West Haven's
Association of Catholic Teens

:: FEATURED ARTICLES

How and When This ACT Ministry Began
Act of West Haven began 10 years ago when the pastor, Fr. Lawrence Symolon, invited Sr. Lany Jo Smith, ascj. to come and begin a 2 week over night Youth Outreach Program for teens which included a Vacation Bible School Program for grammar school children. This summer program continued the next 3 years until Sister was transferred to St. Paul’s in West Haven as a part time Parish Minister. The next year a grant was given to begin 5 Parish Youth Program idea in West Haven, CT. by the Office of Urban Affairs. Another grant was given by Sister Lany Jo’s community, The Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Both grants were given as training and seed money. The then 5 pastors of West Haven agreed to split two thirds of the full time salary of Sr. Lany Jo for this ministry. As of August of 2006, Our Lady of Victory and St. John Vianney, no longer fund or support ACT, but their youth still are welcomed to participate in ACT.
Several models of how this Youth Group would be structured were explored. Sr. Lany Jo and an adult Core Team Member went to train with Life Teen. That was a model that was tried for a little over 2 years. Although Life Teen is a great model, it did not fit the resources available in West Haven. Currently, ACT uses many resources and materials for its “ACT Nights”, including the online program from The Center of Ministry and Development, but has now become a model unto itself. The Adult Core Team and Teen Council create our ACT nights. They meet monthly for this purpose.
An Adult Core Team was formed in the very beginning and training was used from Life Teen videos and workshops. CYFM, Capuchin Youth and Family Ministries of Garrison New York also provided training retreat experiences for both our Adult Core Team and our newly forming Teen Council (Peer Ministry type team).
Although ACT works with the Confirmation programs in three Parishes, it does not run them. It does however, run several monthly Service opportunities for these programs. ACT also provides Confirmation and 8th Grade Retreats, when asked by the parishes a part of it, with out additional fees. A RCIT program has developed out of the ministry of ACT and a number of teens have come into or back into the faith through it.
There is only one paid staff member of ACT, Sr. Lany Jo. All other Adult Core Team Members are extremely dedicated volunteers. There is a great need for a paid clerical aide, but no funds are available for this presently.
Funding for ACT is now through an annual Road Race and personal donations from the parishioners.
Attendance at the weekly Sunday night gatherings are between 50 to 70 high school teens. These in attendance are not just the same 50 to 70 teens. In the course of the month there are about 100 different teens that attend. In the course of the year there are about 250 that attend and or participate in some or many of ACT “ACT”ivities. This depends on what is offered at the night’s gathering and the obligation of the teens to family, jobs, sports, school and etc. Some teens only attend ACT parish Masses or ACT Nights; some only come for retreats experiences, service projects or recreational trips. In the span of the year, the lives of several hundred teens are touched by the Ministry of ACT in some way. Over 80 teens are a part of one of our week long summer mission outreach trips or programs.
For further information, please see our brochure or website www.actwh.org or call Sr. Lany Jo at 203-933-1024

:: Youth Outreach Program

        Plans for This Summer

ACT

The Association of Catholic Teens

Of The West Haven Parishes

Presents

The 10^th Annual Vacation Bible School and Youth Outreach Program

Applications on this website or at the ACT office

Registration is necessary (1^st come 1^st serve) Absolute deadline Monday, June 23^rd FYI-Call 933-1024

Vacation Bible School

For Youngsters

(Kindergarten to sixth grade)

When: VBS- July 21^st - 25^th,

from 9:00 A.M. to 12:00 Noon

Where: on St. Paul Parish grounds

Fee: $20 for this week’s VBS (covers the Program's T-shirt and all materials) If this fee is a problem for anyone, please speak to Sr. Lany Jo and help will be given

FOR- MIDDLE SCHOOLERS (7^th or 8^th grade)

as Teacher Aides for VBS

July 20^th to July 25^th (8:30AM to 12:30PM)

$25 for the Teacher Aide Program (covers the Program's T-shirt, all materials, the workshop- July 20^th, breakfast, crosses and the beach party- July 27^th). If this fee is a problem for anyone, please speak to Sr. Lany Jo and help will be given

Youth Outreach Program = YOP

FOR- HIGH SCHOOL TEENS

Week of a Catholic Christian Community Experience-

When: July 20^th to July 27^th, from 8 AM to 9 PM

Where: on St. Paul Parish grounds

Fee: $35 for this week’s Youth Outreach Program = YOP and covers all expenses: activities, T-shirt, breakfast, lunch and supper are included. If this fee is a problem for anyone, please speak to Sr. Lany Jo and help will be given

Our Mission Program will involve specific ministries.

Children's Ministry (VBS): This ministry incorporates the gifts of each person by offering a Vacation Bible School as a Religion Teacher’s Aide, a Craft Teacher’s Aide, a Song and Music Teacher’s Aide or a Small Group Leader

Social Justice Outreach: This ministry allows us to go into the parish and local community to lend a hand to the poor, elderly and needy. (This would be done for about two hours in the afternoons).

v Martin DePorres Academy (General Fix, Painting & Repair)

v Catholic Worker House (General Fix, Painting & Repair)

v WHEAT/WH Soup Kitchen

v Health Haven (Soundview) Convalescent Home

v Others TBA

Mandatory Commissioning Service, Orientation and Workshop

For YOP Adult Leaders, High School & Middle School Participants

The Commissioning Mass is Sunday, July 20^th, at St. Paul's 11:00 A.M. Mass followed by lunch and a fun community building and preparation day ending at 3 PM.

Then the Fun Begins

Then we swing into full force Monday, July 21^st, to Friday, the July 25^th. It continues Sunday, July 27^th, with St. Paul's 11:00 A.M. Mass, followed by a beach party at Cosey Beach in East Haven, that will finish about 5:00 PM.

YOP’s Daily Schedule-

8:00 AM. to 9:00 PM

8:00 - Breakfast

8:30 - Morning Prayer & Staff Meeting

8:45 - VBS Set Up & Greeting Campers

9:00 -12:15 -VBS & Clean Up

12:10 – Lunch

1:00 - Service Outreach Projects

3:15 - Free Time & Recreation eg. swimming,

trips, movies, bowling, sports, games, etc……

5:30 - Dinner & Clean Up

6:15 - “THINGS” Play rehearsal for VBS Program’s

stories, & Reflections, Snacks, and/or Other Recreation Activities

7:00 – Special Spiritual Programs

8:45 - Clean Up

9:00 - Departure