Does Life Teen Translate Into Adult Catholic Life?

[agapewolf]

Please please PUHLEASE do NOT judge Lifeteen in general on instances at one parish.

LifeTeen asks that EVERY parish have a liturgy planning meeting witht the priest, youth minister and music minister. At this meeting should be prayer, read the readings, discuss them, and then plan music accordingly. If the priest needs help in making his homily relevant to teens, this is where help is given.

big house is very inappropirate for Mass, step by step lyrics in the verse talk about abraham and the stars…so YES…it did fit transfiguration Sunday. that was the first reading.
Step by step is appropriate for the season of Lent for example.

As a music director, its difficult to find that every song I pick for every single mass (LifeTeen, and the others) tie in to the readings…sometimes I just pick a song because its seasonably appropriate.

 

[Andreas_Hofer]

I never got the message “the mass is wrong, we’re changing it.” its the same thing they do on Sunday bar the music. Why should I have to listen to songs invented in the 70’s? THEY invented their own music. And don’t go saying that everyone should know and use gregorian chant beucase, while its beautiful its definatly NOT for everyone. It dosn’t reinforce that church is boring, it reinforces the importance of Mass.

Well, no one should have to listen to most of those songs “invented in the 70s.” It’s a blight on the whole Church, not just Lifeteen. But even when a Mass is exactly the same as the parish’s other Sunday offerings bar the music (which I would contest), changing the music is enough to change the Mass. There is a difference between liturgical music and religious music. Religious music is simply music about religious themes, which is what most youth Mass music falls under - the right subject, but not the same genre. Liturgical music takes the subject and presents it in a way appropriate to its intended setting, one that recognizes that prayerful joy is not attained by arousing the passions but through, as Cdl. Ratzinger put it, a “sober inebriation” that elevates the person far more holistically to encounter with God. If you change from liturgical to religious music, you’ve changed the paradigm for participation in the Mass.

 

[Psalm45_9]

Please please PUHLEASE do NOT judge Lifeteen in general on instances at one parish.

I’m not, trust me. I have heard horror stories about it at other parishes, ours is cake compared to others. Thankfully we have never had teens gather around the altar, etc.
agapewolf; 1975333:

If the priest needs help in making his homily relevant to teens, this is where help is given.

My pastor’s homlies are the best part of it, they are always orthodox and relevent to the liturgy, unlike everything else; and he has agreed with me.
agapewolf; 1975333:

big house is very inappropirate for Mass, step by step lyrics in the verse talk about abraham and the stars…so YES…it did fit transfiguration Sunday. that was the first reading.
Step by step is appropriate for the season of Lent for example.

"Oh God, You are my God
And I will ever praise You
Oh God, You are my God
And I will ever praise You

I will seek You in the morning
And I will learn to walk in Your ways
And step by step You’ll lead me
And I will follow You all of my days

Oh God, You are my God
And I will ever praise You
Oh God, You are my God
And I will ever praise You

I will seek You in the morning
And I will learn to walk in Your ways
And step by step You’ll lead me
And I will follow You all of my days

And step by step You’ll lead me
And I will follow You all of my days"

Although the music sheet said there’s a reference to Genesis 15 there, I don’t see anywhere in the lyrics mentioning counting the stars of the sky, or even mentioning Abram (he wasn’t called Abraham yet) at that mater. I see a song about praising God. The Glory of these 40 days was much more appropriate, it mentions Elijah by name. Of whom came to fulfill the prophecy of Malachi. Why can’t we just set that hymn to guitars and bongo drums?

 

[agapewolf]

Look up the lyrics to the VERSES of Step by step…you will find the words about abraham. Apparently, they didn’t do the verses at the mass you attended, which is a shame, because IT DOES relate very closely. Unfortunately, some people just look at the music suggestions, and take the song because it was suggested, and then play the easy singing part only, not considering the reason for it being suggested in the first place.

but IT IS in there.

 

[Psalm45_9]

Look up the lyrics to the VERSES of Step by step…you will find the words about abraham. Apparently, they didn’t do the verses at the mass you attended, which is a shame, because IT DOES relate very closely. Unfortunately, some people just look at the music suggestions, and take the song because it was suggested, and then play the easy singing part only, not considering the reason for it being suggested in the first place.

but IT IS in there.

