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Youth Programs at St. Isidore

Youth ministry is a ministry of growth and maturity.  Our youth are already the church; we help them grow into their positions of leadership.

AGE-BASED YOUTH GROUPS

Every young person — in St. Isidore Parish or in St. Isidore School — is automatically a member of one of three age-based youth ministry groups. No need to join — just start participating in the events. What the groups are — and who belongs

CIM - Children in Ministry: grades K-5

YIM - Youth in Ministry: grades 6-8

TIM - Teens in Ministry: grades 9-12

What activities do the groups offer?  Each group offers a wide range of activities to help develop the "whole child." By participating in the activities of any of the three groups, a young person has a chance to have fun, to serve others, and to grow in faith. Youth get a monthly newsletter which lists upcoming events; the following activities are given as examples of activities in the recent past. Note that many activities are cooperative with youth ministry in nearby Catholic parishes and in the Diocese, which promotes a unity.

Spiritual growth:  Numerous opportunities are afforded for spiritual growth. See, for example, Retreats.

Social events:  There are any number of events throughout the year. CIM has had field trips to museums and zoos in New Orleans, to African Safari park north of us, and to other places. YIM has visited Ship Island on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, gone Galactic bowling, and had lock-ins. TIM went to Six Flag's Amusement Park in New Orleans and has had a TIM Fun Day at our facilities.

Alternative holiday parties: The All Hallows Eve Party recalls the original meaning of what is now Halloween, and the St. Nicholas Party in December reminds youth that Santa Claus is a modern adaptation of St. Nicholas who loved children and gave them gifts — both parties sponsored by St. Isidore’s Social Ministry Commission.

Service:  To help us love our neighbor, as Jesus commanded, all three groups include service projects, such as visits to the nursing homes, to the St. Vincent de Paul soup kitchen, help clean our church, help with Christmas basket preparation for the needy, and so on.

ATHLETICS

School based, but wider participation:  Most of the opportunities to participate in sports activities and leagues are offered through St. Isidore School, but youth who are members of St. Isidore Parish may join these teams to play basketball and football. Athletic Association Co-Presidents: Joey and Julie Samson.

Basketball:  Basketball is offered to both girls (in the fall) and boys (in the spring), from grades 3 through 6. For boys and girls in grades K through 2, there is a coed program which starts in January. Games are played at the Ott Center at St. Isidore.

Note that elementary school students in public schools who are parishioners may compete on the girls basketball teams.

Football:  There are two football teams: for grades 2 through 4, and for grades 5 and 6. Note that these teams are open not only to St. Isidore School students, but also to St. Isidore youth in public schools.  The teams play at a variety of locations throughout the greater Baton Rouge area, and also at the new football field just developed on the St. Isidore campus by the Athletic Association.

Soccer:  Boys and girls grades K through 3 are eligible. The season starts in the fall, and games are played through the facilities of the YMCA in Baton Rouge.

Spirit Groups: Cheerleaders, Dancers, and Pepsters: Cheerleaders are divided into two squads: 3^rd and 4^th grade girls, and 5^th and 6^th graders girls They cheer at school football and basketball games. During the summer, the girls attend camps to prepare for the year.  Dancers draw on interested girls in grades 3 through 8. They also perform at football and basketball games. They attend summer clinics as well.  Pepsters are elementary school girls in grades K through 5. They sit in special sections at football and basketball games, wear special uniforms, and assist the cheerleaders in promoting school spirit.

Track and Field:  Now in its fourth year, this program is available for boys and girls in the 5^th and 6^th grades. The season starts in the spring, and meets are held in various locations in the Baton Rouge area.

Volleyball:  There are girls’ teams for 5^th and 6^th grades. The season starts in February and continues through the spring.

PSR

PSR is a program of religious instruction for school aged children who attend public schools -- in its more modern meaning, we call "PSR" "Parish School of Religion." Click here to go to that part of the website where it is explained more fully.

ST. ISIDORE SCHOOL

For complete information on the academic programs of St. Isidore School for students in grades Pre-K-6th, click here.

Because the School offers such a variety of programs, information on extra-curricular and other enrichment programs can also be found on the parish portion of this website under Athletics. Note also the following:

4-H program:  St. Isidore Schools students in grades 4 and 5 can now be part of the varied program of 4-H. Director: Sandy Martin.

Junior Beta:  Middle school students who excel in academic and citizenship can participate in varied activities, such as, as for example, a collection for the Red Cross’ relief efforts for the September 11 victims, and correspondence with US service personnel abroad..

Rainbows:  This is a program at St. Isidore School, for children who have lost a parent or other significant adult by death, or who are coping with the separation and divorce of parents.

Religion:  A full range of religious opportunities are available to School Students.  The Religion Coordinator at the School is Jan Fontenot.

Youth Legislature:  School middle school students are now part of a program with hands-on experience of the legislative process. They join other students from across the area.

SCOUTING

St. Isidore proudly sponsors four active scout organizations. We have had two other troops for girls, but currently there are no adult volunteer leaders to continue to serve as advisors. If you are interested in being an advisor to keep these troops active, please call the Parish Office. The groups soon to become inactive:

Cub Scout Pack 206: boys in 1^st through 5^th grades. Cub scouts attain different ranks by completing specified steps in the Cub Scout manual. Among the varied activities: camping outdoors, model car racing and service projects such as visiting area nursing homes. Parents assist in a number of ways, since Cub scouting is more of a family related activity, with all family members invited to events. Cub Master: Joe Delatte

Boy Scout Troop 25: boys from age 11 upward.  There are outdoor camping activities, some at local scout camps, some to the national Scouting Jamboree. Scouting offers leadership learning opportunities for boys. The system of merit badges rewards achievement: there are over 100 badges are in the traditional areas associated with scouting and the outdoors, such as camping, but the range of merit badges is also modern and varied, from computer science, astronomy to zoology, railroading to aviation, citizenship to environmental science. 

Scoutmaster: Mike Kinney. Assistant Scout Master: Jeep Mouton.  

Troop 25 meets every Tuesday evening at 6:30 in the Holy Family Room. If you have any questions please contact Jeremiah Mouton, Senior Patrol Leader at secretary479@oalodge479.org 

VOCATIONS

Those who discern a call from God to serve as priests, sisters, and brothers are urged to call the Pastor to discuss this.

There are programs in both the PSR classes and St. Isidore School on the call to priesthood and the religious life. 

WORSHIP

Youth are extensively involved in the worship life of St. Isidore.

Altar Servers:  Boys and girls from the 4^th grade upward volunteer to serve at weekend Eucharist. They are trained for these important roles, and then are scheduled to serve at each weekend Mass, usually in pairs. Youth are encouraged to continue in this service when reaching high school age, but many transfer then to other ministries such as lector.  A written invitation is mailed during the summer to each young person who is entering 4^th grade when school begins, but volunteers of older ages are welcome.

Children’s Choir:  Children in grades 2 through 5 may join the Children’s Choir, which sings twice a month at weekend Eucharist in the parish church. Rehearsals are held weekly during the school year. The directors are Louis Kelly, Jr., and David Piper.

Teen Choir:  Youth and teens from 6th grade upward form the Teen Choir which sings one or more times a month, usually at the 6 PM Sunday Mass which is heavily attended by youth. The directors are Louis Kelly, Jr., and David Piper.