Programs : Youth Ministry : Parish Support Services
Parish Contacts
As a parish staff/volunteer who works with youth, you have a direct contact person with Akron CYO. This liaison is available to communicate information to you about upcoming events, help you develop training for the adults in your ministry, consult regarding programming, or just listen. Contact CYO to make contact with your liaison.
E-mail Group
Do you want to be kept up-to-date on activities for youth sponsored by either Youth Ministry at CYO and/or local parishes? Or do you want to publicize your youth or young adult events? Contact CYO Youth Ministry at 330.762.2961, x230 to receive our monthly e-newsletter.
Confirmation Retreats
The CYO Youth Ministry team is able to help you design and implement Confirmation retreats for your parish. We offer cost-efficient presentations with an “outside voice.” Retreats are tailored to fit your parish needs. Contact any team member for more information.
Home Service Project
The purpose of the CYO Home Service Project is to build community and enable low-income older adults to remain in their homes by matching them with caring volunteers who can provide ongoing light home and yard maintenance services. The CYO Home Service Project connects people of different generations, beliefs and cultural backgrounds within the same community. Through service, meaningful connections are made that benefit young and old alike.
Volunteers are needed both individually and as a group. One-time projects are available as well as projects that need on-going assistance. Some examples include:
- Mowing
- Weeding
- Trimming bushes
- Leaf removal
- Gutter cleaning
- Painting, interior/exterior
- Spring and fall clean-up
If you or a group are interested in volunteering for the CYO Home Service Project, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator at 330.762.2961, x232.
JAM/Jr JAM West
CYO partners with local social service agencies to match teen work groups with those in need. This allows the youth to have direct contact with those being served and emphasizes the social justice aspect of service.
JAM (Justice Akron Ministries)
JAM was established in 2000 to offer teens the opportunity to participate in social justice service projects, build community with one another and grow in their faith. The goal of JAM is to provide summer service opportunities for teens involving direct contact with the poor and disadvantaged in our community. Currently, the JAM program is designed for students in grades 10-12.
Junior JAM
Programs provide students in the 7-9 grades an opportunity to participate in 2-day service retreats. 2006 marked the first year of Junior Jam West. Junior JAM West is held yearly at Sacred Heart Parish in Wadsworth. Participants serve meals, help with gardening, home repairs, cleaning, and childcare, as well as spend time with the elderly. As the program continues to grow, more Junior JAM sites will be considered.