Program Information
Conquest consists of three programs designed to instill virtue, develop character and encourage spiritual growth through challenging physical, intellectual and spiritual activities. Conquest supports the development of an awareness of vocations (married, religious, etc...) presenting them in a positive way to the boys at weekly meetings and monthly retreats.
This is a youth program of St.Anne parish. We also welcome all boys from other parishes or schools that do not currently have Conquest offered.
If you are interested in starting Conquest at your parish or school, you are welcome to be part of the St.Anne group until you are ready to start and to use the resources (leadership and structure) of the St.Anne group to help you form your group successfully. All Conquest programs run weekly meetings at the St.Anne Parish hall from the end of September to the beginning of May.
Conquest Formation
The Conquest formation program includes weekly meetings. The first hour is spiritual and devoted to character formation and the second hour consists of an activity, most often sports. Using the weekly meeting format, individual virtues are taught during six-week cycles of meetings called "campaign's". Each campaign focuses on a different virtue through athletics, games and skits.
During the first two weeks of a campaign the boys are taught either an old testament story (Father and Son program) or a new testament saint story (Junior program) focusing on a particular virtue. During the third week the boys compete in making posters depicting the virtue taught in the story. The fourth week the boys work in teams to come up with skits based on the story that was depicted in the previous week's poster competition emphasizing the virtue. The fifth week is the 'campaign challenge', which tests everything they've learnt in the previous 4 weeks plus additional catechism questions. This tests everything they are learning in a fun and competitive way. In the final week is a breakaway night where the boys do something fun in celebration of the close of the campaign. This can be an outing or an invited activity at the Club home.
Wrapping together the activities with the spiritual formation is a fun competition format. The boys, split into teams of 6-8 boys, compete over the course of the campaign against the other teams to become the "top" team. They accumulate points throughout the campaign by displaying the campaign virtue in all they do and by working well as a team. This is done by listening well, showing discipline and accomplishing certain tasks over the course of the campaign time period.
Conquest
Father & Son Program
Conquest Club
The Conquest Father and Son Leadership Program is a weekly virtue based program ran by dads and youth leaders. The Father Son Program has its own unique Conquest materials for this age group. This includes Curriculum, t-shirts, bags, & commitment cards specifically designed for the younger age group.
The 5-7 age range is an ideal time to introduce boys to the concept of leadership. They are extremely impressionable and curious when it comes to understanding what it means to be a man. Interaction with solid, virtuous examples of adolescents, young adults, and dads gives the boys a wonderful opportunity to fulfill such a quest. By means of mentoring, the boys are guided through the age-appropriate development of virtues such as respect, self-discipline, and obedience all while developing their faith and leadership skills.
The Conquest Junior Leadership Program is a weekly virtue based program ran by dads and youth leaders. The Jr Program has its own unique Conquest materials for this age group. This includes Curriculum, t-shirts, bags, & commitment cards specifically designed for the younger age group.
The 8-10 age range is a pivotal time in a boy’s life. Waiting on the threshold of his young life are the adolescent years which are highlighted by a sense of independence amid physiological, intellectual, emotional, social, and other types of changes. Therefore, it is imperative to assist him in learning and applying the basic truths of a virtuous, masculine life now. These truths will help him build a solid foundation that cannot be uprooted by the pressure of the world later. Of greatest importance in this quest for a virtuous foundation in the boys life is a personal relationship with Jesus, as his best friend. By means of mentoring, the boys are guided through the age-appropriate development of virtues such as respect, self-discipline, and obedience all while developing their faith and leadership skills.
Conquest offers three age specific groups: 5th/6th grade, 7th/8th grade, and high school. Conquest provides a fun, athletic atmosphere to help form young men as Catholic leaders, promoting works of social and cultural volunteerism. There is also a strong emphasis on the older boys providing mentorship towards the younger boys.
Conquest offers four faith formation talk books each year, for each grade level. Each book contains 5-8 weeks of activities and 1 service project. Every year the curriculum is updated with new videos, activities, and content so it remains constantly new and relevant for the teens.