Point yourself in the right direction now; when you are older, you won’t be lost
Joining a group will give you a sense of belonging. When you feel “at home” and “safe” at youth ministries, you are most likely to stay actively involved.Our youth activities and organizations are filled with meaningful teaching, discussion, worship, and relationships, everything that will keep you coming back.
Our groups will give you the opportunity to develop your skills through service or leadership projects with others of your own age.
If you are in grades 2 to 12, Saint Columba Parish has many ways for you to become involved. All activities are supervised by adults with state and federal clearances and each one meets in a Parish facility.
Take a look at the list below and see where your talents lead you. Get in touch with the organization’s contact person and be part of our Parish.
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Boy Scouts
SCOUT SUNDAY CANNED GOODS COLLECTION
The Scouts will be collecting canned goods at the doors before the 8:00 a.m. Mass and the 10:30 a.m. Mass on February 6, 2022 to take to the Food Cupboard. Please support this initiative to feed the hungry and celebrate Scout Sunday!
The Boy Scouts of America (the BSA) is one of the largest Scouting organizations in the United States of America and one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with more than 2.4 million youth participants and nearly one million adult volunteers.
Scouts BSA are also inviting boys in the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades to join Troop 24. The troop meets every Tuesday evening as well from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the School Cafeteria. For more information, you may contact Ed Dilg at 570-204-2994, April Carl at 570-336-4281, or Rose Marie Rhoads at 570-854-1756. Bring a friend! We look forward to meeting you!
The BSA was founded in 1910, and since then, more than 110 million Americans have been participants in BSA programs at some time. The BSA is part of the international Scout Movement and became a founding member organization of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1922.
The BSA’s goal is to train youth in responsible citizenship, character development, and self-reliance through participation in a wide range of outdoor activities, educational programs, and, at older age levels, career-oriented programs in partnership with community organizations. For younger members, the Scout method is part of the program to instill typical Scouting values such as trustworthiness, good citizenship, and outdoors skills, through a variety of activities such as camping, aquatics, and hiking.
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Brownies (Currently inactive)
For girls in grades 2 – 3: Girl Scouts in the Brownie® program are ready to take on the world, and Girl Scouts lets them do just that! They want to learn new things and show off what they know. They want to explore the world and meet new people. And they want to do big things that make them feel great!
At Girl Scouts, she’ll take that first hike in the great outdoors, visit a science museum, and band together as a mighty Brownie team to sell cookies (and use some of the money to help others). Life is good when you’re a Brownie!
Contact
Carol Moore
e4moore@aol.com
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Cadette Scouts (Currently inactive)
We meet on Mondays from 6-7:30 pm, upstairs in the Parish Center.
For girls in grades 6 – 8: Making true-blue friends, saving the planet, standing up against stereotypes, using their team power for the greater good—that’s what being a Girl Scout Cadette is all about.
Cadettes blaze new trails in the wilderness, write and direct their own movies, take the stage for public speaking, make delicious meals from around the world, and pick up tools to do some woodworking. Their curiosity and imagination lead the way as they try all kinds of new experiences.
Contact
e4moore@aol.com
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Cub Scouts
Cub Scouting develops confident, faithful, moral, responsible, honest boys in our community. Our ministry began in the late 1980s to encourage boys 6-12 to do their best in fun activities with the purpose of developing positive characteristics and values.
SCOUTS BSA is inviting all elementary boys and girls to join the Scouts BSA at the St. Columba Church Pack 24. The Pack Meetings are held every Tuesday evening from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Church Cafeteria. All interested parties may contact the Columbia Montour BSA at 570-784-2700, April Carl at 570-336-4281, or Rose Marie Rhoads at 570-854-1756. We are looking forward to meeting you – bring a friend! We have a great time with outdoor activities and many more events.
We are affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America and volunteers must have clearances.
We sponsor an annual popcorn and peanut sale, collect food for the food bank and clean up litter in our church as at Camp Lavigne.
Contact
Bill Harding, Lori Harding
570.336.0319
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CYE
Catholic Youth Education Program
Our Mission: “Our future together in Faith is to teach our children to know, love, and serve God and his people in the Catholic tradition.”
Our Philosophy: The Religious Education Program at St. Columba Church exists to aid parents—the primary educators of their children—in preparing their children to come to full maturity in the Christian life. Parents who decide to homeschool their children, either for all subject areas or religious formation alone, are expected to contact their Pastor, or his delegate, to indicate their intentions.
The Parish is the Eucharistic Community and the heart of the liturgical life of Christian families; it is a privileged place for the Catechesis of children and parents (Catechism of the Catholic Church #2223).
The Religious Education Program of Saint Columba Parish follows the guidelines of the Diocese of Harrisburg. Mass, prayer, Bible and religious reading, and class are the foundation of our faith!
Curriculum: CYE students from Kindergarten through Grade 8 use the diocesan-approved textbook BLEST ARE WE, Faith and Word Edition. This textbook is Catechism referenced.
