Back to Exponent Menu Printer Friendly Page   LOCAL FEATURES Friday, May 24, 2002 New Middletown St. Paul youth — called to be ‘witnesses’ for Christ By Susan K. Virgalitte NEW MIDDLETOWN – “What? We aren’t Catholics in the summer? Why can’t we do something in the summer?” That question from some members of the high school youth group at St. Paul the Apostle Parish here stunned youth leaders Jean Ciccone and Cathy Zemkosky. Mrs. Ciccone assumed the teens wanted to go on a field trip to an amusement park. However, members of the youth group made it clear they had much more ambitious plans. Mrs. Ciccone told them she would work with them, whatever they decided to do, but it had to be their decision. “I told them, ‘You get together, pick a name, write a mission statement, tell me what you want to do.’” What the young people of St. Paul Parish came up with was a detailed mission statement and plan for community service. They decided to call their group “WITNESS,” and there are now 21 members of the group. Part of their mission statement reads, “Guided by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, it is our mission to share with members of the community a spiritually based program focusing on current world issues. … We choose to follow in [Jesus’] footsteps by traveling out into the community to spread His word by giving ‘witness’ to our faith.” The group has already distributed carnations and “treat bags” to the clients of the St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen in Youngstown, as well as small crosses to all parishioners at St. Paul’s on Good Friday. However, their most ambitious project is a patriotic prayer service they developed. The group will present the program for the entire community at St. Paul’s on Memorial Day, May 27, immediately after the Springfield Parade. The youth will be happy to present the program to any organization free of charge. Already, several nursing homes and veterans’ organizations have expressed interest. Mrs. Ciccone said the teens were deeply affected by the events of Sept. 11, and that was the motivation behind their wanting to put together the program. Mrs. Ciccone, who has been involved in youth ministry for 13 years, said this group of young people at St. Paul Parish is unique. What began as a summer project has now become a yearlong venture to be held in addition to the teens’ regular catechetical sessions. WITNESS members come from four high schools, public as well as Catholic, and they are very self-motivated and intent on getting their goals accomplished, she said. “They are a very spirited, very interesting group.” The strong ambition of this group of teens is punctuated in their publicity materials, which state, “We realize that we are the future of the Church and the world, but we don’t want to wait until the future to be leaders when there are so many things we could be accomplishing now.” For information about the WITNESS program, call the parish at 330-542-3824 or Mrs. Ciccone at 757-7242.   Back to Exponent Menu Printer Friendly Page   Other Articles of 2002   Christmas letter from El Salvador missions thanks diocesan Catholics   Bishop shares views, discussion with Central students   ETC slates Christmas specials throughout the season   My Favorite Christmas Memories   Guidelines on religious ed homeschooling are issued   Local Catholic radio station targets Feb. 1 date   HMs end 98-years of service to Salem St. Paul Parish   Learn ‘language’ of young, youth meet speaker urges   Bishop Tobin: Meeting in D.C. on norms was ‘anxious, tense, difficult’   Priests must ask one another the tough questions, speaker says   Catholic death and funeral rites   Deacons mark 25th with Mass, dinner, memories   Diocesan Ministry Convocation Speaker: Global solidarity, not globalization, should be aim   Jusseaume inaugurated as sixth Walsh president   Diaconate marks 25th anniversary with Oct. 27 fete   New norms sent to priests, deacons on Communion under both kinds   Ashtabula parishes are ‘one Catholic community’   Jusseaume to become Walsh’s sixth president   Charismatic speaker: ‘Church being tested in faithfulness’   Lutheran/Catholic covenant event draws 140 to Walsh   Canton St. Joseph Parish observes centennial celebration   HMHP CEO Michael Rowan   Stewardship speaker: It’s about gratitude and thanking God first   Imagination is key to resolving crisis, priests told   War with Iraq? Expo readers opposed by 81-19%   Newspaper columns didn’t give complete story, official says   Diocesan Ministry Convocation set Oct. 26 at YSU’s Kilcawley   New year brings new faculty, changes at diocesan high schools   Mont St. Michel, Avignon’s papal palace are treasures   Preparing for the priesthood   Entering well-earned retirement, Sr. Marcella’s not slowing down   Warren St. Mary observes 100th year for church building   Lay Ministry Formation program attracting new audience   The cathedrals of France: Monuments of faith in stone   Executive summary of the ad hoc commission on athletics in diocesan high schools   ‘No widespread abuse’ found   Milburn leaving pro-life post to pursue grad studies   Return to France yields history, memories, surprises   Two new members appointed for Diocesan Finance Council   Former SS. C&M school razed, but memories remain   Pastor, 80, keeps busy with ‘lots of interests’   Ravenna IC boasts 5 high school valedictorians for ‘02   Humility Sister Sandy Pedone to profess perpetual vows July 21   NRLC convention filled with good news   ‘Capture the Romance’ is theme for NFP Week   Question of moral evil discussed at Walsh symposium   Notre Dame Sisters will celebrate jubilees July 14   ‘A great lady’ retires   Statement of Bishop Tobin on the meeting of the U. S. Conference   Haladej, Celuch ordained to priesthood, diaconate in Slovakia   Bishop plans implementation of norms on sexual abuse   Kevin McCaffrey, Robert Miller are newest priests   Theologian: ‘Behave toward others as though God were there’   Fr. Bonnot: Use good judgment for TV, movie viewing   MOMS: ‘A place to claim yourself’   Storm ‘changed lives forever’ for Jackson Twp. family   Bishop will ordain Miller, McCaffrey at May 25 ceremony   Update on child abuse   Vicar general addresses issue of not giving priest names to media   New Middletown St. Paul youth — called to be ‘witnesses’ for Christ   New Ursuline Sisters leadership team elected to 6-year term   Two receive first pastorates; two pastors change parishes   Abuse coverage   Walsh University dedicates new ‘David’ campus center   Sisters’ HIV/AIDS ministry critical, heartbreaking   Bishop visits St. Peter’s as rebuilding process begins   Chrism Mass theme: Priests can’t afford discouragement   Bishop’s Appeal stresses meeting needs, funding ministries   Diocese OKs closing Conneaut St. Frances Cabrini K-8; preschool stays   St. Stan’s marks 100th year   Canton St. Joseph choir enjoys ‘incredible trip’   New schools superintendent   Four journeys of faith among hundreds marked here   DPC considers direction, importance of youth ministry   Richard Jusseaume named as Walsh University’s sixth president   Pro-life dinner heralds new beginning in Stark County   Kids at church   Religious day studies resurrection amid culture of violence   Richard Jusseaume named as Walsh University’s sixth president   Keynoter: Eucharist should change us   Speaker: ‘Truth’ key concept in Gospel of John   Parishes offer Lenten missions for spiritual enrichment   Parishes offer Lenten missions, speakers series   Working in Medjugorje   TV anchorman finds faith not incompatible with journalism   Action alert on cloning set in diocese for Feb. 2-3   Austintown parishioner finds fulfillment in El Salvador   ‘Where Faith and Knowledge Meet’   Resisting TEMPTATION: It’s worth the effort, teens say   4th annual Diocesan Pro-life Mass set Jan. 26   Catholic/Lutheran dialogue, death of Walsh president top news   Diocese helping Afghanistan relief   Past Articles From 2001