YUP, and they never sing it. This weekend we had a guest band, the band that plays at the steuebenville youth conferences! It doesn’t make any references the fasting, repentence, and forgiveness. The theme of Sunday was God remebers his covenant. Handel’s Messiah quotes directly from the bible, yet it is not appropriate for Mass. There is a difference between religious music and liturgical music.

When we had benedition afterwards, the young guest priest who celebrated Mass was not going to wear the Cope for benediction. I insisted along with my pastor. I’m sure that’s the first time most teens ever saw a cope (the proper vestment for benediction.) I never saw them use one at Steubenville nor at any of the other lifeteen parishes.

 

[jc-servant]

When we had benedition afterwards, the young guest priest who celebrated Mass was not going to wear the Cope for benediction. I insisted along with my pastor. I’m sure that’s the first time most teens ever saw a cope (the proper vestment for benediction.) I never saw them use one at Steubenville nor at any of the other lifeteen parishes.

Then you have not been to my parish which has a vibrant LT program with active parents and the wider parish supporting our teens. Our Benediction is always done properly.

We also have some former LT parents who began a new ministry called College Life beause so many of our LT folks stayed in touch after they went off to different schools and wanted to reconnect over holidays/breaks. I’ve heard from many of the college students that they have had to search for orthodox parishes near their campuses or drive some distance for mass because the colleges have problems with liberal campus ministries.

Many of our teens have gone on to specifically choose colleges with vibrant Catholic ministries, to do a year of NET ministry before going to college and for 10+ to head off to seminary. I’ve posted a link below to our parish website. If you click on the Lifeteen page there is a whole section devoted to our seminarians with many of their conversion stories posted. Some specifically talk about LT shaping their faith and orthodoxy. I know that the majority of our teens were not already deep into their faith before LT because I was involved in the ministry. Most of them get their first experience with silent adoration, weekly confession and daily mass through our ministry.

I’m sorry that your personal experiences with LT have apparently been less than stellar, but your experience is not the universal experience for LT. We have about 10 years of LT experience at our parish that have proven it can build adults of strong faith and orthodoxy.

www.stannparish.org

 

[Psalm45_9]

Then you have not been to my parish which has a vibrant LT program with active parents and the wider parish supporting our teens. Our Benediction is always done properly.

We also have some former LT parents who began a new ministry called College Life beause so many of our LT folks stayed in touch after they went off to different schools and wanted to reconnect over holidays/breaks. I’ve heard from many of the college students that they have had to search for orthodox parishes near their campuses or drive some distance for mass because the colleges have problems with liberal campus ministries.

Many of our teens have gone on to specifically choose colleges with vibrant Catholic ministries, to do a year of NET ministry before going to college and for 10+ to head off to seminary. I’ve posted a link below to our parish website. If you click on the Lifeteen page there is a whole section devoted to our seminarians with many of their conversion stories posted. Some specifically talk about LT shaping their faith and orthodoxy. I know that the majority of our teens were not already deep into their faith before LT because I was involved in the ministry. Most of them get their first experience with silent adoration, weekly confession and daily mass through our ministry.

I’m sorry that your personal experiences with LT have apparently been less than stellar, but your experience is not the universal experience for LT. We have about 10 years of LT experience at our parish that have proven it can build adults of strong faith and orthodoxy.

www.stannparish.org

Actually last week had nothing to do with my parish, it had to do with an event outside of the church sponsored by steubenville. If my pastor did it, then there would not have been an issue. I stated that I saw the same thing occur at another lifeteen parish not too far away. As a young man who came into the faith via RCIA in 2004 and had a conversion, I feel I have the right to voice my opinion about the program. My pastor has in the past spoken to the music director about the music played at Mass. We both agree that Lifenite is great, what lifeteen has done to the Mass and devotions on the other hand…

I also share sentiments that teens are not stupid. But I find that they want nothing but solidness when it comes to the faith. A simple Q & A session could go so, so far with them. That’s all they want, answers. We can still touch them without toying with the Mass and devotions. I know young priests that saw their vocation through lifeteen and similar programs. I find that the vast majority, while zealous for Christ, do not know the liturgy and rubrics well and nothing expresses Christ and the priesthood more then the Mass. (This statement comes from my pastor.)

 

[agapewolf]

and again, that is YOUR experience.

The Steubenville’s I’ve been to, the priest has always worn the cope.

