What If the World Has it Backward?

Our world often celebrates popularity, achievement, money, and being liked by others. It can be easy to believe these things determine whether we are successful or happy. But in this week’s Gospel, Jesus offers a different perspective. In the Beatitudes he calls the humble, the merciful, the peacemakers, and those who stand up for what is right blessed. His message challenges us to rethink what really matters.

Living this way is not always easy. Showing mercy means choosing forgiveness instead of holding a grudge. Being a peacemaker means refusing to join in gossip or drama. Standing up for what is right might mean defending someone who is being excluded, even when it takes courage.

Jesus reminds us that a life rooted in God’s love has a deeper purpose than earning approval from others.

This week, take an honest look at your choices. Are you treating people with kindness, even when it is inconvenient? Are you willing to do what is right when no one else does? Choose one Beatitude to practice and look for a way to make a different in your school, friendships, or community.

Upcoming Events for Teens

Sunday, Nov. 8 | 6:00-8:00 PM | HS Youth Ministry Night (CANCELLED)

Sunday, Nov. 15 | 6:00-8:00 PM | HS Youth Ministry – College Care Packages

Thursday, Nov. 19 | 7:00-8:30 PM | MS Youth Ministry Night

Putting Love into Action

Jesus reminds us in Matthew 22:34-40 that we are called to love God with all our heart and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Our first Middle School Youth Ministry night put these words into action!

Our 7th and 8th graders gathered at IHM for an evening of pizza, games, and service. After kicking things off with some food and fun, the teens got right to work on our Box of Joy service project, packing Christmas gift boxes for children who might otherwise not receive a present this year.

Together, our middle schoolers filled 50 boxes! What a wonderful way to live out Jesus’ commandment to love our neighbors. Through this simple act of generosity, our teens showed that love isn’t just something we say; it’s something we put into action.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who donated and helped make this project possible. We’re grateful for a community that continues to put faith into action!

Use Your Time, Talents, or Gifts to Serve

This past week, our teens put their faith into action in some pretty tangible ways. They stepped up to serve at our Pancake Breakfast, helping welcome and connect with the wider IHM community. Then, at Youth Ministry Night, teens gathered for games, conversation, and sandwich-making to serve people at St. John’s Soup Kitchen in Newark.

That spirit of service connects directly to this week’s gospel, where Jesus reminds us that God has entrusted each of us with something valuable and calls us to do something with it.

Faith isn’t just something we talk about, it’s something we live out together. Every time our teens serve, welcome someone, share their ideas, or show up for another person, they are helping to build the kind of community Jesus calls us to be.

Challenge for the week: What is one way you can use your time, talents, or gifts to serve someone else?

Upcoming Events for Teens

 Sunday, Oct. 4 | 6:00-8:00 PM | HS Youth Ministry Night

 Thursday, Oct. 15 | 7:00-8:30 PM | MS Welcome Party & Service Night

 Saturday, Oct. 24 | 12:00-6:00 PM | Scotch Plains Trunk or Treat

 Sunday, Oct. 25 | 11:00 AM-12:00 PM | Table or Treat

Come As You Are

High School Youth Ministry kicks off Sunday, September 27! Doors open at 6:00 PM for food and hanging out, and we’ll get started at 6:30 PM in the Nazareth Center and go until 8:00 PM.

Youth Ministry is a place to find your people, build friendships, serve others, and discover how you can make a difference. We’re looking for teens who want to lead, serve, show up for a friend in need, and build a community where everyone belongs.

Come as you are, bring a friend, and help us make Youth Ministry something we build together. Keep your eyes open for more information about Middle School Youth Ministry that kicks off on October 15!

Feast, Connect, and Get to Work!

Our Youth Ministry Leadership Team gathered this weekend to feast, connect, and get to work! After dinner, our leaders spent time dreaming together about what their perfect Youth Ministry would look and feel like and came up with some great ideas for the year ahead.

They talked about what makes young people feel welcome, what makes them want to come back, and how we can build a Youth Ministry that is fun, meaningful, and truly theirs. Most importantly, they began thinking about how they can take an active role in making those ideas happen.

I’m so excited to see what this group does this year. These teens are not just the future of our parish, they are already an important part of it. They are the future of our Church, our parish, and our world, and I feel incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to work alongside them. I can’t wait to see where this year takes us!

 Sunday, Sept. 27 | 6:00-8:00 PM | HS Welcome Back Party

 Sunday, Oct. 4 | 6:00-8:00 PM | HS Youth Ministry Night

 Thursday, Oct. 15 | 7:00-8:30 PM | MS Welcome Party & Service Night

 Saturday, Oct. 24 | 12:00-6:00 PM | Scotch Plains Trunk or Treat

IHM Youth Ministry Schedule 2026-2027

CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2026!!!

Staying Connected

In this week’s Gospel, Jesus speaks about being the Bread of Life and reminds His followers that staying connected to Him is essential. While these words can be challenging to understand, the message is clear: Jesus wants a real relationship with us, not just occasional moments of faith.

