Saint Kilian Youth “SKY” is the church’s high school ministry occurring Wednesday evenings from 7pm to 8:30pm. Teens in the Confirmation program are required to go to 5 SKY nights per year. This is your child’s opportunity to connect with others at their parish, make friends, and enjoy being in a youth group. Our Church puts a lot of effort into providing our teens a place where they can be themselves and encounter Christ as He tells us “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” Matthew 18:20.

Details about SKY can be found on the Youth Ministry page by clicking here.

Service is an important part of our faith and teens in the Confirmation program will have many opportunities to volunteer for various parish events. While they are required to serve at one service event per year, they’re welcome to serve as often as they’d like. This can also count as service hours for other extracurriculars like their school, scouts, clubs etc. Our Lord reminds us that “our light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father“ Matthew 5:16. Opportunities to serve at St. Kilian for our youth include Oktoberfest, Trunk-r-Treat, Christmas Tree Lighting, Fish Fry, Youth Ministry Sees Candy Fundraiser, VBS, Singing in the Youth Band at 5pm Mass, serving as Altar Servers and Lectors at Mass, and more.

The Lent Penance Service is a time the Church calls her faithful to confess their sins as we prepare to celebrate Christ’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection. Our Lord tells us that “If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing” 1 John 1:9. Teens in the Confirmation program are required to attend as this is especially important for them to prepare their hearts for Easter and to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation soon after.

Retreat is an awesome and necessary experience in the life of a young Catholic. Our Bishops have prioritized it as a requirement to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation because of its powerful effect on the youth’s faith. Retreat is a time to escape the business of life to make time to focus on our relationship with Jesus Christ. Teens on retreat enjoy fun events like hikes in the woods, competitive games, praise and worship music, fun with their newfound friends, and so much more. This is the highlight of their Confirmation journey and for many, the moment they truly commit their life to Jesus.

This year’s Retreat is February 14th-16th at the beautiful St. Edward Retreat Center in Wrightwood, CA. Parents and Teens will check in on Thursday, February 13th between 6pm and 8pm at St. Kilian with their luggage for tagging and room assignment, to verify paperwork, and address any questions with our Youth Ministers. On Friday, arrive at Church at 5pm for dinner in the Hall and to depart on the bus. On Sunday we will finish our retreat and return in the afternoon (time dependent on traffic conditions). Donations of snacks are always appreciated for retreat!

At the Confirmation Mass, teens who are ready to receive the Sacrament will be confirmed by the Bishop using the name of a Saint they choose. To help them select a Saint they can rely on in their faith journey, they will research and write a report on the one they wish to be their Confirmation Saint. This project allows them to learn about that Saint’s journey, how God lead them to live out His plan for their life, and how they can draw inspiration from them in their own lives. The report will be assigned mid year and is not challenging to complete.

At the Confirmation Mass when the Sacrament is being given by the Bishop, a Sponsor will accompany each teen validating their faith and readiness. Likewise throughout their second year of Confirmation sponsors should be praying for their teen, meeting with them to discuss their experience, and share their life in Christ.

To be a sponsor, one must be at least 16 years old, a practicing Catholic, have received all Sacraments of Initiation, and be certified by their home parish as qualified to accept the role. Parents can not be a Sponsor for their child. During the year, a Sponsor Form will be sent home and returned to us to accomplish this.

A letter to the Bishop offers a monumental moment for a young person to express who Christ is to them and why they desire this final Sacrament of Initiation into the Catholic Church. This is a great opportunity for reflection on their faith journey. The Bishop enjoys hearing from the youth of the Church and reads each letter thoroughly, sometimes referencing them at the Confirmation Mass. Please don’t view these as a homework assignment to rush through, but a chance to personally express to a leader of our Church how you’ve grown closer to Christ in the last two years.