as a church mouse.

For he dumped his own insurance business in 1991 to devote himself full-time to his work as a lay minister in the Catholic Church.

He said: "I sold everything to go to work for almost nothing -- but I've never been happier.'' "Now I hit the streets and try to be where the youth are and I have a desire to love them for who they are,'' the 33-year-old Catholic Youth Minister added.

Invited to take up the challenge by Roman Catholic Bishop Robert Kurtz, Mr.

Manhardt laid down a condition of total support for the youth ministry by the diocese.

"I knew things would not work out without total support,'' he said, adding that it is with humility that he pursues the job of helping save the youth.

Since his arrival in January, Mr. Manhardt has instituted a weekly youth mass on Sunday afternoons at St. Theresa's Roman Catholic Cathedral in Hamilton.

On Thursday evenings the ministry holds a bible study in the Cathedral Hall for all young people regardless of their Christian denomination or even religious belief.

"We are open to everyone,'' he added, "without regard to denomination, race, school, whether they are agnostic or atheist. Everyone deserves to know Jesus Christ and his love for them.'' Mr. Manhardt said the youth mass differs from the usual service format and is designed to invite young people in to church and capture their attention.

He explained: "The number one reason teens say they do not attend church is because they say `it is boring'.'' But he insisted: "The truth is it is not boring. It is irrelevant to them, so we offer something to relate to.'' Mr. Manhardt said the Catholic Youth Ministry also had a goal of fostering stronger ties among all Christian youth -- irrespective of denomination.

Yesterday Mr. Manhardt took more than 150 youths to the Radnor Road Christian Fellowship Church to hear another youth minister, Daron Lowe.

Originally from the New Jersey shore, Mike Manhardt attended Fransciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Business Finance and Administration.

For three years he owned and operated an insurance business before joining the Catholic lay ministry in 1991.

"I was successful, but I was losing the true happiness that I find in solely working for Christ,'' he added.

When asked if he intended to become an ordained priest, Mr. Manhardt said he was "doing what I've been called to do''.

"In a year or ten years I do not know what I will be doing,'' he added. "I may hear the call for the priesthood or for married life.'' He has immersed himself in Bermudian life and was recently appointed to the board of the Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (CADA), and he will speak at the graduation ceremony at Mount Saint Agnes School.

"CADA is working actively toward preventing the three horrors of drugs, alcohol and sexual abuse,'' he added. "As a youth minister, they go hand in hand.'' It is Mr. Manhardt's intent to try to reach all Bermudian youth about the importance of avoiding negative peer pressure.

"They need to choose friends wisely and not be afraid to walk away,'' he said. "I've experienced the many challenges that our youth are dealing with.

But I know there is great hope for the future of Bermuda.'' YOUNG AT HEART -- Michael Manhardt, the Roman Catholic Church of Bermuda's youth minister, said: "It's about how to make church fun for them so that they return week after week.''