For teens, this is an important reminder, especially during the summer months when school is ending, and routines are changing. It can be easy to put faith on pause, but our relationship with Christ continues to grow when we stay connected to Him through Mass, prayer, service, and our parish community.

One of the best ways teens can remain connected is by staying involved. Whether it’s participating in youth ministry events, serving at parish activities, volunteering in the community, or simply attending Mass regularly, each opportunity helps strengthen their faith and build meaningful relationships with others who share it.

The Gospel reminds us that faith is not something we do alone. Just as we need food to nourish our bodies, we need Christ to nourish our spiritual lives. When teens choose to stay engaged, serve others, and remain active in their faith, they discover that God continues to work in their lives in powerful ways. As summer begins, we invite all of our teens to stay connected, stay involved, and continue growing in the faith that has been planted in their hearts.

Calling All Parents of High School Seniors!

We would love to celebrate our graduating seniors in an upcoming church bulletin. Share your senior’s accomplishments, involvement at IHM, and their future plans as they prepare for this exciting next chapter. We are proud of all they have contributed to our parish, school, and community. Scan the QR code to submit your senior’s information and photo by May 30, 2026.

Upcoming Youth Ministry Events

Sunday, June 7 | 6:30–8:00 PM – Year-End Ice Cream Party

Sunday, June 14 | 12:00–4:00 PM – IHM Parish Feast

Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

This week’s Gospel reminds us that faith begins with knowing how deeply we are loved by God. That kind of love is meant to shape the way we live, the way we treat others, and the way we stay connected to our faith and community. As we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, we are reminded that God is always in relationship – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – and invites us into that relationship as well.

For teens, that message matters. In a world that can often feel disconnected, faith gives us a place to belong, people to walk with, and a reminder that we are never alone. Youth ministry is meant to help build those connections through prayer, friendship, service, and community.

As we begin wrapping up the school year, we are excited for several upcoming opportunities for our teens to grow in faith and community. From our Sandwich Making Service Night, where teens will come together to serve others, to our Mystagogy Party celebrating those newly confirmed, each event is an opportunity to stay connected and continue growing after Confirmation. We’re also looking forward to our Year-End Ice Cream Party and gathering as a parish family for the IHM Parish Feast. These events may seem simple, but they help our teens grow in faith and community. They create opportunities to build friendships, ask questions, serve others, and stay connected to the Church beyond the classroom or Confirmation preparation.

Thank you to all of our teens, families, and volunteers for continuing to make youth ministry a place where faith can grow and community can thrive!

Calling All Parents of High School Seniors!

We would love to celebrate our graduating seniors in an upcoming church bulletin. Share your senior’s accomplishments, involvement at IHM, and their future plans as they prepare for this exciting next chapter. We are proud of all they have contributed to our parish, school, and community. Scan the QR code to submit your senior’s information and photo by May 30, 2026.

Upcoming Youth Ministry Events

Sunday, May 31 | 6:30–8:00 PM – Sandwich Making Night (Grade 8-12)

Monday, June 1 | 7:00–8:30 PM – Youth Mystogogy Party

Sunday, June 7 | 6:30–8:00 PM – Year-End Ice Cream Party

Sunday, June 14 | 12:00–4:00 PM – IHM Parish Feast

Celebrate Pentecost

This weekend, we celebrate Pentecost, the moment the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples and gave them the courage to go out, serve others, and live their faith boldly.

In this week’s Gospel, Jesus appears to His disciples and offers them peace, reminding them that they are not alone. He sends them out with purpose, strengthened by the gift of the Holy Spirit.

We recently saw the same spirit of service and community during our sandwich-making service night. Our teens came together to build and create nearly 200 sandwiches, which were to the Veterans at Valley Brook Village and distributed to the homeless in Plainfield. What may have seemed like a simple act became something greater: a chance to come together, serve others, and recognize the needs of people in our community.

Service projects like this reminds teens that faith is not something we talk about at church; it is something we live through our actions. When teens serve their community, they learn compassion, grow in confidence, and begin to understand how their gifts can make a real difference in the lives of others. They also discover that even small acts of kindness can reflect God’s love in powerful ways.

As we celebrate Pentecost, may our teens continue to open their hearts to the Holy Spirit, finding courage to live their faith, serve generously, and bring hope and kindness to those around them.

Calling All Parents of High School Seniors!

We would love to celebrate our graduating seniors in an upcoming church bulletin. Share your senior’s accomplishments, involvement at IHM, and their future plans as they prepare for this exciting next chapter. We are proud of all they have contributed to our parish, school, and community. Scan the QR code to submit your senior’s information and photo by May 30, 2026.

Upcoming Youth Ministry Events

Sunday, May 31 | 6:30–8:00 PM – Sandwich Making Night (Grade 8-12)

Monday, June 1 | 7:00–8:30 PM – Youth Mystogogy Party

Sunday, June 7 | 6:30–8:00 PM – Year-End Ice Cream Party