Mobile area youth group taking shape

By Rob Herbst
The Catholic Week
A new concept to serve teenagers at historically African-American parishes in the Mobile area is set to kick off this fall.
Led by Gabrielle Smith, a city-wide youth group will be geared toward high-school age students from Prince of Peace, St. Francis Xavier, St. James Major, Our Mother of Mercy, Most Pure Heart of Mary and St. Joseph parishes. 
Smith said the youth group will meet the first and third Sundays of the month beginning the first weekend of October. Meetings will be held at Prince of Peace Parish, where Smith is based. Fr. Victor Ingalls, executive director of the Archdiocese of Mobile’s Office of Multicultural Ministry, also serves as pastor at Prince of Peace Parish.
“There's always a need for more programming for the youth in today's Church,” Smith said. “Regardless of demographic, there's always a need that's being unmet. You don't have to be a social scientist to see the decline in the youth's relationship to the Church and commitment to the faith.”
Smith said she has begun introducing herself at area parishes and meeting parishioners to hear their thoughts.
“It’s edifying to meet people who honestly seem excited that there’s going to be something for teens where there hasn’t been a lot of youth programming to date,” Smith said. “And I think they seem relieved that there might be something for teens that will draw them hopefully into the heart of the Church, into the life of the Church and the faith. They seem hopeful and that’s kind of buoyed my spirits too because this is a brand new thing.”
One reason Smith wants to lead a city-wide youth group is because she’s seen first-hand the impact a youth group can have.
Smith was primarily raised in the Birmingham area and said the youth group at her parish growing up – Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Homewood – “was my foundation for a faith that’s actually alive.”
“All of my friends that I keep up with to this day are my friends from youth group and that's just because the foundation of our friendship was in Christ rather than in convenience or an activity or something that passes away,” she said. 
Smith then attended Spring Hill College, where she was active in various ministries and eventually graduated with degrees in theology and Hispanic studies. 
That took her to St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, where she spent the previous seven years as a theology teacher. Smith was also the school’s director of campus ministry the past two years. 
“It is hard to leave something great behind, but I’m excited because I feel much that this is what the Lord has called me to do and I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t feel that way,” Smith said.
Smith expects the youth group meetings to have a similar structure as many youth groups – a Sunday evening dinner followed by faith sharing and a fun activity.
She hopes between 30 and 40 teens will eventually take part, but who knows how the Holy Spirit will work?
“If I start with five, fine. If I start with 10, great,” Smith said. “I don't know who's going to walk through the door, but I have met teens at the parishes who are excited and that's been great.”
-    For more information on the youth group or how to help, email Gabrielle Smith at [email protected]