Three Reasons Your Teen Needs To Get Involved in Youth Ministry
October29,2015
Three Reasons Your Teen Needs To Get Involved in Youth Ministry
If you are a youth in 6th grade through 12th grade, then fear not: Youth Ministry is starting soon, combined with a whole slew of events and activities that will help keep your sanity and spiritual life in check! Let’s face it: being a teenager is more challenging than ever! As we grow closer to the EDGE (6th- 8th Grade) and Life Teen (High School) kickoff day on Sunday, October 4th, I would like to offer 3 key reasons why young people should check us out.
EDGE and Life Teen are about COMMUNITY.
Parents: Do you remember what it was like to be a teen, or the on-going struggle of figuring out where you belong? Even as early as the sixth grade, young people are beginning that search for self-identity and community in their lives. The wonderful thing about being involved in youth group is that one quickly discovers that one isn’t alone! EDGE and Life Teen are modeled to show our youth that the Church is their home in a world that is constantly shifting and redefining priorities.
EDGE and Life Teen are about FAITH FORMATION.
EDGE and Life Teen go beyond just religious education by personally chal- lenging middle school youth to foster a relationship with Jesus. By breaking open Sacred Scripture and diving deep into the Catholic faith, the Mass and the Sacraments, our youth begin to realize their identity as children of God. We understand that it is only through the lens of God’s love that we can more fully understand the Church’s teachings. The Youth Ministry environment provides our teens with the support needed to face the challenges of middle school and high school life.
EDGE and Life Teen are about POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS.
The heart of EDGE and Life Teen Ministry is about building positive, Christ- centered relationships. Our dedicated group of volunteers, known as the Core Team, devotes countless hours of training, planning and praying to guide all that we say and do back to Jesus Christ. It is our hope this year that the youth begin to see the Church as a positive, welcoming influence in their lives, and to send them out as future leaders of faith outside of our Youth Groups.
I invite you to check out the Faith Formation section of our website to download the latest meeting dates and event flyers for the EDGE and Life Teen programs (
http://www.paloaltocatholic.net/faith-formation). Aside from our Sunday meetings we will also plan to do some exciting off-site events. Check it out! The EDGE and Life Teen Core Teams can’t wait to meet you on October 4th. Get excited.
Be God’s, Chris Mardesich, Director of Youth & Young Adults