Petworth Youth Program
- Petworth Youth Program, an award winning, highly successful 26 year old parish outreach ministry program, has provided structured out-of-school educational, athletic and recreational activities for more than 5,000 at risk youth from Pre-K to 8th grade in the Washington, D.C. area. Established in 1992, it has been recognized for its positive impact on attacking juvenile delinquency challenges in the local community. Experiencing increasing enrollments, PYP has endeavored to teach youth about their value and self-worth while countering gang violence. PYP provides a safe, positive and healthy environment, and is known for being:
- Holistic and Compassionate
- Spiritually Nurturing and Inspiring
- Culturally Diverse and Collaborative, and effective in building the capabilities of all Youth, Regardless of Income, Race, Ethnicity, Gender, or Sexual Orientation

Highlights
- Achieve best outcomes as the children acquire new skills and make positive choices.
- Improve student academic achievements in mathematics, language skills and literacy.
- Teach through Color Me Valuable, a learning experience about values, self-worth, trust, and the faith and effective communications.
- Raise awareness of the importance of the arts of humanities through theater, dance, music, cultural programs, visual arts and crafts and other multidisciplinary art forms.
- Provide learning experiences through fields trips to museums, libraries, historical and other places of interests in this culturally rich and diverse community.
- Promote health, fitness, coordination, collaboration, and teamwork through year-round competitive and non-competitive after school recreational activities including intramural soccer, intramural flag football, ice skating, roller skating, basketball.
Prince of Egypt
At the conclusion of its six week Summer Enrichment Program, PYP puts on a well acclaimed theater production. This year, it was “The Prince of Egypt” and demonstrated student skills in the arts, music, dance, public speaking and other aspects of theater production. This year’s theater production held several surprises. In recent years, the young people have performed in the Lion King, Mulan, Annie, and Happy Feet. Parents and friends were thrilled with the program. Recent feedback from parent with children in PYP as noted below is typical of the feedback and responses PYP Director Ronald Riley Receives.
PYP is a “well-structured” integrating the inspirational along with challenging academic activities and valuable guidance with a “wonderful community.” The children “share common experiences” ranging from participating in organized trips away from the campus to the eagerly anticipated end of year theater production. The kids “get upset if they miss a day” of the enrichment program. The competition is keen for roles because the children are anxious and exited “to showcase their individual talents in a team environment.” Being in PYP has been true blessing. Cannot wait for next year and “beyond”.
Treasures of Saint Gabriel
Funded by: The National Black Catholic Congress
A young journalist program in which adolescents from the parish interviewed senior members of the parish who are a very important part of our parish history and our nation’s history.