Quest for Christ description and Goals

Quest for Christ is a high school aged teen group open to all youth interested in attending.  We began April 1st of 2005. At this point we have youth attending from Essex Junction, Colchester, Underhill, Jericho, Richmond, Burlington, Grand Isle, Georgia, Swanton, Highgate, Williston, Milton, Stowe, and perhaps other towns!  We originally started meeting at St. Marks, but outgrew the space and moved to the larger and more central location of  Holy Family Church in Essex Junction at their parish hall.  We meet the first and last Friday nights of each month from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

Quest for Christ provides an opportunity for Catholic (and non Catholic) youth to deepen their Catholic identity through a typical Quest for Christ meeting which normally has three parts.  In the first portion of the meeting the youth actively participate in contemporary praise and worship music which often includes drums.  The second portion is a learning portion where talks are given (often as a PowerPoint presentation) regarding many elements of our Catholic faith.  The Catechism, scriptures, and traditional teachings on Catholic faith and morals are often uses during this portion.  The last portion of the meeting usually takes place in the Church itself and may include Adoration, the Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, silent prayer, Confession, the Mass, Stations of the Cross, specific meditations and prayers, or similar activities.

We also organize a monthly outreach Mass on the third Friday of most months which is rich in liturgical tradition.  Our Masses make use of more alter servers (at least 4), formal processions with incense, Latin chant for portions of the common of the Mass (Kyrie, Sanctus, etc), use of traditional hymns, escort of the word during Mass by alter servers with candles, incensing used during certain parts of the Mass, increased use of reverential body gestures during the Mass, etc.  Quickening the youth’s reverential appreciation for the Mass, which is the pinnacle of our faith, is our most important goal.  Our Masses are advertised throughout the Diocese and  open to all the faithful.  They are well attended by  people of all ages.

Quest for Christ Mission Statement

The mission of “Quest for Christ” is to provide a wholesome environment on Friday evenings where Catholic (and non Catholic) high school aged area teens can deepen their Catholic faith and support one another through participation in contemporary praise and worship music, group prayer, study of the Saints, the Bible and Catechism of the Catholic Church. Members will experience Catholic treasures such as Eucharistic Adoration, the Mass, Reconciliation, and Marian devotion. Quest for Christ will share their zeal for the Church and its moral teachings through outreaches to youth groups and other gatherings.

For further information, please contact Dave Chenette at 879-5422.