Reach Out for Christ (ROC)

Reach Out for Christ is our Junior High faith formation program for 7th and 8th graders. ROC provides a welcoming and consistent space for students to build community, engage with Scripture, and reflect on how faith connects to everyday life.

Throughout the fall, students participate in community-building activities, service projects, scripture study, guided discussions, and prayer. These elements are designed to help teens recognize Jesus at work in their lives and grow in their understanding of what it means to live as a disciple.

ROC invites students to take faith seriously while asking questions, listening to one another, and learning how to respond to God in both ordinary and meaningful moments of daily life.

A Special Letter from the Youth Minister...

I hope you and your family are enjoying a wonderful summer. As we begin preparing for the upcoming ministry year, I am excited to share a new vision for Tuesday nights at SS. Simon and Jude Cathedral.

After much prayer, discernment, and feedback from parents, teens, leaders, and parishioners, we are moving both ROC (our Junior High Youth Group for 7th and 8th graders) and High School Youth Group to Tuesday evenings as part of a larger effort to bring together several ministries across our Cathedral campus.

By placing these ministries on the same evening, alongside Youth Choir and Boy Scouts, we hope to create a vibrant environment where young people can build friendships, grow in faith, and experience a greater sense of belonging within our parish community. Our desire is to help teens encounter Jesus Christ and discover the gifts God has given them.

Rather than asking families to navigate multiple nights throughout the week, we are intentionally bringing these opportunities together on Tuesday evenings. Our hope is that this creates a stronger and more connected community for both teens and their families. We want our ministry to be Christ centered, rooted in authentic relationships, and open to the movement of the Holy Spirit.

A Typical Tuesday Evening

2:45 PM to 5:00 PM | Junior High Open House
5:00 PM to 6:00 PM | ROC (7th & 8th Grades)
6:00 PM to 7:00 PM | Youth Choir (Music Room)
6:00 PM to 7:00 PM | Open Courts (Youth House)
7:00 PM to 8:00 PM | High School Youth Group
7:00 PM to 8:00 PM | Boy Scouts (Smith Hall)
8:00 PM to 8:30 PM | All Star Competition (Youth Group)

This schedule allows young people to participate in multiple opportunities throughout the evening while building one larger community. Junior High boys attending ROC may continue with Youth Choir or Open Courts before heading to Scouts, while High School Scouts may participate in Youth Group following their meeting and join the All Star Competition afterward.

One area we are especially excited about is Sacred Voices, our youth choir that serves at the 5:00 PM Sunday Mass. Over the years, our leadership team has witnessed the incredible talents of our young people. We hope more teens will use those gifts to help lead our parish community in prayer and worship. All High School teens are welcome to start arriving at 6 PM for Open Courts and hang out before the Youth Group gathering begins at 7 PM.

Fall Schedule

September: 15, 22, 29
October: 6, 13, 20, 27
November: 3, 10, 17
December: 1

Our desire is that every teen who walks onto our campus knows they belong, knows they are loved, and knows they have a place in this community. We hope that through intentional accompaniment, they will come to know Jesus Christ more deeply and recognize His presence in their lives.

Contact Information

Youth Ministry
Jen Pitera
Director of Youth Ministries
[email protected]

Sacred Voices Youth Choir
Jean-Luc Villamor
[email protected]

Boy Scouts
Dustin Chryst
[email protected]

If you have any questions about Youth Ministry, Youth Choir, Boy Scouts, or any of our Tuesday night offerings, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Thank you for entrusting us with your young people. I am excited for what God has in store this year and look forward to partnering with your family as we help our teens grow as disciples of Jesus Christ.

In His Peace,

Jen Pitera
Director of Youth Ministries
SS. Simon and Jude Cathedral

Register for ROC