Catholic Youth of Sumter

“If we are to succeed, we must offer young people a spiritually challenging and world-shaping vision that meets their hunger for the chance to participate in a worthy adventure.” -Renewing the Vision, USCCB

The Catholic Youth of Sumter is a youth ministry of Saint Anne and Saint Jude Parish. It invites, servers and encourages young people from 5^th-8^th grade for Junior High (Edge Program) and from 9^th-12^th grade for High School (Lifeteen Program).

The CYS regularly meets every Sunday 6pm-8pm.

Our Team

Mission Statement

The mission of the SASJ Catholic Youth of Sumter is to embrace teens in our vibrant and caring parish community and meet them where they are by providing opportunities for them to:

grow in their relationship with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit
build a community with other Catholic teens
learn more about their Catholic faith
develop leadership abilities by serving others
have fun in a faith-filled environment

We believe that young people are an important and integral part of our parish community. Our Youth Ministry Program seeks to foster maturing in faith of the youth of our parish and the surrounding community. Through a variety of programs, events and outreach, we seek to draw young people into responsible participation in the life, work and mission of our parish community. We believe this ministry is to, with, by, and for young people and is a blessing for our entire community.

Forms & Downloads

Forms and other docs needed are listed here for downloads

Gallery

Important Announcements

April 22, 2020

Thomas B. Jenkins Memorial Scholarships

November 20, 2018

Parish Pastoral Plan- Survey for ALL Parishioners

November 20, 2018

COME PAINT WITH US!!

October 2, 2018

Come Paint With Us!

August 17, 2018

End of Summer Pool Party & Pizza Pig Out!!

Important Dates

Youth Mass at the St. Anne location at 12 pm
Middle school Diocesan Youth Conference on November 4th at the White Oak Conference center.
South Carolina Stand up for Life Rally January 6th, 2018.
High School Diocesan Youth Conference from March 9th, 10th, and 11th at the White Oak Conference center.

CYS #Hashtags

Get in Touch

Meet the Team

SASJ – CYS continues to grow and expand because of its awesome Adult Core Team and Volunteers headed by the Youth Minister.

Frank Costas

Youth Minister

About Me

I have been a lifelong member of the St. Anne and St. Jude Roman Catholic Church. I am from Sumter and am the middle child of 5. I have two older sisters, a younger brother, and younger sister. I have been married to my high school sweetheart; Jennifer Costas, since 2003 and we have two awesome kids, Nathan and Alyssa. This is my third year in youth ministry, and I look forward to many more as this has been an awesome journey exposing our youth to the beauty of our Faith!

Jennifer Costas

Core Team

About Me

I am a lifelong member of the Saint Anne Saint Jude Roman Catholic Church. I was baptised and made all of my sacraments at Saint Jude. I am a middle child of three, and attend mass regularly with my husband, Frank, children, Nathan (16) and Alyssa (12), and mother, Cathy. This is my third year being involved in youth ministry. Seeing our youth excited to learn about and do God’s work is what it is all about.

Nicole Macedo

Core Team

About Me

Chris Harvey

Core Team

About Me

I am a lifelong Catholic Christian from Texas. My family and I re-located to Sumter in 2015 for military duty. I am married to Laurie, originally from Ohio, and we have two boys; Christian and William. I have 5 years experience teaching religious education at previous parishes and enjoy being a part of this youth group team. Teaching is a passion and I look forward to being a part of our youth’s faith development. In addition to youth ministry and religious education, I am also a member of the Knights of Columbus as well as a Eucharistic Minister

Laurie Harvey

Core Team

About Me

I grew up Ohio and was raised in multiple denominations throughout my childhood and into my teen years. From Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, Assembly of God, Church of Christ, Nondenominational and the list goes on. My journey to Catholicism began when Chris and I met. That journey would take 17 years from the time Chris and I met before I would convert to Catholicism and join the Catholic church in April 2013. My experiences growing up has enhanced my experience with my conversion and has allowed me to fall in love with our Catholic Faith in a unique way. This is my first year with the youth ministry team and I have the honor and privilege of leading the God Squad Team this year. These young men and women are on fire for God and it thrills me to see their excitement for their faith and to lead this dynamic group of teens for the 2017/2018 year!.

David Wood

Core Team

About Me

I am a longtime member of St. Anne and St. Jude parish. We moved to SC when I was just 3 years old. I am number 2 out 4 boys. Single without kids. This is my second year in youth ministry, assisting our youth minister by volunteering on our core team and assisting with the Praise and Worship band and youth Masses.

