Perhaps you’ve never gone to your parish’s youth group because you feel like it’s not for you, or maybe you are not friends with the people in youth group. Perhaps you feel like you can’t go because you are not into your faith life. These are all things I told myself for two years before I went to my first youth group meeting, but I regret those two years of distance from my faith more than anything.

Whether you are newly baptized, devout, not practicing or simply not Catholic, youth group will welcome you. Youth group tends to have the incorrect stereotype of being “cultish,” or people think it’s a place to sit in a circle and talk about feelings. However, these stereotypes are the farthest thing from the truth.

Youth group is simply a place to build relationships. Whether that relationship is with God, a friend, core member, youth minister or priest, you’ll have the opportunity to grow alongside others in the most entertaining and surprising ways.

For me, I was skeptical about coming. I thought I wouldn’t fit in and that I would have no one to talk to. Turns out I was worried for nothing. After being in youth group for two years, I’ve made some of the greatest relationships I’ve ever had and am beyond thankful for them.

Step outside your comfort zone and engage yourself in a community that has brought me, and hundreds of others, peace, faith and friendship.