 

[Psalm45_9]

and again, that is YOUR experience.

The Steubenville’s I’ve been to, the priest has always worn the cope.

Yup and people are jamming it down my throat because of my age, it is so frustrating and I am not in an un-orthodox parish either. My concern is that the program seems to have too many loopholes, it is in need of serious reform to be affective. Lifenite is excellent, but it cannot stand on its own for too long.

 

[m134e5]

That is the question ?

Does keeping them involved in this way keep them, or make them Catholic ?

It probably helps them a lot. Lifeteen generally isn’t thought of very highly on this forum, because there are often liturgical abuses at the Masses and it seems a lot of the time that there is too much emphasis on community and not enough on Christ. The lifeteen program isn’t bad in itself- it’s weakness is that it allows the director to do their own thing with it too much. Lifeteen Masses can be reverent (though some may not appreciate the Charismatic music- I don’t really, but I’d take that over Marty Haugen any day) and the activities outside of Mass can be very good for Catholic teenagers (and even young adults).

 

[valient_Lucy]

It all starts and ends at home. The best Catechism teachers are the parents. If they aren’t properly catechised, then it’s their responsibility to become so.

Oh, I wish I had kids. I’d turn them into junior apologists. They’d have all the answers they need to fight off those nasty college years and those who try to fill their heads about the Catholic church.

That’s very true. It’s rediculous to drop kids off at LifeTeen or a Catholic schools and expect them to turn out Catholic. Catholicism must primarily be lived at home.

 

[jc-servant]

That’s very true. It’s rediculous to drop kids off at LifeTeen or a Catholic schools and expect them to turn out Catholic. Catholicism must primarily be lived at home.

LT has Parents for Life which provides concurrent lessons and discussions about the subjects for the parents of the teens to help educate and form the entire family.

And for those teens who have non-practicing parents or parents who are not “religious” there still needs to be some type of programs to provide answers about the faith. You might be surprised to see the number of teens we receive into the church each year who do not have Catholic families. They are lucky if their parents even drop them off. Many first come with a Catholic friend and then have to beg rides or drive themselves to church.

 

[Psalm45_9]

It probably helps them a lot. Lifeteen generally isn’t thought of very highly on this forum, because there are often liturgical abuses at the Masses and it seems a lot of the time that there is too much emphasis on community and not enough on Christ. The lifeteen program isn’t bad in itself- it’s weakness is that it allows the director to do their own thing with it too much. Lifeteen Masses can be reverent (though some may not appreciate the Charismatic music- I don’t really, but I’d take that over Marty Haugen any day) and the activities outside of Mass can be very good for Catholic teenagers (and even young adults).

Thank you very much, that is what I have been trying to say. However, the thing I don’t like is it tends to see itself as THE teen program; it doesn’t work for everyone and the attitude of superiority I have experienced by those who have gone through it needs to stop. (Especially that since I am not raising my hands in the air shouting out ‘JESUS’, does not mean I have never experienced Him nor the Holy Spirit.) As I have stated in other parts of the thread it works for some. However through my experience, both personal and observational; I find there are more affective ways to evangelize our teens without trying to bring things to their level. Part of what drew me to Mass is because it was so out of place with our culture. What’s all this Latin, incense, and chanting? What is with those vestments, what do they mean, how did they get to their current function? What is the story of those people in the stained glass windows? Q & A, that’s all.

 

[BloodStaindRose]

I do not support Life Teen! I am a high school student myself and find it SO disrespectful for teenagers to get up and sing like the Church is an auditorium! The program is getting teens involved for entertainment; Church is not about entertainment!! It is about recieving the Body of Christ!
Fellow teenagers show up to their Life Teen masses in jeans and T-shirts–that is SO disrespectful and they lose the sense and presence of Jesus!
The Catholic Church is losing people because people are not continuing to learn about their Church not because Mass is not entertaining!

God Bless!

 

[Caesar]

I do not support Life Teen! I am a high school student myself and find it SO disrespectful for teenagers to get up and sing like the Church is an auditorium! The program is getting teens involved for entertainment; Church is not about entertainment!! It is about recieving the Body of Christ!
Fellow teenagers show up to their Life Teen masses in jeans and T-shirts–that is SO disrespectful and they lose the sense and presence of Jesus!
The Catholic Church is losing people because people are not continuing to learn about their Church not because Mass is not entertaining!

