History
MMoG High School Youth Group History
In the summer of 1984, five couples met to discuss starting a program for the high school students at Mary, Mother of God parish. The pastor, Fr. Gene Schellberg, asked that the offering start as an extension of the religious education program with small group discussions for the high school students taking place in the homes of the adult facilitators. This opportunity for faith sharing and discussions about timely topics for the teens was known that year as the High School Sharing Group.
The following year, the discussion program was expanded to include socials, service projects, and diocesan events. This more well-rounded program started the year with a new name - the High School Youth Group. Our teens became known as MMoGsters and their enthusiastic cheer became familiar at parish and diocesan events alike.
Recognizing that our teens are valuable members of the parish family with unique talents and needs, we sought to provide them a safe place where they could be themselves; where they could grow and where they could contribute. Events were chosen and planned with teen input and each year’s calendar reflected the unique personalities of its members on their journey.
Each month, this ever developing program included an opportunity for service to the parish or community, for discussion about a topic chosen by the teens, for spirituality and prayer, for having fun together in social events and for recognizing that we are a part of a larger group by planning and participating in diocesan-wide events.
Some popular events became part of the mainstay of our parish calendar…
In preparation for sending a contingent of one dozen to World Youth Day in Denver to be with Pope John Paul II, the first of our now annual Christmas Tree and Wreath Sales was held in 1992. Annual retreat weekends became eagerly anticipated, memory-making and life-changing events. The MMoGsters of Mary, Mother of God Youth Group became renowned throughout the diocese for their annual contribution to the planning and running of both the Diocesan Youth Ministry Day and the Metuchen Olympic Madness events. Other annual events that quickly became part of the tradition and lore of the MMoG HS Youth Group included overnight Lock-ins with sunrise croquet, our Christmas Progressive Dinner, the Easter Egg Hunt with craft hour, our ski trip, overnight camping at the Kiss Platform tents, the 30-Hour Famine for World Vision, Great Adventure Fright Fest, our plant sale to benefit Covenant House (kids helping kids) and our June Family Appreciation Picnic with the ever popular year-recapping slide show and senior tributes. In later years we added our parish Seder on Wednesday of Holy Week and our Youth Christmas Eve Mass with liturgical dance, teen lectors, choir, ushers, and a baked treat for all attendees.
Under Monsignor Liam Minogue’s direction in the summer of 2006, the Youth Group was partnered with the parish’s CYO program to become the MMoG CYO High School Youth Group. This past year our successful program included a Kick-off Dance, an overnight Lock-in, a weekend camping trip, our annual Christmas and Palm Sunday Sales, trips to Great Adventure and Dorney Park, box seating at a Trenton Thunder baseball game, as well as our annual Easter Egg Hunt and Crafts for our smallest parishioners. Additionally, we raised $2000 for St. Peter’s Hospital Children’s ward and during the 30-Hour Famine, we raised enough money to feed 135 children for one year!
This September 2007 we look forward to starting another exciting and productive year. Join us and see what it’s all about.