Chris Hilditch

Core Team

About Me

I am a lifelong member of the Catholic Church and have been a member of the St. Anne and St. Jude parish community since 1999 after arriving here in Sumter through Shaw Air Force Base in 1998. I have been married to Susan Hilditch, a Bishopville native, since September of 2000. We have two children together, Aidan and Mary Grace. I have been involved in youth ministry in one capacity or another for many years. While stationed in Germany, I was on our youth ministry team of the “Choices” Youth Group of Ramstein Air Base. I was on the adult team around 1999-2000 with the St. Jude Youth Group and was the Youth Minister here with our Catholic Community from 2011-2015 before moving to the Hampton County area for a short stint and beginning a youth group with St. Anthony Catholic Church in Walterboro. Thankfully, we were forced to relocate back to Sumter in the winter of 2015 and I was able to return to our parish community here. I am glad to be back involved on our Youth Ministry Core Team and love being involved in the faith lives of our youth here in our parish. Besides my involvement in youth ministry, I am the Confirmation Coordinator, Lector, EMOHC, Parish Council Member and Knight of Columbus.

Denise Owen

Core Team

About Me

I was born and raised Catholic in Sanford, NC. I met my husband John in prison! Ha ha! I worked at a federal prison where he was a Case Manager for the inmates. John converted to Catholicism after our 2nd child was born. After obtaining a Masters degree in Social Work, I worked many years in the field and continue my SW training and licensure. I have two children, Derek, 21 and Danielle 17, both having been involved in the SASJ Youth Group. I started in Youth Ministry at Harmony Church and went to Quebec, Canada with them on a Mission Trip. A few years ago Tina Couture convinced me to teach elementary Religious Ed where I currently teach 3rd grade. Then I began helping Chris Hilditch and Autumn Floyd several years back (2012-ish) with the Catholic Youth Group and have been assisting the Youth Leaders ever since by joining the Core Team – a great group of leaders whom I strive to be like! I love Jesus and our Catholic faith (and Casting Crowns)!

Noreen Wall

Core Team

About Me

Electa Riggs

Core Team

About Me

I am a “cradle” Catholic and love being a Catholic. I went to a Catholic School in Danbury, CT where I’m originally from. I married Ken Riggs, and we moved to Germany and attended a Catholic Church in a little town called Gindorf. In 1989, we moved to Sumter, SC and joined St. Jude Catholic Church. We have raised two boys, James (20) and John (13), at St. Jude. I served as a Sunday School teacher for seven years, and then joined the Bible Study Group to help me grow more in my faith. I was blessed when I was asked to be a part of the Core Team of this wonderful Youth Group.

Ken Riggs

Core Team

About Me

I was born and baptized Catholic and went to Catechism at Saint Joseph’s parish in Danbury, CT and attended through first Holy Communion, but my family stopped going to church soon thereafter. Through my junior high and high-school years, I attended a non-denominational church with my sister but returned to Catholic life when I met my beautiful wife in 1985. After attending RCIA, I was confirmed at Easter Vigil in 1994 and have been active at both St.Jude and St. Anne as both a lector and an extraordinary minister of the eucharist. For the past two seasons, I have been active as a helper to the Core Team assisting with the small group discussions with the middle schoolers. I thank Frank Costas for asking me to stay on for a third year and look forward to wonderful things for our Lord-loving youth members this year.

Alyssa Weimer

Young Adult Volunteer

About Me

The God Squad

Coordinators: Laurie Harvey & Alyssa Weimer

The God Squad here at SASJ is comprised of seven members of our youth group. They are Danielle Owen, Amiyah Toney, Caroline Jamison, Nathan Costas, Abigail Marzano, Dominic Neil, and Ana Hartman. These young adults will aid our CORE team in the development and implementation of meetings, service projects, youth mass, announcements, and take active roles in this ministry where needed.

They are on fire with the Holy Spirit and enjoy spreading the good news. They have all proven themselves to be Catholic women and men in good standing with our Church and enjoy spreading the good news of Jesus Christ!

Catholic Youth of Sumter

Mission Statement

Gallery

Connect with Us

Important Announcements

Meet the Team

Frank Costas

Jennifer Costas

Nicole Macedo

Chris Harvey

Laurie Harvey

David Wood

Chris Hilditch

Denise Owen

Noreen Wall

Electa Riggs

Ken Riggs

Alyssa Weimer

The God Squad