Welcome to the
St. Francis of Assisi
CYO Web Page
WHAT IS CYO:
Catholic Youth Organization
For boys and girls in all schools in grades 1-12
OUR PARISH CYO SPONSORS 25 TEAMS IN 8 SPORTS
Click here for officers of Parish CYO - 2008
Click here for link to coaches' messages
Click here for Registration Form, Consent Form for all sports (pdf)
ALSO - click here for roster Certification form for all CYO participants.
Click here for CYO 2006-07 Coaches Orientation Schedule
Click here for Directory of all Sports, CYO Board members.
Click here for SFA football
Click here for directions to Fields, Gyms and Tracks of opposing teams.
Here's the Mission Statement:
The Catholic Youth Organization is a parish-based program,
which provides opportunities for youth to grow in faith and
understanding of their Church through involvement in parish,
regional, and Archdiocesan life. The Catholic Youth Organization's
five phase approach to youth ministry: athletic, social, cultural,
service and spiritual, is a model of youth ministry which involves
youth from elementary grades through high school in youth related
activities and programs. Through a total youth ministry concept,
the Catholic Youth Organization collaborates and/or cooperates on
all of the youth-related programs offered by the Parish.
The emphasis of the Catholic Youth Organization is to enable
and to empower youth to become responsible participants in their faith community.
What is The CYO Program
The St.Francis Catholic Youth Organization (CYO)
- one of the oldest continuing ministries of our parish
- currently sponsors 21 teams in 8 sports for parish
children in grades 1-8. The sports and the number of
teams in each are: football(2), basketball(11), volleyball(2),
baseball(2), and one each in softball, track, cross country
and cheerleading. For parish children in grades 9-12,
the CYO sponsors 3 teams in basketball and one in
volleyball.
CYO competition at St.Francis got started when our
auditorium (Leonard Hall) was completed in 1955
and our Holy Name Society sponsored a team of high
school boys. In the ensuing years, with the assistance
of many adult volunteers, CYO programs have expanded
dramatically. Currently, an Advisory Board of adult
volunteers administers our CYO activities with an
annual budget of over $20,000, of which about half
comes from the United Way and the rest from registration
fees for children participating in sports and special fund
raising events such as our Monte Carlo night. The
registration fees help defray the cost of uniforms,
equipment and referee fees.
While the athletic program is the CYO's largest activity, there are many other projects for athletes and non-athletes. CYO members help prepare and package food for the Aid for Friends ministry; they deliver flowers to shut-ins at Christmas and Easter, and conduct a coat drive for the poor in Philadelphia and Chester. this spring, CYO boys and girls served as mentors and friends for competitors in the PA Special Olympics. In past years, the CYO has sponsored entries in the Archdiocesan 1-act play competition. During the past year, four of our teams were CYO Champions: our 5-6 grade football team coached by Stan Kutufaris finished the season undefeated; our 11-12 grade boys basketball team coached for the past 7 years by Milt Hedrick were champions of CYO Region 13; our 7-8 grade girls volleyball team and our 5-8 grade girls cheerleading team each won first place in CYO competition.
Win or lose in competition, the CYO programs provide a valuable supplement in the faith-filled development of our youth. In addition to group prayer before and after competition, when timely, the teams attend Mass before games.
CYO Volunteer Parish Hall of Fame
The Parish Catholic Youth Organization has honored many men and women who have devoted themselves to the parish children by running the CYO. Here are some names ntered into the Parish Hall of Fame :
- Mark & Kathy Clatterbaugh who have given of their time in coaching tracks and basketball for almost 10 years.
- Joan Scanlon who was instrumental in starting our one act plays that won several Archdiocesan contests. (Joan is deceased. Her husband accepted the award for her.)
- Ann Jeffers Kullman ran the girls track teams for 10 years and was a tremendous role model for them. (Ann is deceased. Her husband and sons accepted the award for her.)
- Jack Manning who attended school at SFA and went on to be coach of CYO basketball teams even while attending college himself.
- Bob Simpson was involved in the CYO for almost twenty years beginning in the late 1960s and he did everything from raising funds to being the "boss".
- Stan Kutufaris has been turning out champion football teams in our 5th and 6th Grades for twenty five years. He has instilled Christian principles in our young boys in their formative years. To watch Stan deal with these young boys is almost like watching a younger version of Joe Paterno.
- Nick Kutufaris is following in his father's paths and has been coaching for 10 years. He is a product of our program and continues to give back to our children.
- Tom Wimer has been motivating the youth of our parish for almost 30 years. He is involved with the Life Teen Program and coaches sports teams. (Tom received a standing ovation.)
- John McGrory has been in the parish since 1972 and was the very successful coach of the varsity football team for twenty years. He turned out men of character and some of his players went on to further recognition in their sport.
- Dan McTague was one of the originators of our CYO in 1966. He coached, ran fund raisers, helped establish one act plays and kept the CYO going in its early years.
- John and Maureen Peters were recognized for their leadership roles in the organization for the past seven years.
- George Schneider was recognized for years of dediation as CYO moderator.
- Marty Stenson, the master of ceremonies for the evening, was surprized at the special award presented to him for dedication to CYO in the parish.