Youth Ministry

Youth Ministry (also called adolescent catechesis) involves a mix of classroom curriculum, service projects, retreats, events and formation that moves young people from simply learning about their faith to living their faith everyday.

This page will serve as a resource for youth ministers as well as volunteers in youth ministry to have up-to-date access to resources for any Diocesan events or initiatives.

Questions? Contact Jessica Pancho 

Confirmation Retreats

Below is the list of confirmation retreats planned across the Diocese. If you have a student who needs to attend a different parish retreat, please reach out to the contact for that retreat to make arrangements.

 Parish(es) Location Date Contact
Our Lady's Immaculate Heart, Ankeny Our Lady's Immaculate Heart, Ankeny, IA Sunday, September 24th, 2023
1 PM - 6 PM
Randy Henderson 
St. Boniface, Waukee St. Boniface, Waukee, IA

Saturday, October 7th, 2023
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Julie Schell
St. Francis of Assisi, WDM TBD  Saturday, October 21st, 2023 Claire Sevenich
Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, Glenwood  Glenwood, IA Saturday, November 4th, 2023
10 AM - 3 PM
Carie Finnegan
 St. Patrick's, Neola St. Patrick's, Neola, IA Sunday, November 5th, 2023
9:30 AM
Shannon Nye 
Corpus Christi, Council Bluffs Benedictine College, Atchison, KS Saturday, January 21st, 2024
10AM - 5PM 
Kendall McGrath
St. John the Apostle, Norwalk with Logan & Missouri Valley Conception Abbey, Conception, MO Saturday/Sunday March 2-3, 2024  
St. Ambrose Cathedral, Des Moines TBD Sunday, April 21, 2024 Theresa Lewis
Our Lady of the Americas, Des Moines St. Thomas More Center, Panora, IA Saturday/Sunday April 27-28, 2024 Erika Mendez
 SS John & Paul, Altoona SS John & Paul, Altoona, IA  Sunday, April 28th 12 PM - 5 PM Maria Haas
Additional Resources

Framework for Adolescent Catechesis -- a vision for adolescent catechesis from the USCCB

Lifeteen -- an approved program for youth ministry in the diocese