MOOSE JAW - Catholic school trustees are excited that a youth-focused agency will soon open in Moose Jaw to give students the opportunity to build healthy physical, mental and spiritual lives.
Homebase Moose Jaw (HMJ) is an integrated youth services organization that will have a nurse, mental health worker and YMCA staff present to support students aged 12 to 25 with their needs. It is operating in the former RBC Branch on High Street West.
Christine Boyczuk, trustee with Holy Trinity Catholic School Division, expressed excitement during the August board meeting about the new organization.
Boyczuk — who also volunteers with the Moose Jaw Literacy Network — recalled speaking with Ashley Florent, the YMCA's general manager of community development, because the latter was interested in developing a library in the building. Furthermore, she was willing to partner with school divisions and church youth groups since the venue had several rooms for games, meetings and events.
“I just thought it was a really good facility that we need to think about, especially (since) St. Joesph’s (Roman Catholic Parish) don’t have a good youth group … ,” she added.
Sarah Phipps, superintendent of learning, told the board that division administration plans to take all principals and vice-principals to Homebase Moose Jaw’s new home so they understand more about it.
“An interesting piece is they have a youth advisory council, so a lot of what you will see in that building and the services provided and the resources provided (are there) because youths in the community have asked for it,” Phipps remarked.
She agreed that it was a “beautiful space,” which would include a cultural/faith room for people of all faiths to pray or worship. Meanwhile, both Moose Jaw school divisions already have a partnership with the organization, which can help high school students with issues like financial literacy.
“They are going to do all sorts of things that are really needed in the community. It will be interesting to see,” said Phipps. “It’s going to be open limited hours to start, and then (it will) extend hours, and (be) a safe space for kids to go for all sorts of needs.”
Florent has talked to division chaplain Lisa Busta about creating connections with community churches and ensuring there are spiritual and religious materials on site, while she is open to other ideas to make the space inviting, the learning superintendent continued. However, since Holy Trinity is an educational partner, it doesn’t have control over the services the venue may provide.
Phipps added that HMJ plans to extend its services to Swift Current and Shaunavon.
Trustee Alison Bradish hoped that the venue welcomed Catholic social teaching and allowed Holy Trinity and its partners the opportunity to explain why the church teaches what it does. She also thought it was “tricky” that Holy Trinity was simply an educational partner and didn’t have control over the services provided.
“If I was a youth minister and if I hear that there might be something being promoted (that contradicts church teaching), I’d be pretty reluctant (to recommend the venue),” she said. “But as far as outreach and evangelization goes, if that’s a neutral space and someone’s looking for material or would like to give back to the sacraments, then yeah, why not have material there?”
Added Bradish, “It sounds like a lovely thing for our community.”
The next Holy Trinity board meeting is Monday, Sept. 16.
Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect more accurate dates.
