In an effort to further involve students in grades seven through 12 in their religious faith, Meaghan Caltabiano has been retained as Youth Minster for both St. Peter of Alcantara and Our Lady of Fatima Parish, two Port Washington-based Catholic churches.
“In addition to developing a series of programs and activities that speak to our area youth and get them more involved in their Catholic faith, Meaghan will create programs that empower these kids to really make a difference in our word,” said St. Peter’s Pastor Rev. Patrick J. Whitney.
“By showing teens ways of being followers of Christ, Meaghan will empower the children to serve others, and work toward a more peaceful and kind world; one based on the values of the Catholic Church,” added Rev. Steven J. Peterson, Pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish.
Under Meaghan’s direction, Youth Ministry will gather twice a mouth. Meetings will be held in St. Peter’s newly opened IHM Spirituality Center, located in the convent building on the parish grounds.
Activities will give the youth a more hands-on approach to their faith. From coat, food pantry and blood drives, to socials such as dances, visits to hospitals, and outreach to the homeless and home-bound, Youth Ministry will provide each child with an outlet to share their unique gifts with the larger community, Pastor Whitney said.
“It’s all about helping young people learn what it means to follow Jesus Christ and to live as his disciples today,” said Caltabiano. “If we are to succeed, we have to offer teens a spiritually challenging and world-shaping vision that lets them participate in worthy adventure, that helps them to become healthy, competent and caring young people.”
The priests explained how the Church is concerned with developing young people’s personal spiritual needs that shape them for life. Their aim is to have the new Youth Ministry address kids’ unique developmental, social, and religious needs, and overcome obstacles to spiritual growth, such as poverty, racial discrimination, and social injustice.
Caltabiano grew up in Syosset. She attended St. Edward’s and St. Dominic’s Elementary Schools and Our Lady of Mercy Academy. She completed her undergraduate degree in Irish History at New York University. After spending a year at Brooklyn Law School, Meaghan left to begin working in ministry. She is currently working on a MA in Theology at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington.
Prior to coming to Port Washington, Meaghan was active at St. Dominic’s, serving on the pastoral council, coordinating the music for the Youth Mass, and as a volunteer with the youth ministry and faith formation programs. Most recently, she was the coordinator of faith formation for both St. Catherine of Sienna parish in Franklin Square and St. Vincent de Paul in Elmont.
For more information Meaghan can be emailed at pwgnyouthministry@gmail.com, or visit www.pwgnyouthministry.org.
