Youth
We welcome contributions to this page. email history@stm2018.net
I was the first Youth Group Leader (from 1977-1979). The group was formed after an advert in the newsletter from the "Core Group" (six young people who used to meet informally). It was soon a booming group who attracted about 20-30 to each meeting. We alternated between social events and formal meetings, often with an outside guest presenter. Once the Daughters of Charity arrived in the parish there was a lot of interaction with Beachaven Youth Group and Takapuna Youth group. We also became part of the wider Auckland Catholic Youth movement. The swimming pool at the presbytery was a major gathering point over summer months.
Fr Jude McCarthy always used to stop for chat with the youth outside any social function and invariably would be invited to have a drink, he never let us down!
Back in the days when cars were luxury items, getting a lift home was a bonus and a squeeze. After one of the early meetings Peter Gembitsky managed to squeeze 8 of us into his car. Unfortunately while driving and looking back to help someone find a seat belt he hit a curb resulting in the car launching onto two wheels. Just as I was bracing for the car to tip on its roof it bounced back onto its other two wheels, then continued down the road bouncing another four or five times. Providence dictated that the youth group didn't end that night.
After a night in town we stopped at the fish a chip shop in Sunnybrae Rd where Pauline Gembitsky worked on the off chance that we could something to eat, even though it was closed (remember there wasn't a 24 hour Mcdonalds on every corner in those days). We scored some food but as we were leaving were stopped by a swarm of police cars who had been alerted by a kindly neighbour who thought the shop was being robbed!
The first car wash was held at the shops by the church one Saturday. Youngsters being youngsters a fair bit of effort was spend trying to throw buckets of water over each other. We did manage to wash a few cars.
Dennis Lyons, Nov, 2017
During the period of 2000 -2015 STM Parish had a vibrant youth group consisting of 3 different age groups from 11 to 25 plus.
The groups met weekly for bible teachings, the younger groups had a senior youth as a leaders. Meetings included bowling nights, movies and other activities to keep the kids entertained. The older group was led by the Asst Priest and had many other interesting speakers. The total number of youth was well over 60 at any one time.
The Youth Group was supported by a Parents Youth Committee, where there was a member from each ethnic group who used to meet monthly to discuss the progress of the youth and organise different activities to keep them motivated and interested enough to encourage other youth to come to church.
The support from the Priests and Nuns were awesome and were always at hand to support the Committee and Youth Groups Youth were encouraged to be more supportive and involved in the church, e.g being Eucharist Ministers and joining in the choir of over 40 youth and playing different instruments. The masses were well attended by our youth as well as youth from parishes. The Parents Youth Committee also organised yearly Christmas Play and The Pasion of the Cross Musicals, both supported by the Youth Choir and our Youth Narrators who would tell the story during the Play. We also had STM Idol where talent from all ages would perform, Fundraisers, Ethnic Food Days and a Youth Camps once a year with awesome speakers.
Many thanks goes to all the support received which made this Youth Group so successful
Jenny Kingham, Nov 2017
Chairperson, Parent Youth Committee (2000-2015)
Click here for details of the Youth Parish Ministries between 1999 and 2015.
I was the first Youth Group Leader (from 1977-1979). The group was formed after an advert in the newsletter from the "Core Group" (six young people who used to meet informally). It was soon a booming group who attracted about 20-30 to each meeting. We alternated between social events and formal meetings, often with an outside guest presenter. Once the Daughters of Charity arrived in the parish there was a lot of interaction with Beachaven Youth Group and Takapuna Youth group. We also became part of the wider Auckland Catholic Youth movement. The swimming pool at the presbytery was a major gathering point over summer months.
Fr Jude McCarthy always used to stop for chat with the youth outside any social function and invariably would be invited to have a drink, he never let us down!
Back in the days when cars were luxury items, getting a lift home was a bonus and a squeeze. After one of the early meetings Peter Gembitsky managed to squeeze 8 of us into his car. Unfortunately while driving and looking back to help someone find a seat belt he hit a curb resulting in the car launching onto two wheels. Just as I was bracing for the car to tip on its roof it bounced back onto its other two wheels, then continued down the road bouncing another four or five times. Providence dictated that the youth group didn't end that night.
After a night in town we stopped at the fish a chip shop in Sunnybrae Rd where Pauline Gembitsky worked on the off chance that we could something to eat, even though it was closed (remember there wasn't a 24 hour Mcdonalds on every corner in those days). We scored some food but as we were leaving were stopped by a swarm of police cars who had been alerted by a kindly neighbour who thought the shop was being robbed!
The first car wash was held at the shops by the church one Saturday. Youngsters being youngsters a fair bit of effort was spend trying to throw buckets of water over each other. We did manage to wash a few cars.
Dennis Lyons, Nov, 2017
During the period of 2000 -2015 STM Parish had a vibrant youth group consisting of 3 different age groups from 11 to 25 plus.
The groups met weekly for bible teachings, the younger groups had a senior youth as a leaders. Meetings included bowling nights, movies and other activities to keep the kids entertained. The older group was led by the Asst Priest and had many other interesting speakers. The total number of youth was well over 60 at any one time.
The Youth Group was supported by a Parents Youth Committee, where there was a member from each ethnic group who used to meet monthly to discuss the progress of the youth and organise different activities to keep them motivated and interested enough to encourage other youth to come to church.
The support from the Priests and Nuns were awesome and were always at hand to support the Committee and Youth Groups Youth were encouraged to be more supportive and involved in the church, e.g being Eucharist Ministers and joining in the choir of over 40 youth and playing different instruments. The masses were well attended by our youth as well as youth from parishes. The Parents Youth Committee also organised yearly Christmas Play and The Pasion of the Cross Musicals, both supported by the Youth Choir and our Youth Narrators who would tell the story during the Play. We also had STM Idol where talent from all ages would perform, Fundraisers, Ethnic Food Days and a Youth Camps once a year with awesome speakers.
Many thanks goes to all the support received which made this Youth Group so successful
Jenny Kingham, Nov 2017
Chairperson, Parent Youth Committee (2000-2015)
Click here for details of the Youth Parish Ministries between 1999 and 2015.