High School Youth Ministry
Additional High School Opportunities
Explore the list and links below for more opportunities to get involved.
Mission Trips
High School Youth Ministry offers mission trip opportunities through local, regional, and international trips focused on fellowship, faith development, and service.
Typically, we offer regional trips over spring break, and local and international trips during the summer. We serve locally in Denver, but have been all over the country and world, allowing students to learn about travel and culture in addition to service.
Mission Trips are an incredible way to serve our brothers and sisters in Christ, bond with friends and leaders, and actively be the hands and feet of Christ. Our major Mission Trip each year is our Alternative Summer Break Mission Trip; where we participate in international and national mission trips.
Alternative Summer Break (ASB) is a week-long international or national mission trip at the end of July each year. STM Youth serve our brothers and sisters in Christ and build stronger relationships with Christ and each other. The location for ASB is different each year. In the past, we have gone to Peru, Kenya, Nicaragua, Philippines, Jamaica and more. In addition to serving, we also visit tourist areas and spend quality time together. You’ll make lasting relationships with those around you; all while serving Christ. The adventure is waiting for you!
Open to all high school students.
Service Opportunities
The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’” (Mt. 25:40).We work to provide a variety of service opportunities to middle-school teens including soup kitchen service and serving within the greater parish community, among many other opportunities.
St. Elizabeth Sandwich Line – Second Saturday each month: 9:00AM-12:30PM
Students and their families are invited to help our brothers and sisters in need at the St. Elizabeth Sandwich Line. Prepare meals, enjoy each other’s company, and serve in community. Contact Greg Johnson for details at gregj@stthomasmore.org.
Project 600 – A massive annual Christmas party for inner-city kids from some of the poorest areas of Denver. This project incorporates volunteer preparation for athe event, as well as generous parish toy donations as Christmas gifts for the kids. Click here to learn more.
SOUPer Bowl of Caring – All middle school, high school youth and their families are invited to help our brothers and sisters in need on SuperBowl Sunday. We break into teams, ask for donations at different grocery stores around STM, sort and box donations, and deliver them. All donations go to the Food Bank in downtown Denver! This is a yearly event!
Totus Tuus
A Catholic youth program dedicated to sharing the Gospel and promoting the Catholic faith through catechesis, evangelization, Christian witness, and Eucharistic worship. The goal of TOTUS TUUS is to help young people develop their relationship with Jesus Christ so that there is an intimate friendship whereby he may lead them to the Father by the power of the Holy Spirit. Totus Tuus is for 1st grade through 12th grade.
Breakaway
Breakaway is St. Thomas More’s High School Youth Group (9-12 Grades). Breakaway meets on Wednesdays from 7:00–9:00pm in the High School Youth Center. We will have talks, small groups, prayer, skits, videos, food, games, and prayer. Attending youth group is a great opportunity to grow in your faith and meet friends that might even last a lifetime. We would love to see you there. All High School teens are invited to join us. Email David with any questions at: Youth@stthomasmore.org.
Volunteering
Leading in High School is open to high school grads and adults. Please reach out to David Tschumper, if interested at youth@stthomasmore.org.
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Youth Group Photos
Mr. David Tschumper
David missed being a native of Colorado by 4 weeks. He has been a member of St. Thomas More since 1976. David graduated from Cherry Creek High School and the University of Northern Colorado. He was very active in youth ministry at STM as a high school student and went on to be involved in campus ministry at UNC. During his junior year of college, he received his call to youth ministry after attending a concert by the Christian band Petra. He soon enrolled in a youth ministry certificate program through the St. Thomas Seminary. After graduating from UNC in December 1991. He was hired as the full time Youth Minister at St. Thomas More in March of 1992 and has been serving as the Director of Youth Ministry ever since.
During his tenure as the Director of Youth Ministry, he has created and enabled many youth programs and events, including: Journey to Life Retreat, Peace Hut Retreat, Servant Leadership Weekend, Guppy Fest Youth Rally and Dance, and Project 600 Christmas Party. He has traveled with youth to six continents for World Youth Days and mission trips. With all of that, his favorite part of youth ministry is getting to know the youth more deeply and watching them grow in their relationships with each other, the Church and the most Holy Trinity.
Ms. Biz Vall
Hi everyone! My name is Biz, short for Elizabeth. I am thrilled to be the Youth and Young Adult Minister here at STM. I mainly work with Young Adult Ministry and High School Youth Ministry beside David, but I frequently work alongside Greg with the middle schoolers as well. A little about me – I am quite the mountain enthusiast; my favorite pastimes are rock climbing and painting nature scenery. I also hike frequently, and it has been one of the greatest joys of ministry to take the high schoolers up some 14ers with me this past summer. I walked the entire Camino de Santiago with my father in 2023, and I plan on walking the Chimayo pilgrimage in New Mexico with our High School Youth Ministry next year. Ever since I spent the summer in 2024 as a Totus Tuus missionary, I’ve had a strong devotion to Pope Saint John Paul II, and this experience is what called me into youth ministry. I am blessed to be here at STM, and very thankful for the opportunity to minister to you!
Hey, high schoolers! Welcome to STM’s High School Youth Ministry!
We offer weekly youth group (called Breakaway), service opportunities, special events, and a mentor program that allows you to guide and connect with middle school youth. Also, join us for unforgettable and potentially life-changing retreats and mission trips.
While life can get hectic during these four years, STM offers a place where you can grow in relationship with the Lord God, meet incredible friends, and be a part of the community of faith. Join us in this adventure. Make your high school experience a good and memorable one in the Lord!
Register for High School Ministry below.