Joe Cassady

And they credit Joe Cassady, 24, the parish youth minister, for the growth in youth group participation.
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To Jason Hoffarth, a junior at Champlin Park High School, Cassady "is a great guy, like an older brother."
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Cassady, who grew up as a member of St. Paul in Ham Lake, and now belongs to St. Vincent de Paul, previously worked with students in Ham Lake as well as in Colorado, Hawaii and as a college student adviser at Anoka Ramsey Community College.After earning a master's degree in experiential education from Minnesota State University-Mankato, he entered the corporate world.About three months later, he moved on to St. Vincent de Paul.Cassady prefers work with youth, he said, and "it helps that I don't have to wear a suit and tie."

Each parish youth meeting begins with a song of praise and worship, then Cassady, or a student or guest, talks for 20 to 45 minutes about a topic the youth council chooses.Then J-Zone members discuss the topic in small groups.After that, they go to the gym for "mind games" or sports such as kickball, Cassady said.Then they regroup for a summary and closing prayer.
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Cassady leads the retreats.The Web site describes him as "older than his teeth, younger than God, 5-feet-13-inches tall, weighing 2.7 pounds (on the moon)."

The optional retreats are called optional because two confirmation retreats and a religious education retreat for ninth-graders are mandatory.

About 20 J-Zone members belong to the youth council, which meets twice monthly to choose J-Zone topics.In recent sessions, they selected time management, making tough choices, dating/relationships, volunteering and gossip for Cassady to talk about.
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Many members also participate in church service projects, some so much they "get in trouble" with their parents "for being in church too much," Cassady said.
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They also worked with the kids who live at the orphanage, Cassady said, and several of the St. Vincent de Paul students could speak Spanish with them.

Five adults, Cassady among them, went along, on the trip that parishioners Larry and Joanne Lawinger have led every other year.
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After the big midnight celebration, we went to church for 20 to 30 minutes of prayer time," Cassady said.
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Besides their group gatherings, students who have questions or problems seek Cassady out for individual sessions he calls "relational ministry."

"You can always talk to Joe.
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Larry Lawinger called Cassady a "dynamite" youth minister.