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HISTORY
YOUTH GROUPS
A number of youth organizations have been founded including
several attempts to create and organize a Catholic Youth Organization
(C.Y.O.), but these groups never seemed to catch on. When the Diocese
of Metuchen was founded in 1981, Bishop Theodore E. McCarrick
recognized the value of youth groups and encouraged their formation.
In 1984, Catherine Redner and Regina Kelton attended a function at
Immaculata High School in Somerville and were impressed with what the
groups in other parishes were doing. They asked Father Stephen
Congdon if a youth group could be formed at Our Lady of Mercy. Linda
and Tom Varela and Elfriede and Jim Crisafi were the first adult
advisors.
The Youth Group is deeply involved with the Diocesan Youth
Ministry Day, held on the first Sunday in March. In addition, our
youth group sponsors retreats and an all-night lock-in, where the
youths and a few adults spend the entire night, locked in the
basement of the church for a mini-retreat, three workshops and Mass.
This remains as an on-going program.
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