Youth Group Fundraisers

On any given evening, the auditorium of St. Dominic Savio Church is filled with teenagers who are learning life skills, practicing new hip-hop and salsa steps, and/or rehearsing a new song in Spanish.

Amber Serrano says “Savio” — as youth call their Bellflower parish — is a place where she can relax, a place where she doesn’t have to impress anyone. For Stephanie Chavez, it is a place where she can release her inner child; for Julio Rosales, a place where he can be free, where he can show the best of himself “without being afraid of the crowds.” And Christine Mendoza says it is a place where she can talk about her religion without being judged.

The high school students are part of St. Dominic Savio’s Monday Youth Group, where they learn to know themselves and to develop leadership skills under the tutelage of Juan Carlos Montenegro, a native Ecuadoran who has applied business administration concepts to the youth ministry he directs.

“We are trying to renew the vision of what is a youth ministry,” Montenegro told The Tidings. “Youth ministry is more than confirmation classes or catechism. We help them (the youth) find the gifts God has given them and show them how to use them to help develop the youth ministry.”

Business and fun
The process starts with a simple question: “What do you like doing?”

In his book “El negocio de la salvación” (The business of salvation), aimed at youth leaders, Montenegro uses business jargon to describe the elements of a youth ministry.

“An important point is to know our competition,” he says in the section “Analyzing the competition,” which is part of the opening chapter “Analyzing the needs.”

“We can have a wonderful formation program, the best of the world,” he says. “But if it doesn’t involve any fun — such as Don Juan’s Karaoke at the corner — we won’t be able to attract the youth. Let’s just remember that young people like keeping up with fashion and that is a real challenge for those who work in Youth Ministry.”

“Many times, the best way to appeal to them is by investing a little money in technology. By buying a karaoke [machine], the youth will feel the same happiness they feel at Don Juan’s. The difference will be that they will be away from the dangers of the streets, away from alcohol, drugs, etcetera.”

While there is no karaoke at St. Dominic Savio, every single day teenagers from the parish’s surrounding neighborhoods happily attend the different youth group meetings where they grow together on their spiritual journey and learn to develop helpful life skills.

And the youth do employ new technology, videotaping their outreach activities to share with other youth groups and with the larger church community.

Time alone
It is past 8 p.m. on a Monday, and St. Dominic’s youth are enjoying the company of their peers — and reflecting on matters that they do not usually think about elsewhere.

“Write down how you would collect your thoughts, how you would use your time to be in tune with yourselves when you’re at home,” 17-year-old Monica Rosales asks a group of about 40 teenagers who are discussing listening skills in this Youth Group meeting.

“We don’t have time alone with ourselves to talk and collect our thoughts,” Rosales tells them as they write. “We are too busy texting or watching TV.”

Then she invites volunteers to read the ideas they have written.

“I would read a book,” says a girl. “I would take a nap,” says a second girl. “I would work out,” says a boy. “I would write in a journal,” says another boy.

“Post it next to your bed,” Rosales suggests. She invites the teenagers to incorporate in their lives the ideas they have written. “This will take out all the drama and will calm you down,” she adds.

Rosales is one of many Youth Group members who have trained to be counselors at Camp Savio, a summer program for elementary level children that helps teens develop leadership skills.

“By discovering their gifts they (the youth) learn to develop self-esteem and to make a difference in someone else’s life,” Montenegro explains.

Christine Mendoza agrees. “I was very shy and now I am more open,” says the high school student, explaining that she has “come to know” herself after counseling children at Camp Savio.

‘Assisting’ youth
“Let’s remember that our ‘business’ is to help the youth to be ‘better Christians and good citizens’ as St. John Bosco used to say,” Montenegro reminds the readers in his chapter, “Marketing and customer service.”

“The only way we will reach that is by ‘assisting’ them — and this word assisting has an incredible meaning in the Salesian world. To ‘assist’ means to accompany the youth, to be with them, to appreciate what they appreciate, to listen to what they listen to, in order to help them grow as human beings. St. John Bosco said that ‘Salesian assistance is provided at the playgrounds, where the youth play.’”

Or where they dance.
Daniel Garcia, 18, has loved dancing since he can remember. He joined Savio’s Youth Dance Group last year and he is now the hip-hop instructor.

“This has helped me come out of my shell,” he told The Tidings. “I have learned a lot of patience, to be understanding and not to yell.”

The experience of teaching has made him more determined, he added. “It is good to share with other people what I know. This group gives people the opportunity to dance and to explore their talent, their potential.”

The dance group started two years ago after Johnny Lara, 17, a senior at Downey High School, attended a Salesian Youth Conference and thought of creating a dance group to inspire his peers “to appreciate the gifts they have.” Lara, a lifelong dancer, persuaded his longtime friend and neighbor Liz Cardenas, 18, to take the idea to Montenegro, who gave his approval.

This year the group raised more than $1,700 from their events to help a non-profit organization in Africa. They are preparing for next year’s big fundraiser, “I Am,” to benefit an orphanage in Tijuana.

“As teenagers we tend to be selfish,” said Lara, who works as a dance teacher at Alma Latina in Long Beach, a nonprofit that promotes cultural awareness through Mexican folkloric dance. “”We don’t see the needs of others. We want a cell phone when other people need a glass of water. A cell phone is a want, not a need.”

After an hour of rehearsal, the youth regroup for discussion designed to help them grow spiritually. Self-esteem, recognition and reward are the right formula for involvement, writes Montenegro.

“Once the young person feels comfortable and welcomed, he or she will want to do something, they will try to participate in activities and this will help us fulfill our goal of helping them to develop as good Christians and honest citizens.”

For more information about St. Dominic Savio youth ministry, call Juan Carlos Montenegro at (562) 920-7796, email, youthministry@saintdominicsavio.org or visit www.saintdominicsavio.org.