Youth Ministry Team

Our Youth Ministry Director, Dr. Elaine Tontoh, is featured on
Catholic Foundation for Brooklyn and Queens. 

CLICK HERE to read Msgr. Jaime Gigantiello’s Sept. 2nd article,
The Joys of Bringing Jesus to our Youth: The Catholic Youth Ministry Initiative.

In order to promote a sustainable youth ministry program for our parish, the youth ministry is in the initial stages of forming a youth ministry team. The team will consist of young adults between the ages of 19 and 39, who attend Mass at St. Therese of Lisieux R.C. Church every Sunday; who are Virtus trained in order to keep the youth of our parish safe; who understand the virtues of Christian living and are themselves examples for youth mentorship. Additionally, in order to promote diversity and inclusivity, the team seeks to include young adults from the 5p.m. (English) , 9a.m. (English) , 11a.m. (English)  and 1p.m. (Creole)  Masses.

Please send an email to youthministrystthereselisieux@gmail.com if you wish to be a part of the team or speak to the Youth Ministry Director, Elaine Tontoh after Mass. 

Youth Ministry Director
Elaine Tontoh
St. Therese of Lisieux R.C. Church
4402 Avenue D, Brooklyn, NY 11203
Email : youthministrystthereselisieux@gmail.com
Parish Phone: 718-451-1500

AISSA FLORA KONE (Youth Ministry Team Member)
My name is Aissa Flora Kone. I  joined Saint Therese of Lisieux Parish in 2015 and since 2018 have been serving as an usher at the 11:00 am Mass. Back home (Burkina Faso/ in West Africa), I was a  lector in my parish (Our Lady of Fatima/ Dassasgho) from 2009 to 2013. I have also been a catechist for Middle and High school students for 3 years.  I am thankful to God for this opportunity to be a part of the Youth Ministry Team of Saint Therese of Lisieux Parish. Being a member of this Ministry is another way for me to serve God through and with the youth.

Youth Ministry Team Going the Extra Mile (Door to Door Youth Service)

Since the pandemic started in the United States, the Youth Ministry team of St. Therese of Lisieux has come up with many result-oriented initiatives to engage the youth of the parish. One of them is “Going the Extra Mile”. 
 
First, we decided as a team to begin meeting every Wednesday from 7 pm to 8 pm to plan the activities for the youth group, discuss pressing issues, and above all to pray in the second half of the meeting for our upcoming programs, for the youth, our benefactors, the parish and our priests. We proudly say that it is this fervent commitment since March of 2020 to date that has been responsible for the success of St. Therese of Lisieux  Youth Ministry. 
 
Secondly, the team decided to deliver Bibles, supplies, faith-filled resources such as Bible journals etc (See our program/events section) to our youth in their homes. We came to the realization that for our virtual meetings to be successful our youth needed to be equipped. 
 
For example, Ms. Shireen, as the creative arts expert in the team assisted by Ms. Gail, would select which supplies were needed and purchase them. Ms. Flora would then pick up the supplies. Ms. Elaine, then joins Ms. Flora to distribute the art supplies to all the youth members. 
 
Another example. Ms. Elaine receives donations of 20 Catholic Youth Bibles from Deacon Nathan (see picture) and purchases Bible journals. She then packages them and delivers them to each youth.  
  
We have consistently done this, to facilitate our youth meetings and we are grateful to God for rewarding our efforts with success. To God be the Glory!!
 

December 2020 Virtual Christmas Creative Art Session with Shireen