Winterblast High School Leader 2022

Unfortunately, Winterblast will be on hiatus this year. We hope to be back in December 2023!

Winterblast is an all-night lock-in with over 1,000 teens from all over the Archdiocese that starts here at St. Vincent de Paul for Mass and Adoration. Then we go to the Maple Grove Community Center for ice skating, swimming, 9-square, dodgeball, arcade games, escape rooms, and SO MUCH MORE!

The goal of the lock-in is leading teens closer to Christ! This is done primarily through providing opportunities for our adults and teen leaders to build relationships, which can be called Incarnational Ministry*, with our Junior High teens while having a blast at the Maple Grove Community Center. Secondarily we provide opportunities for Prayer and Worship through the celebration of the Mass, Adoration, Reconciliation, prayer chapels, and praise and worship music. Teen leader training is essential to Winterblast and normally takes place the week before.

History of Winterblast:
Winterblast started in 1998. It has grown from two Churches to well over 30 Churches participating in this event. Its success relies on the collaboration of the Youth Ministers, adult leaders, and teen leaders in the planning, preparation and participation. The teen leader training was added to the event in its second year. Normally one week before the event all Sr. High teen leaders coming to Winterblast meet for an afternoon/evening to be trained with leadership and evangelization skills, build relationships with other teen leaders from around the diocese, and learn the importance of their role at Winterblast. In 2006, due to the number of participating parishes, we moved the Mass to a parish. This has allowed Winterblast to continue to grow. Every year all the youth ministers participating collaborate to make this event more effective in leading teens closer to Christ!
 
*What is Incarnational Ministry?
“Incarnational Ministry” is modeling the same ministry that Jesus lived. Jesus spent thirty years of his earthly life living and working in the community. Then when his public ministry began, He called the twelve to work with Him closely. The primary tool of the Incarnational model is relational ministry. Ministry with teens provides many great opportunities to build relationships with them. A profound youth ministry axiom is “teens don’t care what you know, until they know that you care.” Winterblast is a great avenue for building those caring, trusting relationships, not just with the Youth Ministers, but also with all the adult chaperones from the parish. 

Jesus not only called the apostles, but also sent them out in His name to participate in His mission. Incarnational ministry is not just about building relationships or experiencing God, but also, about sharing His love with others. Giving teens opportunities to share God’s love through peer ministry is essential to their developing a deeper and stronger faith. The teen leader component of Winterblast strives to accomplish this goal.

Winterblast High School Leaders are only 10th-12th graders. 9th graders will have to take a year off before being a High School Leader.