Posts - JY Chicago

RECAP 2025

As we look back at a busy year of 2025 for the Jesus Youth movement in Chicago, there is a lot to be thankful for and lot of blessings to count for our region. These are the fruits of many laborers working in His vineyard and God’s blessings being showered upon their efforts. Let’s take…
Middle School boys – Feed My Starving Children

The Middle School ministry made a trip to Feed My Starving Children in December to help pack food for children across the world. This was a chance for them to practice the JY pillar of Option for the Poor and experience the joy for serving others. Here are some pictures:
Middle School Girls – Feed My Starving Children

The Middle School ministry made a trip to Feed My Starving Children in December to help pack food for children across the world. This was a chance for them to practice the JY pillar of Option for the Poor and experience the joy for serving others. Here are some pictures:
Teens Ministry – Soup Kitchen

In December, the teens ministry went to the Missionaries of Charity soup kitchen to take part in a local mission and practice the JY pillar of options for the poor. You can see the joy of serving together from the pictures below.
Pathways – 2025 Fall Semester – Service Project

Pathways continued throughout this semester and the group met consistently and delved deeper into questioning and understanding different parts and areas of our life. As we are almost at the end of the semester, we got together to do a service project. We took on the task of cleaning up and reorganizing the Youth Space…
Middle School Girls – November 2025

Middle school girls group continued to work on the topic Forming Friendship using an Endow study guide. Also as activity we did archery and Friendsgiving tea party and card making to give a thank you card to a loved one showing gratitude during this thanksgiving season.
High School Friendsgiving

The teens ministry organized a friendsgiving in November for the High Schoolers and it was a great time for getting together, fellowship, and thanksgiving. Here are some pictures from the gathering.
November Household

November household took place at Joe and Jolly Antony’s house. Princy lead the reflection on Jesus telling his disciples, “You give them something to eat”. We ended the night in fellowship and dinner.
Adventure Club – Boys

The middle-school boys Adventure Club met on November 15th. They reflected on Giving Thanks in All Circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18) and they spent time in discussion, prayer and playing.
CorUS local

In preparation for the CorUS, the Jesus Youth national creative summit, we had a local gathering with Shelton Pinheiro. We had a great time asking and learning about how to use our talents for the kingdom of God both in ministry as well in our secular careers. We learned about the initiative, the intentional discernments…
High School game night

The teens ministry gathered for a game night, fellowship and prayer in October at the Visitation parish gym.
October Household

October Household took place at Jose and Tessy’s house. Binu lead us on a reflection on the need for laborers in the Lord’s vineyard where harvest is plentiful.
Middle School Girls gathering

For the Middle School gathering in October, we visited a farm, discussed friendship and prayed together. Enjoy some pictures from the trip.
Pathways – 2025 Fall Semester

The first gathering of Pathways, a campus program, took place on October 5th, at Arden of Oakbrook (Jonathan, Joel, Amaris residence). Seven students who have committed to attending 6 sessions over the next 3 months will journey together with the two facilitators, Joel and Joe, as they meet every few weeks during this semester and…
September Household

September household took place at Lejoe and Rejani’s house on September 27th. Tessy Jacob lead us on the reflection on Hospitality. “Do not neglect hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels, without knowing it.” – Hebrews 13:2
Teens Gathering – September

After a long summer break, Teens gathering started back up in September at the Jacob’s house on September 19th. They spent the evening around a bonfire, had a time of praise and worship and some fun activities.
August Household

The August Household was held and Manoj and Tena Mathew’s residence. We gathered to reflect on Jesus washing the disciples feet, a slave like act done by our God, the example he is showing us to live out. The household also used this opportunity to specially pray over all the students going back to school…
Damascus – Middle School Girls camp

Seven of our JY middle school ministry girls attended the Damascus camp in Great Lakes Michigan. You can find more about these summer camps here: https://www.damascus.net/catholic-youth-summer-camp Just like the boys middle school camp, the girls one also focuses on high adventure activities that lead to high adventure faith. Please do ask the girls about their…
July Household

We had July Household at the Bijoy’s house. Goodwin lead us in the monthly reflection on Guarding our Hearts. The reflection reminded us of the importance of rooting our heart on the Word of God and nurturing the strengths of our heart while intentionally guiding the weaknesses that can be detrimental. Many shared their own…
Community Night – July

Community night continued at the Elmhurst house for the entire month of July. We had a blast meeting new people, having fun, and hanging out. We played football, enjoyed burgers and hot dogs, and indulged in some delicious cakes, cupcakes, cake pops, and even had a bake-off between some of us. Throughout the month, we…
Justina: Fulltimer send off

At the last community night before Justina, one of our youth, left for her fulltimership, the region came together in a beautiful time of prayer and sharing of memories and graces. Many shared memories and stories with Justina in a beautiful time of experiencing the strength and love of a Christian community. This was followed…
KCA – The Sky’s the Limit

KCA organized a fantastic time at Sky Zone (trampoline park) for many kids, young adults, and parents. It was an incredible opportunity to build relationships between different generations and age groups. I’m sure many cherished memories were made as the kids jumped alongside their older brothers and sisters in the movement. Since the event was…
Community Night – June

Community Nights, the social gathering where ‘no plans are the best plans’ started back up again for the summer. We started off the first month of community night at the Bijoy’s house and every week we had between 60 to 80 people gathering for BBQ, hanging out, playing hoops, relaxing, playing avalon, etc. Many came…
Damascus – Middle School Camp

Our Middle School ministry took some of our middle schoolers to the summer camp organized by Damascus in June. This summer camp focuses on high-adventure activities leading to high-adventure faith. Many of the kids came back sharing experiences where they had to push past their fears and in the process learning to trust in God…
Recommitment Day – 2025

Jesus Youth of the region came together to celebrate Pentecost and to commit/recommit to the Jesus Youth movement. As we went through the recommitment liturgy, lead by Fr. Joel Pius, we prayed for baptism in the Holy Spirit and prayed over each other, adored Jesus in the Eucharist, and took the pledge of Jesus Youth…
Common Grounds – May

“Common Grounds” is a basement-turned-coffee-shop, open every Tuesday for an evening of fellowship. It’s been continuing for the second month and has become a fun and productive coffee shop. Many start off the evening getting some work done while sharing some coffee, matcha, water etc. Work time slowly switches to fun and games as dinner…
May Household

Household (the gathering of all JY’s in the region) for May happened at Jithin and Anjitha’s house. We started off with an action song, bringing back the spirit of JY from 2 decades ago. Angela lead us in the monthly reflection. She used creative ways to help us think of the impact our actions will…
Walk to Mary pilgrimage

A group of about 20 JY’s from Chicago drove up to Wisconsin to take part in the Walk to Mary pilgrimage. We start with St. Joseph (at the National Shrine of St. Joseph) and walk to Mary (at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion) to get to Jesus. Our annual pilgrimage has impacted…
April Household

April Household took place at Binu and Princy Abraham’s house on April 26th. Rejani lead us in reflection on the Newness of Life in the Resurrected Jesus.
Common Grounds – April

This month saw the beginning of a new initiative. “Common Grounds” is a basement-turned-coffee-shop, open once a week for an evening of fellowship. The coffee shop ambiance allows for 2 hours of “work together” time during which attendees can bring their todo lists, personal projects, or projects to work on with others. The time can…