-high school students. Since this is a new program spots are limited so make sure to sign up!
Totus Tuus is a summer Catholic youth program dedicated to sharing the Gospel in a dynamic way. The goal of Totus Tuus is to help young people develop their relationship with Christ and His Church for lifelong discipleship. Emphasis is placed on the Eucharist and Our Lady. Our college missionaries have a great impact on the youth who attend with their faith and joy. Totus Tuus assists parents and parishes in evangelizing and catechizing their youth by supplementing the work they are already doing.
We are limited to 75 Spots in our day program, so please sign up quickly to reserve your spot!
7th-High school students do not have to register. They can just show up at the Youth House for the evening sessions.
PAYMENT BY CREDIT CARD ONLY
Camp Hidden Lake 2025- REGISTRATION CLOSED
JULY 21-26 2025 @ Dahlonega, GA
$900-For current 6th and 7th graders
A dynamic, prayerful, and impactful week of talks and activities that help teens encounter the love of God, and grow closer with their parish community. There are lake activities, talks, ropes courses, and prayer.
For over 10 years, Life Teen has provided experiences at summer camp where middle school youth are able to be free and confident in themselves, develop new friendships with other teens and encounter God working in their lives. Hidden Lake will be an incredible opportunity for your youth to experience God in a new and exciting way while having fun, getting messy and hearing from some of the best speakers and musicians in Catholic youth ministry.
This is used as a tool to help you prepare for the sacrament of Confession. This examination goes through the 7 deadly sins
A litany written by a Sister of Life, to help us grow in TRUST.
Ever tried reading the Bible? It’s a big task. Fr. Mike Schmitz helps break up the stories and explain them in context of the church! Read the whole bible in just a year! You can listen to it on the ascension press website, as well as apple podcasts, and Spotify.
Discerning Parent: An Ignation Guide to Raising Your Teen
Parenting a teenager can be difficult, Tim and Sue Muldoon offer guidance to raising teens Catholic in today’s world.
A personal retreat based on the teaching of St. Therese of Lisieux. Walking you through a personal relationship with Jesus, and what confidence in the God looks like.
CONFESSION TIMES
Tuesday: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Thursday: 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Or by appointment.
Please call the Parish Office at (636) 227-7440.
ADORATION
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament takes place in the Adoration Chapel (inside the main doors of church, located to your left) 24/7.
When you go to Adoration you can go for 5 minutes (Just to say, “Hi” to Jesus) or longer. It is common for adorers to have 30 min- 1 hour long slots.
While in Adoration you can stand, sit, or kneel (whatever makes you most comfortable) And you just spend time with the Lord. You can read a religious book (See book recommendations), read the bible (Sunday’s Gospel is a great place to start), Journal (I usually format it as writing letters to God about my day), or sit in silence.
Really it’s not about what you do, it’s who you do it with. Simply being with Jesus consoles His Heart.
