Did You Know?

The Youth Wing – as it was originally designated when constructed in 1997 - is the building at right angles to the Office building -on the west end. It is made up of four classrooms and an office. It was a gift to our Youth Ministry from the late Jerry and Pat Chouinard.
In 2011 we leased the two classrooms to Cactus Wren Cooperative Preschool. At that time, to accommodate our growing Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program for our younger children, the Teens were asked to vacate their large Youth Room, and a wall was constructed dividing their room into two classrooms, which were then turned over to the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, causing the Life Teen and Edge youth programs, as well as Confirmation classes, to be moved into Madonna Hall.
With the increasing number of groups – Parish and Community – needing meeting space in Madonna Hall, scheduling was becoming more and more of a problem – a good problem when ministries are growing, but a problem!
As you might have seen in the bulletin, Cactus Wren Cooperative Preschool will be relocating after 14 years on our campus, and we are now preparing to remodel the Youth Wing and restore it to its original purpose! The wall which was constructed to divide the Youth Room into two classrooms to create a multi-purpose room, available for small group meeting space, when not in use for Youth activities!
Deacon Bill Polakowski, our Youth Minister, is working with the Buildings and Grounds Committee, looking at furnishing the Youth Room for Teen activities – donations will be solicited when we determine what is needed!
In addition, Genevieve Rivera, our Director of Religious Education, is working with the Buildings and Grounds Committee to move the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program into the two vacated classrooms - with its own office and child-sized restrooms, which Genevieve sys will allow us to expand that program and add more grades to the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd!
While we are sorry to say good-bye to Cactus Wren Preschool, this is turning into a very big “Win-Win” for our Youth Ministry and Religious Education programs!
Watch this space for more information about the remodeling of the Youth Wing – and look for an announcement of a re-dedication of the Wing later this summer! 

Last Sunday’s Second Collection for YOUTH MINISTRY brought in almost $5,000!!!
Thank YOU for your SO GENEROUS support for our Youth!