As an Archdiocese, over the past few years, CYO moved from the Office of Youth Ministry to the newly formed Office of New Evangelization for Youth and Young Adults.  This newly formed comprehensive office reminds us to focus on the journey that our young people take before, during, and after confirmation, through high school, and into college.  During this process we support our young people as they discern the vocation to which God has called them. In a New Evangelization model, “our mission is to form disciples of Jesus Christ and His Church, through a unified vision for ministry to young people, from early adolescence through young adulthood.” (Mission statement of this newly formed office.)  CYO - Catholic Sports programs for young people are to be focused in a multi-dimensional approach that serves the whole person, not simply the social, athletic or religious education dimensions.

I am very grateful to of the staff, directors, coaches, assistants, and family volunteers who make our programs so successful, both throughout our proud history and in our present moment.  The commitment to developing relationships between youths and adults is designed to form a mentoring relationship that supports and aids the young people as they grow in their faith.  This work is central to our identity and mission as Church and for us as a parish.  Last year we formed a CYO Board to help advise the parish pastoral staff as we continue to work on forming our young people in the Catholic faith.

With a special appreciation and understanding of the history of Saint Ann Parish and in this local church of Boston, all of our programs are structured and facilitated so that our young people are in safe and nurturing environments.  Saint Ann Parish, like all of the parishes of the Archdiocese of Boston is committed to and mandated to perform background screening (CORI checks) on all staff and volunteers.  All of our personnel are required to take part in programs for safe environments, specifically the “Virtus: Protecting God’s Children” curriculum, as part of the new Office of Pastoral Support and Child Protection’s mission to work with the parishes and families to maintain healthy and safe environments for our young people. 

Catholic athletic programs are an important part of Youth Ministry/CYO and the history of Saint Ann Parish.  Our parish programs have been successful in assisting our young people as they grow and are formed in a Christian environment.  Even good things in time change, grow and have their season.  We must never see change as a bad thing, but something that takes place and offers us new opportunities and gifts.   After consultation with The Office of New Evangelization, with members of the Parish Pastoral Council and the Parish Pastoral Staff, I have made a decision that immediately affects the current operation of the CYO Colorguard program.  Namely that it may no longer be a Saint Ann Parish CYO and/or a Saint Ann Parish sponsored program.  It is not my intention to loose any of the goodness and success of the program.  My hope is that it can flourish anew as a private program.  I understand that this is difficult, especially for the current members and their families.   I will explain some of the reasons leading to my decisions.

Last year, I met with the Colorguard Director, Ms. Eileen Cunningham, and the new CYO Board for Saint Ann Parish.  I invited her and a group of her close parent advisors to become this parish CYO Color Guard Board as a means to help keep the program functioning with its historic fervor and to maintain compliance with the rules and regulations of the Archdiocese of Boston.  This year I began meeting with the Office of New Evangelization’s leadership and the Archdiocesan CYO Director.    I was informed during the past two weeks that Color Guard was in fact no longer operating under the CYO umbrella here in the Archdiocese of Boston.  Most Color Guard groups, though having their origins in CYO in the Archdiocese, are now directed under the Eastern Mass Color Guard, themselves having made the decision to evolve into a private Non- Profit, 501(C)(3).  The eleven (11) member Eastern Mass Color Guard now has only four (4) Catholic parish or quasi-parish affiliated teams, one or two of which may no longer still maintain parish affiliation for this season.

I understand that though our parish Color Guard has a strong history and parochial identity in CYO Color Guard.  However, it can no longer be called a CYO program.  I have determined that this is the appropriate time for the program to incorporate itself separately from the parish.   Color Guard has served the parish and community well, and I am sure it will continue to serve the community well in the future. 

I have explained my decision to Ms. Eileen Cunningham, the Director, and the Color Guard board members that I invited to our meeting.  I have offered support in assisting them in forming themselves properly in the Commonwealth as a new separate civil entity.  I have explained that they may not use the name “CYO” or “Saint Ann” in their organization as this would misinterpret or confuse people to believe that they are Saint Ann Parish, Neponset – and/or doing business as CYO – Saint Ann Parish, which is our legal name and identity.  When civilly formed, I have offered to properly donate, in the name of Saint Ann Parish, the Color Guard designated equipment obtained and or purchased by the parish, so as to start them with our support and blessing.  The use of our parish gym facilities remains open to parish groups, our main tenant, Pope John Paul II Catholic Academy, and certified non-profit community agencies as available.

Though I understand the difficulties that this change brings, I ask you as a parish family to be supportive to the members and alumni of Color Guard as this transition takes place.  I am making this letter available in our weekly bulletin and posting on our website to communicate my decision and this process.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Father Sean

Reverend Sean M. Connor, Pastor

CC: Mr. Peter Williams, Office of New Evangelization: CYO Director