Catholic Youth Organization (CYO)

The 9th-12th grade youth group of St. Joseph parish has been referred to by a variety of names over the years, with the most common one being the CYO (Catholic Youth Organization). LIFT (Living In the Fire of Truth) is the name that was given many years ago to the group of CYO students who meet on Wednesday nights.

Our CYO exists so that the high school students of St. Joseph parish can participate in and practice their Catholic Faith with other students of our parish, around the diocese, and on a national level. Through activities of the CYO, our high school students put their Faith into practice through service work, fundraisers, prayer, retreats, conferences, and fun and games.

CYO meets Wednesday nights from 7- 8:30pm to discuss current events and how they relate to our Faith. They also socialize and have fun, spend time in prayer, and discuss all aspects of our Catholic Faith.

In Starkville where the Catholic population is about 2% and where most of the friends of our youth are non-Catholics, the CYO (and LIFT) of our parish is so important in forming and supporting the Catholic identity of our youth. Participating in their Faith as teenagers will have lasting effects in how they practice their Catholic Faith as adults.

For more information, contact Jeff Artigues at [email protected]

Click HERE for permission forms for youth trips. Form A is filled out by a youth (or parent of child) the first time they participate in an event/trip (DCYC, Abbey Fest, etc.). It is good for their four years of high school. If they participate in additional events/trips they fill out form B. Form E is filled out every time. And form C is for adult chaperones.