Youth Ministry

Youth Ministry has many activities planned for this year. Come join the fellowship and grow in your faith. All high school students are invited to join Father John Paul. Students can just show up for most events, but it does help for planning (and many times food) to know if you are coming. Follow Youth Ministry on the parish website as well as the parish Facebook page(@StJamesCatholicChurch) and Instagram page (@stjamescatholic) for updates and reminders on Youth Ministry events.

Contact Fr. John Paul at the rectory at 703-532-8815 or via email at fatherjohnpaul@stjamescatholic.org.
Check out some of our programs for youth below as well as volunteer opportunities.

First Friday Food Distribution-Community Outreach Opportunity
High School -We are seeking additional high school youth volunteers for our monthly Food Distribution. This outreach initiative typically occurs on the First Friday of the month in Heller Hall. Volunteer shifts begin in the afternoon and end by 7:00pm. If think you might be interested, please contact Amy Steinbicker, asteinbicker@verizon.net to be added to the “St. James Volunteer Group”. Once you are added to the group, you will receive an email once a month about volunteering. The volunteer request email is usually sent about 2 weeks before the next volunteer opportunity. If you are able to volunteer simply sign up for a shift. If you have a conflict, you are welcome to sign up in the future at a time that works with your schedule. We ask that volunteers officially sign up, rather than just show up on the night of Food Distribution.

WorkCamp 2022

Arlington Diocese WorkCamp is an annual youth ministry program culminating in a week-long overnight camp providing high school teens of the Diocese with an opportunity to encounter Christ through service, faith, and fellowship. This service opportunity combines prayer, great speakers, daily Mass, confession, and tons of fun, making it an integrated experience of true Christian community and one of the most transformational opportunities of the year.

WorkCamp 2022 is currently scheduled for June 18-24 in Frederick County, VA. Interested high school teens currently in 9-12 grade, send an email to Karen Graffam at klgraffam@gmail.com or Father John Paul at fatherjohnpaul@stjamescatholic.org. The number of teens who can register is limited by the number of adult volunteers, so register early to secure your spot. The cost per youth is $525, but we do fundraisers to reduce much of this cost.

ADULT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Planning has started for the Arlington Diocese WorkCamp which will take place from June 18-24, 2022 in Frederick County, Virginia this summer. We need to secure adult volunteers since number of students is limited based on how many adults come. For every 1-5 girls, we need one adult female crew leader, and the same ratio for males, plus for every 1-5 teens, we need one contractor.

If you are 25 or older, please consider volunteering as a crew leader to join us for the week, or if you have basic home repair or building skills, please consider volunteering your time as a contractor (Monday-Thursday). Last summer we had 30 high schoolers participate and 14 adult leaders. It is a big commitment, but it comes with lots of personal rewards. Email Karen Graffam, klgraffam@gmail.com, for more information.