God Bless!

My thoughts exactly

 

[BloodStaindRose]

My thoughts exactly

THANK YOU!!
God Bless!

 

[Meggie]

I wore jeans and hoodie to almost every lifeteen mass I attended…beucase I walked almost 3 miles in all sorts of conditions to get there.

Don’t judge your peers.

 

[WakeUpNeighbour]

Hello from LifeTeen in Slovenia (EU).
During my 5 years following LifeTeen Parish in Ljubljana and preparing a diploma work on Eucharistic-based Youth Ministry From Edward Poppe to Dale Fushek and LifeTeen Program I got enough of different experiences to be moderate at evalvation of “effects” of the program:

1. There were many teens that came during this years and left sooner or later without any real visible effect. What a pitty we lose the contact with them also.
2. There are teens that keep on coming but there is no sign of change from year to year!!! Like they are not able to show that it means something to them …
3. There are teens that joined the music band but stoped attending LIFE night (we actually named the dynamic-social-issue-cathehetical night PULZ evening) but they continue serving in Music ministry with adult members and preparing to tape their own worship CD.
4. There used to be strong youth ministry Core team, but some members left burnt out (for many reasons, also becose a lack of coordination and priest¨s absence), some got married and went to raise kids, moreover one boy went into seminarry and one girl become a religios nun.
5. Finaly there are families attending every LifeTeen Sunday Mas and contributing warm christian invironment not only for their kids …
   … I do hope to see some other (faith-shy) parents of some teens to get closer to Church life, as it happened with our St. Francis kids group and happens with some families time by time.

I believe that the LT program itself is no grant for a succes; to lead Youth into close relation to Christ or translate their faith into adult christian life.
It must be Family-based ministry and Parish-based: more important are ALIVE families in ALIVE Parish, where coexists also all other forms of ministy and groups during the week … and they cooperate and join (especcially for christian feasts from preparation to celebration).
That is a hollistic ministry that could (!) lead teens into adult catholic life, with or without LifeTeen Resources.

But LifeTeen Support & Subscribtion Pack or Parents For Life encouragements with its simplicity, Top Quality Catholic teaching translated into the language of modern Youth and Real Life Problems DO EQUIP PARISHES (that means Priests, Adult ministers, different groups …) to do their role well (=to reach teens and their Families and empower the Parish in The Eucharist - which means Incarnation and Communion), that is no doubt.

 

[decn2b]

Do youth attend LIFETEEN without their Families? Does the entire parish attend the lifeteen Mass?

I really have no idea what LIFETEEN is but I have 4 children and we will be attending mass as a Family until each one leaves the nest.

If lifeteen has youth at Mass without thier families then it is contrary to the teaching “A family that prays together, stays together”. How are these youth going to respond to being parents when they are older? Since LIFETEEN to me indicates it is a youth event, what is going to happen to these youth when they are in their 30s and attending a “tradtional” Novus ordo Mass. What is going to happen to this group If the pope decides to correct the Liturgy with a return to proper traditional worship? Do they sing latin at LIFETEEN?

I

 

[decn2b]

once that fire is doused by those “normal” “boring” liturgies that take place at a typical parish.

SO I guess we can agree then that its not a style of worship issue…it is an catechetical issue. How can normal and boring even be used in the same sentence as the holy sacrifice of the Mass?

If a teenager were instructed and then became convinced of what is really really taking place on the altar During the SACRIFICE of the Holy Mass. Along with the fact that a multitude of Angels are indeed present during this representation of Calvary and they are laying their eyes on the spectacle of the Heavenly feast do you think they would ever set foot in a Lifeteen MASS? If all of us (me included) were free from the stain of THIS world…we all would be fallen prostrate and unable to get up. Lifeteen seems like the church changing when it should be the Youth changing. The current Generation of Catholics (me included) seems to be so arrogant in our ways when it comes to worship. The church sang gregorian and chant for hundreds of years…and then we come along. What makes us so much better than the Catholics of Centuries past that we demand adaptations to the Mass to suit our needs. Why wasn’t there a "movement in the 1930s for Youth Masses? Or the 1880s? Or the 1720s? Or the 1950s? Why can’t the YOuth of Today be like thier predecessors for generations past? What is with this “new” arrogance that the current generations (me included) “need” to have adaptations to meet “OUR NEEDS”?