Youth Group is for all students in grades 9-12, and our gatherings are a chance to grow in faith, build friendships, and serve together.

This year our usual meeting rhythm will be the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month, usually from 5-6:30 PM, with breaks on holiday weekends and school vacations. (There will be some exceptions to this, so please refer to the calendar.) Our gatherings will include service, fellowship, and faith formation – some weeks in the Youth Room, other weeks out in the community.

There will also be Youth Bible Study on Wednesdays from 4-5PM in the Youth Room, starting September 10. Each week we’ll look at one or more of the scripture passages for the upcoming Sunday, opening space for questions, conversation, and reflection. Snacks and drinks too, of course! Come as you are, bring a friend, and grow in faith together.

If you’d like to learn more or get involved, Fr. John would love to hear from you! You can also stay connected by following us on Instagram: @stmarksncyouth.

Confirmation class Sunday, October 26  in the church. Confirmation will meet at 11:30AM in the church for Acolyte training.

Youth Group Movie Night & Discussion: The Social Dilemma
Sunday, October 26, 2025 5–7PM in the Youth Room. Join us for a screening and discussion of The Social Dilemma, an eye-opening documentary that pulls back the curtain on how social media platforms are engineered to capture our attention, shape our thinking, and influence our behavior. Featuring voices from inside the tech industry, the film reveals how these platforms are not only affecting individual mental health but also tearing at the fabric of our society, fueling division and disconnection. After the movie, we’ll talk together about what it means to live with awareness, integrity, and freedom in a world that’s always online. Pizza, salad, snacks, and drinks provided. Bring a friend and come ready for an important conversation.

Youth Group Service Outing: Open Doors Community Closet + Donation Drive
Sunday, November 9 from 5–7PM Open Doors, 4 Merritt Street, Norwalk. The St. Mark’s Youth Group will volunteer at the Open Doors Community Closet, which provides clothing and essentials for people in our community facing poverty and homelessness. All high school youth and members of the Confirmation Class are invited! Please feel free to bring a friend. We’ll meet at Open Doors on Sunday, November 9 at 5pm. We’ll be helping to sort donations and restock racks to contribute to the work that serves more than 1,500 individuals and families each year.

In preparation, we’re collecting donations for the following items: New socks (all ages and sizes) New or like-new shoes and boots (all ages and sizes) Unused toiletries (full-size or travel-size) Donations can be dropped off at St. Mark’s through Sunday, November 9 in a box outside Morrill Hall. Please RSVP to Fr. John (jkennedy@stmarksnewcanaan.org) by Thursday, November 6, as Open Doors needs to know how many we will be!

Peacemaker Summit – Philadelphia, November 22
High school youth are invited to join a trip to Philadelphia for a Peacemaker Summit, a gathering focused on learning what it means to build peace in our world today. The event is hosted by the renowned Christian author and leader Shane Claiborne, and his organization The Simple Way. It will include workshops and conversations about peacemaking, nonviolence, and community restoration.

There will also be hands-on sessions in blacksmithing, welding, and woodturning, where participants help turn old gun parts into garden tools—a real-life expression of Isaiah 2:4, “They shall beat their swords into plowshares.”

Date: Saturday, November 22 Location: Esperanza Core, 3222 H Street, Philadelphia, PA 19134 St. Mark’s Drivers and Chaperones: Fr. John Kennedy and Anderson Kenny Schedule Overview: • Early morning departure from St. Mark’s (around 6:30AM) • Morning sessions on peacemaking and restorative justice • Lunch on site • Afternoon workshops and demonstrations (forging, welding, woodturning) • Return trip around dinner time (exact time TBD). If you’re interested in going or want to learn more, please contact Father John (jkennedy@stmarksnewcanaan.org) by Saturday, November 8.