Written by: Andy Baker, Coordinator of Family, Faith Formation, Youth & Young Adult Ministry
In recent years, youth ministry at Saint Clare Catholic Church in North Palm Beach has undergone a quiet but powerful shift. “At Saint Clare, we believe high school teens grow most deeply in their faith through authentic relationships, where they are truly seen, heard, and valued”, remarked St. Clare Pastor, Fr. Nick Zrallack. Saint Clare is moving away from programs focused on classroom style or large group ministry. Fr. Zrallack and his parish have embraced the small-group, relational ministry vision of the Diocese of Palm Beach — an approach rooted in evangelization, accompaniment, discipleship, and authentic relationships that stir a hunger for truth that is fed by intentional catechesis. “Relational ministry allows us to walk alongside them personally, fostering trust and discipleship in ways that large group settings simply cannot”, Fr. Zrallack continued.
This shift has begun to bear fruit not only at Saint Clare but at multiple parishes around the diocese, where this style of ministry is growing and strengthening the faith among young people and their families. Relational ministry is not without its ups, downs and messiness, but that is what life-changing ministry to people is, messy. The days of the conveyor belt are over, and the fruit we see from this shift will last a lifetime.
One common misconception about small-group ministry is that it prevents young people from coming together for larger experiences such as retreats, conferences, camps, and mission trips. However, that is far from the case, and Saint Clare is an example of the small experiencing the large. This past January, Saint Clare’s small group ministry proved the effectiveness of strategy of growing small to grow large again.
Recently, youth from Saint Clare joined with the youth of Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church from Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, for an “outside the box” experience of Rock the Universe, Florida’s largest Christian music festival in Orlando, Florida. These two parishes, though separated by hundreds of miles, have been intentionally walking together in building small-group, relational youth ministry. For the past several summers, the combined group has served the poor in Roanoke Rapids. In winter, they have reunited for retreat, service, and fellowship in Orlando. What has emerged is not simply a shared schedule, but a shared life, one where the young people know one another so well that when they gather it feels like family.
Fr. John De Guzman, Pastoral Administrator of St. John the Baptist; “As the pastor of a small country parish in Roanoke Rapids, the collaboration with Saint Clare and the joint mountain top experiences are a real gift not just for me but for our youth and our adult leaders. These large gatherings, born of the work of small group relational ministry, help broaden the perspective of our young people by revealing the beauty of the Church as truly universal. These moments invite our youth to join the mission of the church to serve as Christ did”.
During this year’s winter gathering, the youth served at Second Harvest Food Bank, where they processed and sorted more than 12,000 pounds of food—enough to provide over 32,000 meals for the homeless. Their hands-on service was paired with intentional prayer and reflection, reminding them that charity and faith are inseparable.
Throughout the weekend, the youth also entered into a retreat experience centered on the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary. Daily Mass and time spent with the Eucharist anchored the days, helping the young people connect their service and fellowship to the sacramental life of the Church.
This year the youth from Saint John the Baptist departed early ahead of an impending ice storm back home in North Carolina. Though the farewell came sooner than expected, it underscored just how deeply connected the group had become.
Saint Clare carried on and visited the Basilica National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe. There, the youth were immersed in the beauty of sacred art and catechesis, encountering the Gospel through the stories told in the basilica’s walls, doors, and gardens. Later that afternoon, they gathered for Eucharistic Adoration. In the quiet presence of Christs’ body, blood, soul, and divinity, many emotions surfaced as the youth encountered the Lord in a very personal way. That encounter continued through the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, as Christ’s mercy was made tangible through the ministry of the priest. The day concluded with the beautiful and solemn celebration of the Vigil Mass at the Basilica.
Small groups have allowed us to have deeper conversations and build the trust necessary for youth to fully open up about their faith. This trust coupled with the attention and involvement of our priests have encouraged several boys from each parish to openly share that they are considering the Priesthood as the vocation God may be calling them to. The fact that they are open and talking about it is half battle in bridging the vocation gap.
This model of ministry is not new. Small-group, relational ministry has been the pastoral vision of the Diocese of Palm Beach since 2021 and is strongly affirmed by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops 2024 Document on Youth Ministry called Listen, Teach, Send. That document calls on the local Church to accompany young people, to walk with them in their lived experiences, and to lead them toward a personal encounter with Jesus Christ within a small community of faith.
In the Diocese of Palm Beach, there is a vision and a framework for bringing young people to an encounter with—and conversion to—Jesus Christ using a small-group, relational ministry model that includes preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation. This vision is growing and young people are responding.
When asked about her experiences making this shift, Bibi Mendoza, Director of Religious Education at Saint Clare said; “we all know what we have been doing isn’t working and that young people today are searching. Taking the time to get to know them and their families, walking with them in their lives now, allows us the opportunity to evangelize and share the gospel with them – and when they are open, to catechize them in the beauty and fullness of our faith”.
Saint Clare’s Youth Ministry continues to draw positive responses from both students and parents. “I love learning more about the Catholic faith, the discussions about scripture, and the opportunity to grow and strengthen my understanding of the faith,” said Jasmine, a 12th grader. Olivia, a 9th grader, described the program as “a welcoming community and a place to connect,” while fellow 9th grader Joseph highlighted the “kind people” and “positive environment” that encourage meaningful conversations. Danielle, a 10th grader, added that the ministry is “a place where I feel safe and supported.” Noah, also in 9th grade, said the program helps him grow closer to God while spending time with friends, noting that it offers more than just fun, it is “a place where I can be myself and feel like I truly belong.” Parents echo these sentiments. Karen, a Saint Clare parent, expressed gratitude for the youth ministry’s small groups, mission trips, and strong mentorship, saying they have helped her son grow in both faith and confidence while providing a safe, supportive community that continues to guide his faith journey.
Youth are not lost, they are searching. Youth ministry isn’t what it used to be, but it isn’t a thing of the past. It just looks different. We can adapt our ministry and approach in many ways, but one thing is clear, we cannot afford to do nothing. So, our challenge to our parishes is to answer the call, and let’s walk this Emmaus together. To our readers, call your parish and offer your time to walk with a group of young people. Time is of the essence, but together, with the grace of the Holy Spirit, we can move hearts and mountains!
Contact: Andy Baker, Coordinator of Family, Faith Formation, Youth & Young Adult Ministry
561.775.9559 | jbaker@diocesepb.org