Peer Ministry
The Campus Ministry Office of the New Notre Dame High School for Girls of St. Ferdinand Parish invites you to grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ. The Peer Ministry team offers you the opportunity to deepen your spirituality with other committed High School students. As a Peer Minister, you will have the opportunity to be an active part of the parish community by being a witness to your peers as well as adults. The selection process begins with you prayerfully considering how you can share your faith journey with other teens.
Peer Ministry FAQs
What is a Peer Minister?
A Peer Minister is a High School student who desires to grow in their faith life, share their faith journey with others and strives to live a life in accordance with the gospel message of Jesus Christ.
Who can be a Peer Minister?
Any student who will be a Junior or Senior at Notre Dame High School during the 2009-2010 school year are invited to apply to be part of Peer Ministry.
What does it take to be a Peer Minister?
It takes a sincere desire and willingness to share, on some level, where you are at in your faith walk. A Peer Ministry team, like the church, is made up of individuals at different places in their faith journey.
Is there an ideal Peer Minister?
No, each of you is unique in the eyes of God and each of you possess various talents and gifts that when used collectively allows us to minister to all teens in the parish. The team is made up of a wide array of students from different parishes in Chicago. Some are committed to a number of activities at school while others make Peer Ministry their one and only priority. Team members bring a variety of family backgrounds to their ministry. Some feel more comfortable one on one while others do better in large groups. Each and every team member brings his or her own special personality and the whole Peer Ministry team will be enriched by the diverse personalities of the team members. The Peer Ministry training that we offer throughout the year will give you the opportunity to grow not only in the areas you already excel in but in the areas that others see you having a gift for. You will be challenged in many ways, but never asked to do something you are not comfortable with.
I’ve never done anything like this, will I get training?
You will participate in a number of team building and training sessions throughout the year.
Peer Ministry Team Members are also expected to:
1. Participate fully in all Peer Ministry events.
2. Openly promote the teachings of the Catholic faith to their peers.
3. Assist in other areas of parish life as requested by the Youth Minister.
4. Strive to conform to the Code of Conduct
5. Set an example based upon all of the teachings of the Catholic Church.
6. Set aside time each day to pray for themselves, their families, and their fellow class mates.
What will I get out of Peer Ministry?
Does this sound like a selfish question? It’s not. Since we live in a world that always asks “what’s in it for me,” this is an appropriate question to ask. As a Peer Minister you will be with fellow students who are seeking, just like you, a way to grow in their relationship with God. The rewards that you will reap are a group of peers, who you probably otherwise would never have gotten a chance to meet in a different setting. Within Peer Ministry you can feel safe from peer pressure, develop leadership and organizational skills that will help in college, and broaden your horizons based upon the individuals that you get to know. You will build friendships that will last a lifetime. In many of the things you do you will find personal growth and satisfaction. By sharing your faith journey with others you will see the fruits of the seeds you plant in your role as a Peer Minister.
What won’t I get from Peer Ministry?
You will not be a star because there is no “I” in team. You may not always get your way, be chosen for a particular role and you will sometimes have to humble yourself to let everyone get a chance at having a leadership role.
With that said what better place to find a person with similar beliefs. When doing joint activities you are asked to conduct yourself as sisters in Christ’s love. You also will not find time to engage in behavior of a cliquish nature nor will you be able to catch up on the local gossip in the context of team activities. A lot is expected of those who choose Peer Ministry and there is no room for jealousy, gossip and other activities that would undermine the team’s ultimate purpose.
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Notre Dame High School for Girls
Peer Ministry Application Process
The Campus Ministry Office of the New Notre Dame High School for Girls of St. Ferdinand Parish invites you to grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ. The Peer Ministry team offers you the opportunity to deepen your spirituality with other committed High School students. As a Peer Minister, you will have the opportunity to be an active part of the parish community by being a witness to your peers as well as adults. The selection process begins with you prayerfully considering how you can share your faith journey with other teens.
Contained in this application packet is the Student Application & Parent Recommendation Form. Please read the entire packet thoroughly before proceeding. Students are to sign and return pages 4 & 5. Also attached is a Master Liability and Permission form for the year that includes a basic Code of Conduct that you are expected to follow at all times. Parents are to sign and return page 7 in a separate envelope to the Youth Ministry Office not later than June 3, 2009 in order to be considered.
Who can be a Peer Minister?
Any student who will be a Junior or Senior at Notre Dame High School during the 2009-2010 school year are invited to apply to be part of Peer Ministry.
What does it take to be a Peer Minister?
It takes a sincere desire and willingness to share, on some level, where you are at in your faith walk. A Peer Ministry team, like the church, is made up of individuals at different places in their faith journey.
Why do you want my Facebook and/or Myspace Account?
1. In addition to email and/or text messaging, we will use a Peer Ministry Group on Facebook & Myspace to disseminate information to all Peer Ministers and/or parents about upcoming events.
2. If you are going to be part of Peer Ministry then you have to be willing to conduct yourself on the various social networks in a manner expected of a Peer Minister. You must allow Mrs. Heidelbauer to be a ‘friend’. This way you know that your actions may be monitored periodically.
Peer Ministry Team Members are also expected to:
1. Participate fully in all Peer Ministry events.
2. Openly promote the teachings of the Catholic faith to their peers.
3. Assist in other areas of parish life as requested by the Youth Minister.
4. Strive to conform to the Code of Conduct that all team members must sign to be accepted as a member of Peer Ministry.
5. Set an example based upon all of the teachings of the Catholic Church.
6. Set aside time each day to pray for themselves, their families, fellow team members and the teens of the parish.
7. You are expected to make your attendance at the following events a priority:
Peer Ministry Summer Retreat (August 2009)
School Retreats for grades 9-12 (School Year)
Service Projects (School Year)
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Please click the image to view and print the Peer Ministry – New Student Application.