Our High School Curriculum includes the Bible, the Catechism, and guest speakers.
Applied learning is evident in the many charitable activities students participate in throughout the school year.
For more about CYE, check out the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website.
Dr . James Gregory
Director of Religious Education
570.784.0801 Ext. 4
CYE: 2023-2024 School Year – What to do first
Click on the Download button for each document.
Once CYE begins, children should meet their teachers and classes in the cafeteria. If your child is entering 1st grade or 7th grade, be sure that you register since the Diocese of Harrisburg requires a two-year preparation program to receive the sacraments of Holy Eucharist and Confirmation. Confirmation and First Communion are both held in the spring.
Please let us know if you have attended the religious education program in a different parish. To participate in CYO, your child must participate in CYE. Coaches will periodically check to see if this requirement is being met.
2023 CYE HELP NEEDED
CYE exists to assist parents to educate their children into their Catholic faith. For CYE to do this, we need your assistance to teach and support the CYE Program. We are looking for substitute teachers for most grade levels. Please contact Joe Mullen at 784-0801 for additional information.
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CYO Basketball
CYO basketball is a winter-long competitive basketball experience. We provide Biddy Basketball for Kindergarten through second-graders in an instructional setting that begins in late February.
We also offer a third through sixth-grade basketball traveling program that is officially sanctioned by the Diocese but this option is for Parish participants only.
2023 BIDDY BASKETBALL REGISTRATION
The Biddy Basketball program is a wonderful opportunity for children to participate in team and athletic competition in an environment that emphasizes beginner instruction and fun. Some facts about the Biddy Basketball program:
• Our program is for Saint Columba school and parish children, both boys and girls, from grades kindergarten through third grade. Teams will be created by dividing those children as evenly as possible by number of players, gender and grade level throughout the teams
• The deadline for registrations to be received is noon on Sunday, February 11. A meeting of prospective coaches will be held immediately after that date in order to create the teams, assign practice times and finalize team shirt orders. For that reason, no application will be accepted after the deadline.
• Practices will begin soon after, with games running through February and March.
• Our coaching staff is made up of caring and passion-ate individuals, almost all of whom have or had children in the program. Most coaches have coached in our CYO program and have received training conduct-ed by the Dioceses to be authorized to coach in the program.
• The amount of teams within our Saint Columba CYO program has varied through the years based on the number of children participating. The league concludes with a pizza and cake party.
Again, in order for your child to participate in this pro-gram, you must complete the registration form and submit it before noon on Sunday, February 11th; how-ever, I urge you to complete it as soon as possible in order for our staff to be better able to gauge the number of players and decide the amount of teams needed for everyone to participate. Completed registrations can be returned to either the Saint Columba School or Parish Office. A registration fee of $30 is required and checks can be made payable to Saint Columba.
Finally, if you know any other Saint Columba parish family who is interested in enrolling their child in this program, please supply them with this information and a registration form. Registration forms and/or addition-al information can also be requested and received by e-mail by sending the request to ssblakefam-ily6@gmail.com, or by calling me at 570-912-2607. Hope to see you and your child on the basketball court soon!
Contact
Scott Blake
570.912.2607
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Girl Scouts / Senior & Ambassador Level (Currently inactive)
Tuesdays in the cafeteria from 6:00 to 7:00 pm.
For girls in grades 9 – 12 – Our mission is to build girls of courage, confidence, and character who will make this world a better place. Girl Scouting is designed to build leaders from every girl through empowerment.
Each meeting is designed to allow girls to “discover, connect, and take action.”
Membership is open to all girls, regardless of nationality or religious affiliations. We sponsor monthly service projects and hold two national fundraisers including a Spring sale of Girl Scout Cookies.
Contact
Carol Moore
e4moore@aol.com
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Jr. Girl Scouts
We meet on Mondays from 6-7:30 pm, upstairs in the Parish Center.
For girls in grades 4 – 5: Want to meet a real-life superhero? Just talk to a Girl Scout Junior who wakes up every day ready to play a new role.
Juniors are explorers when they go camping for the first time. They’re CEOs when they market and sell cookies. They’re scientists when they perform energy audits and go on nature walks. And they’re product designers and writers when they earn their Innovation and Storytelling badges. Not to mention change-makers, big-idea thinkers, and future leaders. Superheroes, indeed!
Contact
Carol Moore
e4moore@aol.com
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Vacation Bible School
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL 2023
July 17 to July 21
9am to 12 noon
K through grade 6
TO REGISTER: CLICK HERE
Pre-registration is encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome.
Cost is $20/per child if pre-registered. Walk-ins are $25/per child.
Payment can me made on day one of VBS
7th grade and older can be volunteers. Just show up at 8:30 Monday morning and you will be put to work! No need to register.
IMAGES FROM SUMMER 2023 VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
IMAGES FROM SUMMER 2022 VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
Vacation Bible School (VBS) is a ministry outreach our church provides to educate children about God.
Contact
Karen Konkolics
570.441.3459
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