Mission Statement
The Franciscan Youth Ministry Program (FYM) serves the entire student body in the integration of the Christian-Franciscan identity and values of Curley into the life of the brotherhood and the life of the individual students. Each academic year offers many opportunities for prayer, community building and service that motivates students to grow in their personal following in the footsteps of Christ and St. Francis.
The following are some of the opportunities FYM offers to the student body:
Mission-4-Service
Each year all students complete service hours and are given the opportunity to integrate their service experiences with their own spiritual lives and appreciation of the life of St. Francis, especially his encounter with the Leper. Click HERE for more information about the Mission-4-Service program.
Monthly Holy Hours
Throughout the school year, we will offer approximately five Holy Hours for students and their families. Each evening begins with food at 5:00 p.m. in the SDR, followed by a family spiritual conversation at 5:30 p.m. The Holy Hour begins at 6:00 p.m. in the school chapel and includes Eucharistic Adoration, praise and worship, and time for prayer and reflection.
Students are also invited to stay after school for a variety of fun activities leading up to the evening. These gatherings provide a wonderful opportunity to build brotherhood, deepen our relationship with Christ, and grow together as a Franciscan community. More details about each Holy Hour and its activities will be shared throughout the year. All students and families are warmly welcome.
Retreats
We offer a wide variety of retreat opportunities throughout the year, some required for all students and others open to those actively involved in our FYM program. Required retreats include the freshman retreat and the sophomore afternoon of reflection, both offered during orientation week in August. Juniors participate in an afternoon of reflection on the Friday before their Junior Ring Mass in December. In addition, the entire school community is required to attend full school retreat held during the school day at Curley around the Feast of Saint Francis on October 4.
Optional retreats provide further opportunities for spiritual growth and community building. Our largest is the FYM retreat, which typically welcomes around 100 students each April. We also offer the Senior-Freshman Franciscan Ideals Retreat, a weekend experience in November focused on reflecting on the five Franciscan ideals. In February, sophomores and juniors may participate in the Franciscan Ideals Retreat in Florida, which combines college visits with prayer and reflection on how to live out these ideals during college and beyond as Curley men. We also attend the Mount 2000 retreat each February at Mount St. Mary’s.
FYM
Our Franciscan Youth Ministry (FYM) program is a vibrant extracurricular opportunity open to all students who desire to grow in their faith, build authentic friendships, and become more involved in the Curley community.
Throughout the year, students will gather approximately every two to three weeks as a full group, typically in the auditorium, for dynamic evenings of prayer, worship, speakers, games, discussions, and community-building. Alternating with these gatherings, students will meet every two to three weeks in small faith-sharing groups, which they will join in September. These small groups provide a more personal setting where students can build lasting friendships, share their faith, discuss the challenges of everyday life, and support one another in living as disciples of Christ.
Students who participate in small groups will also have opportunities throughout the year to enjoy fun outings such as bowling, golf, ice skating, and other activities, as well as participate together in service opportunities within the local community. These experiences strengthen the bonds of brotherhood while putting our Franciscan values into action.
To help students continue growing in their faith each day, all participants will have access to our FYM app, which includes daily prayer opportunities, reflections, announcements, and resources that reinforce the themes and topics explored during our gatherings.
Toy/Food Drives
Throughout the year, our school community participates in a variety of charitable drives that put our Franciscan values into action. These include our annual Thanksgiving Food Drive and Christmas Toy Drive, as well as other collections and outreach efforts throughout the year. These initiatives provide students with meaningful opportunities to serve those in need, raise awareness of the challenges faced by those who are less fortunate, and live out Christ’s call to care for the poor and marginalized through concrete acts of generosity and compassion.
Student Ministry Opportunities
Students who become actively involved in our Franciscan Youth Ministry program during their freshman and sophomore years are invited to take on leadership roles during their junior and senior years. These opportunities allow students to deepen their faith while serving the Curley community through peer ministry and leadership.
