After continually preparing for events throughout the year and with several upcoming events approaching, the Holy Family Youth Group is met with one important question: will anyone come?

According to its coordinators, the youth group has been unable to generate a consistent level of interest in its activities despite a yearly schedule that includes open gym nights, semi-annual trips to Broadway shows, parties and socials, as well as community service-oriented trips to help senior citizens. According to both Rosemary Pettei, an adult coordinator and Jesse Halpern, a teen coordinator, the group offers something for everyone.

The youth group however, does hold several events that are widely attended and bring in a large number of teens. A "battle of the bands" contest is the most popular activity staged by the youth group. The concert comprised of bands from the local community has been known to bring in nearly 200 young people.

Another popular event is "Coffee House for the Soul," a night where teens can come to an intimate setting and enjoy listening to music played by a local band comprised of young people. There is food, drinks and of course, coffee. The group tries to hold this event every other week.

Despite the elevated levels of participation in certain events, activity organizers have indicated that the youth group suffers from a plight similar to many other organizations of its type

"I do not know if it is not cool to be involved with a church teen group or if kids are very much involved in their own high schools," said Pettei. "I think it [growth of the group] is going to have to be through our young people, our senior high school students. Their enthusiasm, their encouragement, and their witness. If I am going to invite kids it is not the same thing as if [another teen] does."

A goal of the youth group is to make the youth group an option for kids when they want to hang out. "Kids hang out on Saturday nights. Why not hang out here? Why not make this environment so that the kids will want to hang out here.

"It proved to be the best thing that I could have ever done for myself," said Halpern. "Honestly, the youth group has been a guiding force for me because I have met such wonderful people."

Aside from the many social events that the group stages, it also takes time out to give to others. It has taken part in a program that brings animals to elderly, homebound residents and it has gone caroling to senior centers. The youth group has designated increased participation in community service activities as a goal for the upcoming year.

"At first the kids were a little nervous and skeptical but as the morning went on they really had a good time," said Pettei of a recent trip. "I think they saw that helping others can be fun."

Pettei indicated that she would like to encourage a lot more activities such as these where the youths are allowed and enabled to make a difference. "I think that in helping others is where you find happiness. I think it is an important lesson for the kids to realize and they are realizing it."

For those thinking that the youth group is some sort of religious cult with an overriding religious agenda they want to impose on unsuspecting youths, they might want to look again. According to Pettei, the religious impact of the youth group is universal and transcends any particular religion.

"When they come down on a Saturday night there is very little religious overtone," said Pettei. "But then when you talk about religious overtones it doesn't have to be a theology class. Having a safe place where people care about one another has great religious overtones that speak of our gospel message just as much as having someone come down and speak about another segment of theology. So the religious overtones that are here are ones of caring, sharing, respecting each other and saying that every person has dignity."

The youth group does hold a small Mass or liturgy for the kids once or twice a year and there is also a day of recollection where they go to the seminary for a day of prayer. According to Halpern this aspect of the youth group is entirely optional and is not intended to pressure anyone.

"I think that if we can leave our kids with the sense that every person is created with dignity and everyone must be treated with respect and this is how we treat one another, then I think we have done a great service to the parish and the community at large."

Upcoming stagings of "Coffee House for the Soul" are scheduled for January 30 and February 6 at 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. There will be live music, food and drinks. A $2 admission fee is requested at the door. These events as are all of the events staged by the youth group are for teens in grades nine through 12. The Jan. 30 night will feature the music of Fourum and the Feb. 6 show will feature the music of Free Refills. There is also an open gym on both nights for those who would prefer to play ball.

If anyone would like more information on these or any other events sponsored by the Holy Family Youth Group, call Adult Coordinators Rosemary Pettei at 938-0966, John Block 731-5424 or Teen Coordinator Jesse Halpern 674-8577.