History of Youth Ministry at Good Shepherd Catholic Church
The Good
Shepherd Youth Group (GSY) started in the early 70's (1972?) with adult
leader support from the parish. Ron and Tina Diem, Jim and Mary Ellen
Teeter,
Bob and Carol Arban, Deacon Dan Griesgraber, Neil and Pat Geis, Mike and
Judy Berry, Joe and Berni Morgan, Bob and Jeannie Schneelock, Roy and
Maureen Zanni, the Carls, Joe Cloberdanz', Jim and Jill Hicke, Sandy
Biondo, Sister Denise Martin, and Pat Clasby were among the many adults
who helped lay the foundation for the youth group. In the late 70s
until the 80's, the youth group led overnight youth ministry retreats
called "Daybreaks" which were attended by Susan Neibor, Susan Campbell,
the Sablans, the Duthies, the Hickes, the Valleroys, John and Christine
Smith, the Hights, and even Father Michael Robinson, in his youth. In
the 70s and 80s, the Teeters would lead a regular youth and young adult
service projects of making and handing out sandwiches to the needy
downtown. Also in the 1980s and 1990s, the Youth Ministry program would
have revolving concerts on a regional level with guest speakers and
musicians, including Tim Flannery, Jim Hicke, and Tony Melendez (who
played for the pope). I was part of the Youth Ministry program from
1983-1987 and was a youth leader in 1988 until I got a job as St.
Gregory the Great's Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry in
1989.
My first
experience with the Youth Group was the 24 hour fast, where we would get
sponsors to support us for each hour we fasted and the money would be
donated to a good cause. I remember our Daybreak retreats at Camp
Oliver and Wednesday night youth group meetings. My marriage and
everlasting friendships to this day are a direct result of Msgr. Lyng
and the Youth Program at Good Shepherd.
~ Respectfully submitted by Joe Hight
Photo ~ December 1977 |