One of the primary ways to become involved is by enrolling in our Junior and Senior Catholic Leadership theology courses. These classes fulfill the required theology curriculum while providing a unique, hands-on leadership experience. Students learn the same theological content covered in the traditional junior and senior theology curriculum while also planning, leading, and evaluating many of the faith formation opportunities offered through our Franciscan Youth Ministry program.
Leadership students play an essential role in the life of the school by planning and producing the daily WFRS broadcasts as a means of evangelization, assisting with school Masses, retreats, community prayer, and other liturgical celebrations, and helping organize many of our Campus Ministry initiatives throughout the year.
In addition, every student enrolled in these leadership courses serves as a mentor in our Freshman Mentorship Program. Each upperclassman is paired with one or two freshmen, providing encouragement, friendship, and guidance as they transition into life at Curley and grow throughout their first year. Through these experiences, students develop leadership skills, strengthen their own faith, and help build the brotherhood that is at the heart of the Curley experience.
Students who wish to take an even deeper step into leadership may apply beginning in their junior year to join the FLEX Team (Franciscan Leaders Encountering Christ). FLEX is our student leadership team that helps provide vision and direction for our Franciscan Youth Ministry program. Members work closely with Campus Ministry to plan retreats, develop new initiatives, assist with major events, and continually evaluate and strengthen our ministry throughout the year.
The FLEX Team meets regularly after school for leadership formation, planning, and prayer. Members also participate in an annual summer leadership retreat where they build community, develop practical leadership skills, deepen their own faith, and prepare together for the year ahead. FLEX members serve as visible witnesses to Christ at Curley, leading by example and helping create a culture where every student feels welcomed, supported, and invited to grow in faith.
Liturgy/Community Prayers
Prayer is at the heart of life at Curley. Throughout the school year, the entire school community gathers for Community Prayer at least once each week, normally on Tuesdays. These gatherings provide an opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to pause from the busyness of the day, pray together, and reflect on what it means to live as men of faith.
These weekly prayer experiences are reinforced through our Faculty Advisory Program, where students continue the conversation in smaller groups. During the 2026–2027 school year, our community will focus on the virtues that we are called to live as Christians, drawing inspiration from the lives of the saints and exploring practical ways to imitate their example in our daily lives.
As a school community, we celebrate the Eucharist several times each quarter—typically about once each month—bringing the entire Curley family together around the table of the Lord. In addition, daily Mass is offered every Wednesday and Friday at 7:30 a.m. in the school chapel for students, faculty, staff, families, alumni, and friends of the school who wish to begin their day with the Eucharist.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available to students weekly after school on a designated day and is always available by appointment with Friar Chris. Throughout the year, students also have regular opportunities to celebrate the sacrament with their theology classes and during school retreats, encouraging them to experience God’s mercy and continue growing in their relationship with Christ.
Franciscan Moments through the Year
- The Transitus Service takes place on the evening of October 3. The service at Curley joins with services around the Franciscan world commemorating the death of St. Francis of Assisi, who departed the earth for eternal life on the evening of October 3, 1226. (Traditionally this is a special effort by the Freshman Class.)
- The Greccio Experience is a Live Nativity program and commemorates St. Francis preparing the first Live Nativity in the town of Greccio in December 1224. It is held on a Sunday evening in December, prior to Christmas. (Traditionally this is also a program of the Freshman Class.)
- The Live Stations of the Cross (or Way of the Cross) are celebrated in Holy Week, commemorating the journey of Jesus from his trial to the mount of crucifixion and burial. This devotion has been fostered by Franciscan Friars since the 13th century, and is offered for the school community. (Traditionally this is a program of the Senior Class.)
Further Questions?
Contact friar Chris Dudek, OFM Conv., Campus Minister, in the FYM Office (3rd floor.)
Is God calling you to serve his people as a Franciscan Friar?
Talk to one of the Friars about it, or go to https://www.franciscanvoice.org/ for more information.