At STM parish, “Youth Ministry” encompasses all activities designed and planned for youth from 6th through 12th grade.  This includes Faith Formation, Youth Masses, Sacraments, and other special activities and events. 

Our Youth Ministry programs focus on leading and bringing our youth closer to Christ through involvement and engagement with other young people in their age group, as well as other parish members.  The purpose of Youth Ministry is to: 

• Guide young Catholics to live a Christ-centered life 
• Develop a trusting and positive parish community environment as they travel on their faith journey, growing in love for Jesus Christ and for love of their Catholic faith traditions 
• Prepare our youth to be sent out into the world to be Christ to others. 

Our Middle School Youth Group (6th – 8th Grade) meets on Mondays starting Oct. 7th from 6 – 7:30 PM at St. Thomas More Parish. 

Our High School Youth Group (9th – 12th Grade) meets on Sundays starting Oct. 6th from 5 – 6:30 PM at Holy Rosary Edmonds.

To join our youth group, please click the link at the top of the page to register. Please click on the LINK below the 2024-25 Calendar/ Class Schedule.  

Our parish youth Mass is celebrated every 2nd Saturday of the month at 5 PM.  

They are youth-focused as they encourage our parish youth to serve in all liturgical ministerial roles, including being altar servers, greeters/usherers, lectors, singing or playing an instrument in the choir, or serving as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. 

Please contact Violeta Juzon at violetaj@stmp.org if you would like to sign up to participate in the Youth Liturgical Ministry. Training will be provided.

Mass: Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Time: 7:00 pm

Location: Holy Rosary Parish, Edmonds - 630 7th Ave N, Edmonds, WA 98020

The Sacrament of Confirmation is the third Sacrament within the Sacraments of Initiation. 

The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes the “reception of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace" and "recipients of the Sacrament ‘are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.’” (CCC 1285, 1303, 1830)

“Preparation for Confirmation should aim at leading the Christian toward a more intimate union with Christ and a more lively familiarity with the Holy Spirit – his actions, his gifts, and his biddings – in order to be more capable of assuming the apostolic responsibilities of Christian life. To this end catechesis for Confirmation should strive to awaken a sense of belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ, the universal Church as well as the parish community” (CCC 1309).

• St. Thomas More School students will receive sacramental prep during their school day but are encouraged to attend the afternoon youth group sessions to dive deeper into the content in a more relaxed environment.
• Children not attending St. Thomas More School will be prepared during Youth Group.
• This is the last year that Confirmation preparation will be provided at High School Youth Group. If your youth is in high school and has not received Confirmation, please register them this year.
• All youth preparing for Confirmation are required to attend two one-day retreats and one overnight retreat.

CONFIRMATION RETREATS

The goal of St. Thomas More Parish Youth Confirmation retreat is to challenge each candidate to be a witness for Christ and his Church so they can start living out their call to discipleship through greater engagement in the parish life. One of the mandatory requirements for receiving to the sacrament is to attend ALL the scheduled retreats: 

• November 16th , 2024 @ Holy Rosary Church, Edmonds – 9AM to 6PM (concluding with 5PM Vigil Mass)
• February 8th , 2025 @ Holy Rosary Church, Edmonds – 9AM - 6PM (concluding with 5PM Vigil Mass)
• April 4th – 5th , 2025 (2-day overnight retreat) – location TBD

Prerequisites to begin the Confirmation Sacrament Class: 

• Have received the Sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist
• 7th grader or older 
• Have the desire to be confirmed 

For other important requirements, please read below: 

• Baptism Certificate 
• a good standing Catholic Sponsor  
• Sponsor’s Sacrament of Confirmation Certificate or Baptism Certificate with notations of the sacraments received.  

For any questions, please contact McKayla Vu in the Parish Office at mckaylav@stmp.org.

Sponsor requirements, per the Catholic Church Code of Canon Law (Canons 892-893 and 874):

1. Sponsor must be at least sixteen years of age.
2. Sponsor must be a practicing Catholic with good moral standing with the Church who attends Sunday Mass on a regular basis. 
3. Sponsor must have received the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, First Communion and Confirmation). 
4. Parents cannot be sponsors of their own candidates

Documents Required from the Sponsor: 

• Copy of Sponsor’s Confirmation Certificate (or Baptismal Certificate with notations documenting First Communion and Confirmation dates)
• Sponsor Application Form (Click the link below)
• A letter from the pastor of parish where sponsor is registered, stating that sponsor is registered, active and qualifies to be a sponsor. (Required only if not a member of St. Thomas More Parish)

You may hand deliver/mail your papers to St. Thomas More Parish, 6511 176th St. SW, Lynnwood WA 98037, or scan and email them to mckaylav@stmp.org.

Thank you for serving as a Sponsor to our St. Thomas More youth candidates for Confirmation! We pray that your role and experience as a sponsor will be an enriching one. 

• Liturgy Ministries (ex. Lector, Altar Server) 
• Music Ministry (choir) 
• Support Catechists to younger age group (Children’s Faith Formation, 1st Sacraments Retreat, Children’s Nativity)
• Social Events (Intercultural Festival, Trunk or Treat, Christmas Bazaar) 
• Outreach (St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry, Parish Garden, Feed My Sheep, Cold Weather Shelter) 

As Pope John Paul II says, we are called to be “salt and light for the world.” Our faith is shared with others not only in our daily lives of prayer and virtue, but also in the way we love those around us through our actions, our service, our commitment to bringing the light of the Gospel to people through everything we do.