Our parish community offers a wide variety of programs and activities for our youth. The program at Our Lady of Angels is multifaceted and includes many opportunities for teens to grow through prayer, worship, education, service and social experiences while striving to create a Christian community.

Community happens when people of faith mingle to work, play and pray together. Comprehensive youth ministry is an active approach to church for young people, by young people and with young people. The young church (our teens) have many gifts and talents to give to the whole parish family. Our goal is to work, pray and play together with all the generations of the OLA faith community to allow each of us to grow in our walk with Christ.

The broader vision of being part of the southern region of the Diocese of Syracuse and the universal Church is met as our teens participate in local, regional and national Catholic youth activities.

We strive to serve each other, the parish and the community of the Triple Cities as well as reaching out to the many needs of the universal Church. We believe that each life we touch is Christ's. We believe that those who touch us bring Christ to us.

The OLA "Teen Angels" meet during the school year for planning and an activity, usually on Sunday evenings from 6:30-8:30 PM. All high school youth are welcome and there are also times when the junior high teens join in the fun. Junior High Youth Day is a special diocesan event just for them! We have had dances, sleepovers, movies, discussions, volleyball games, picnics. We have gone swimming, to baseball games, camping, to the theater and to amusement parks. Call the parish office at 754-1266 for additional information. Upcoming events are listed in the weekly parish bulletin.

Teen Angels have raised money for Mom's House, gathered food for CHOW and the food pantry, baked cookies, provided Christmas gifts, and Easter baskets for the SOS Shelter and Samaritan House. Many of our young people have experienced the "Food Fast" -- raising money for Catholic Relief Services while praying and fasting for 30 hours. We have served at parish breakfasts, worked at the Bazaar, hosted graduation parties, and provided babysitting. Some of our teens are active in the "Free the Children" organization which works to end sweat shop labor and provide schools to those who have none.

We offer workshop days for children during Advent and Lent and a Vacation Bible School during the summer. Some of our teens are active on our "retreat team", helping to provide retreat days for other area youth. Each summer we attend the Christian Leadership Institute (a weeklong leadership and community building institute). We also attend "Youth Fest" -- a diocesan weekend of prayer and fun for high school teens. We have trained peer counselors eager to help other teens with needs. We have representatives on the Southern Region Youth Council and our own parish council. We have gone to see Pope John Paul II at Central Park, to National Catholic Youth Conferences, and to World Youth Days in other countries.

Teens are able to serve liturgically in the music ministry, as Eucharistic ministers and as lectors.

OLA offers athletic programs through the CYO in basketball, cheerleading, volleyball, softball, bowling and soccer.

We offer high school faith formation classes and sacramental preparation. Our programs offer the opportunity for high school youth to make a personal commitment to Christ through prayer and service. Teens prepare through classes, service and retreats to become fully initiated adult members of the church. We follow the diocesan guidelines for comprehensive youth ministry. Confirmation preparation is offered to all teens and is usually received in the 11th or 12th grade, according to the readiness of the candidate.

Youth Ministry only works when relationships grow through Christ. The components of our program include the spiritual, social, physical and psychological aspects of our Catholic youth. We as parish strive to meet the needs of the individual young person by providing support and strength and atmosphere to allow the teens room to grow in Christ..to use their gifts...to be affirmed in their person. This is how we live the Gospel message. We are called to be Christ to one another.