Students of Faith in Action (SOFIA) Youth Ministry is guided by the principles of relationality, comprehensive ministry, vocational discernment and faith in action.

Relationality
A ministry of presence.  The youth minister engages youth, young adults, parents and other community members in relationships that foster discipleship and community. The youth minister models faithfulness for the youth and serves as a resource for families.

Comprehensive Youth Ministry
The themes detailed in the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ document, Renewing the Vision, offer a strong foundation for a parish youth ministry program. Every SOFIA program seeks to balance the areas outlined in Renewing the Vision while emphasizing intergenerational faith formation, community development, sacramental awareness, service and justice.

Vocational Discernment
Foster student leadership and development. Youth are provided with opportunities to participate in formation programs integrating leadership skills and vocational discernment. Additionally, we help adults seeking to work within youth ministry, creating a network of leaders who are exploring and developing their own sense of vocation and advancing their qualifications for ministry.

Faith in Action
We seek to provide an experience of Catholicism that forms youth as disciples rooted in their relationship with God and their community. The SOFIA approach nurtures an active commitment to building the Kingdom of God.

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WorX is a long-standing part of SOFIA Youth Ministry. Participants serve those in need, participate in prayer and reflection and engage in critical thought concerning justice issues. Programs are age group specific.

ServiceworX

ServiceworX participants harvesting tomatoes for a local food bank

Middle school students explore service and social justice through the lens of the Catholic faith. Skilled youth ministry staff facilitate engaging prayer services, lively discussions, and dynamic community service experiences.  We design and run the week-long, day camp style program at the participating parish or school, with outreach to local social service agencies and nonprofit organizations.  A fun-filled way to help young people learn the meaning of faith and service.

During the summer of 2012, ServiceworX sessions were conducted in the Diocese of Metuchen, Archdiocese of Newark, Archdiocese of Philadelphia, and Diocese of Trenton.
For more information, please see www.serviceworx.org.

JusticeworX

JusticeworX Philadelphia participants celebrate a nursing home resident’s 100th birthday

High school students spend a week of their summer in an overnight setting exploring the Gospel call to build a more just world, participating in dynamic prayer services, building community with fellow participants and volunteering in the community. Students return home prepared and inspired to make service and justice central components of their lives.

Sixteen JusticeworX sessions were offered in Summer 2012 in Trenton, NJ, Philadelphia, PA and West Virginia. Each year features new, engaging content, so veterans and newcomers alike will experience a unique and inspiring experience.
For more information, please see www.justiceworx.org.

LeaderworX
A summer opportunity for young adults/adults with at least one year of college completed (21 and older for certain positions). Participants live in community, serve those in need and help lead youth ministry projects.  Provides personal and professional formation, leadership training and vocational discernment.

Young Adults seeking to discern how they can work for justice, peace and human dignity, begin careers as youth ministers or catechetical leaders or serve the wider Church are particularly good candidates for LeaderworX. LeaderworX is also a great opportunity for those considering a long-term service program, discerning how to make the world a better place, or just trying to figure out what’s next in life.

For more information, please see www.leaderworx.org.

FaithJustice Xperience
Collegiate and high school groups during the academic year are provided faith-based service immersions, primarily in Trenton, NJ. CFJ designs a customized program around the school’s schedule.

For more information or to have CFJ create and facilitate a FaithJustice Xperience for your group, please contact Jan Wilcox.

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Retreats, workshops, and catechetical programs created for youth and young adults groups, parishes and schools. Example include confirmation classes, high school class retreats and social justice workshops.

In addition to one-time programs, we will design a full, year-long confirmation preparation program consisting of catechesis, retreat experiences and community service opportunities (including a week of ServiceworX).

Some of our 2011 events include:

The Ohio State University’s St. Thomas More Newman Center FaithJustice Experience (college spring break)

Notre Dame High School FaithJustice Xperience 2011

Lenten Confirmation Retreats (St. Charles Borromeo Parish; St. Matthias Parish)

Confirmation Retreat: Relationships (Immaculate Conception School)

Junior Class Retreat on Catholic Social Teaching (Immaculata High School)

Diocese of Trenton Youth Celebration Service & Justice Workshop (story)

Day of Reflection (Church of the Sacred Heart)

Monsignor Donovan All-School Workshop (Monsignor Donovan High School)

FaithJustice Xperience (Notre Dame High School)

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service (story)

Please contact Jan Wilcox, (609) 498-6216 x2  for more information.

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Join us on Wednesdays throughout the year for an experience of evening prayer and community.  Soup & Psalms is a simple but powerful experience of faith and fellowship. Our schedule:

• 6:30 PM – a simple meal (think soup!) in the Casa dining room
• 7:15 PM – evening prayer in the ancient tradition of Vespers (think Psalms!) in the All Saints Chapel
• 8:00 PM – light refreshments

We also invite everyone, whether or not you are able to attend Soup & Psalms, to let us include your intentions in our communal prayer.  Please send us your prayer requests online.

Our goal is to turn our home into your home, to build up the community of faith and to dream together the Kingdom of God as we work for justice. 

Prayer is led by Martha Dudich and ALL ARE WELCOME!

 Whether you can come once a year or every week, join us on our shared journey. If you can only come for a portion of the evening, please feel free to drop in. Registration is not required and there is no cost.

We hope to see you soon!

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