How Can LifeTeen Masses Be Considered A Good Thing?

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As a general rule I try to avoid Life Teen masses, but the other day I went to my childhood church for mass and it was the Life Teen mass. I left mass somewhat upset about it and I haven’t been able to shake a negative feeling related to it, so I wanted to come here and ask the question in the thread title.

How can these masses be considered a good thing? Aren’t they watering down the mass setting to the point where it is teaching easily-influenced teenagers to not appreciate the traditions behind mass? The songs during the Life Teen mass really don’t speak much of our faith- it’s more just like feel good music to get kids singing… but do they actually know what they are singing about? Or why we are singing? Are these masses here because parents aren’t doing a good enough job getting their children interested in their faith?

I feel like these types of masses are teaching Catholic teenagers the wrong thing.

To anyone who attends these masses, I am not trying to insult anybody here. I even attended these masses when I was a teen. I am honestly just trying to find some answers here that I may be missing.

Ite in pace,
Joshua C.
 
joshvanrad said:
As a general rule I try to avoid Life Teen masses, but the other day I went to my childhood church for mass and it was the Life Teen mass. I left mass somewhat upset about it and I haven’t been able to shake a negative feeling related to it, so I wanted to come here and ask the question in the thread title.

How can these masses be considered a good thing? Aren’t they watering down the mass setting to the point where it is teaching easily-influenced teenagers to not appreciate the traditions behind mass? The songs during the Life Teen mass really don’t speak much of our faith- it’s more just like feel good music to get kids singing… but do they actually know what they are singing about? Or why we are singing? Are these masses here because parents aren’t doing a good enough job getting their children interested in their faith?

I feel like these types of masses are teaching Catholic teenagers the wrong thing.

To anyone who attends these masses, I am not trying to insult anybody here. I even attended these masses when I was a teen. I am honestly just trying to find some answers here that I may be missing.

Ite in pace,
Joshua C.
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Do you have teenaged children?
 
People aren’t going to like my response, but in my humble opinion, teens are at “that age” where they are trying to find themselves, are disrespectful to authority figures, don’t really want to listen to anything they don’t want to hear or have anyone telling them what to do, and don’t necessarily make the best decisions because their brains are going through a certain period of development. That said, if a teen is in church at all, that’s a good thing. I agree that the watered down Mass and music aren’t ideal, but if it’s getting teens to come to Mass and there isn’t anything inherently evil being said or done, I don’t think it’s something to be heavily concerned about. If such a Mass gets a teen interested in coming to Mass, that teen is probably more likely to continue coming to Mass into adulthood (and probably switch to the more traditional Mass) and remain a faithful Catholic, whereas if a parent or priest tries to force a teen to go to a traditional Mass when they don’t want to, they are more likely to rebel and go far away from the Church.

True, not all teens are rebellious, and those teens are probably already attending the traditional Mass.
 
joshvanrad said:
Are these masses here because parents aren’t doing a good enough job getting their children interested in their faith?
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Not sure if you have raised/are raising teenagers. I have not, but I taught middle school and I tell you, getting teenagers to take anything seriously or be interested in anything ain’t easy. You have get onto their level and use things they are already interested in to communicate to them if you want to get through to them at all. Otherwise they just tune you out. I used a pop song to teach about pre-fixes and suffixes. The song was upbeat and the lyrics were all about the different affixes and their definitions. The kids loved it. They enthusiastically studied and aced the test. The teen Mass is kind of the same. If teens like the music at Mass, they are more likely to take it seriously, and that spills over into taking God and their faith seriously. The traditional music and Mass is very important, but what’s most important is that they come to believe in God and follow the teachings of the Church, right?

And, as I said, not ALL teens need this to be interested, but it’s good it exists for those who do.
 
Seems very presumptuous of you to be so certain that you know the hearts and minds of the ‘Sunday watch checkers.’
 
Agreed. As a Musician, I think the music can be problematic, BUT…
The prayers are the same,. The readings are the same. The Mass is valid.
Ok, so people don’t like it. Don’t go. But don’t try to tell me or any other person who works with children, tweens and teens that having them come and LOVE the Mass because the music and the homily is geared to them is wrong.
That’s like the people of some other faiths who leave a congregation because they don’t like the pastor. Or follow their pastor to another location because they are comfortable with his personal theology.

Our parish does not at this time offer a LT Mass. or any kind of Youth Mass. And most of the kids in the parish don’t attend Mass. At all. Their parents don’t think it’s a big deal.
The neighboring parish has a Teen/Youth Mass and it’s full. Of every age group.
Their Music minister is particularly reverent and he makes good choices for appropriate CATHOLIC music. Some of it lively, and some of it more subdued.

If you can get kids on fire with their faith during their teens, they will be faithful while away at college. Which is where a lot of people begin to fall away. This is the time that they take ownership of their faith. Anything that helps.

Also, did you know, that everyone associated with the LifeTeen program both here and Internationally stop what they are doing every Thursday at 2 PM to make a Holy Hour at an Adoration chapel for the children of the world? Those who can’t get to a chapel still make the hour of prayer for their kids.

It’s a valid, good program. If you follow it correctly. Many parishes have youth groups that call themselves “LifeTeen” but they are not following the program at all. You have to do research when enrolling your student.

Peace
Clare
 
Jenny35 said:
Seems very presumptuous of you to be so certain that you know the hearts and minds of the ‘Sunday watch checkers.’
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No one knows what is in their hearts and minds except God.

However, in the context of this discussion, I don’t think (name removed by moderator) was trying to be judgmental. Rather, I think his point was simply that a Mass where people are enthusiastic about what is going on is a good thing, even if the Mass itself is not hard core traditional.
 
I don’t have teens yet, but my oldest daughter, who is almost 9yo, hates the Life Teen Mass. Mostly, the music is way too loud and self-indulgent. However, our pastor is usually the celebrant, which is a good thing because he injects a great deal of reverence into the Mass. He wears traditional robes, uses incense, and many more wonderful reverent things. And it is our smallest Mass of the weekend, so it has the benefit of actually being in the church. All other English Masses for Sunday are squeezed into the parish hall. Also, lately it seems that our pastor has been nixing the worst offending songs. So the Life Teen Mass at our parish, with the exception of the shrill and monotonous music, is overall quite nice. So I think a large part of the problem with those Masses can be attributed to the pastor not leading the parish in the way it should go for worship. Our pastor accepts the Life Teen Mass as having a proper place in our parish’s worship life, but he is guarding the celebration of that Mass and keeping it as reverent as he can.
 
LilyRose_8891 said:
Not sure if you have raised/are raising teenagers. I have not, but I taught middle school and I tell you, getting teenagers to take anything seriously or be interested in anything ain’t easy. You have get onto their level and use things they are already interested in to communicate to them if you want to get through to them at all. Otherwise they just tune you out. I used a pop song to teach about pre-fixes and suffixes. The song was upbeat and the lyrics were all about the different affixes and their definitions. The kids loved it. They enthusiastically studied and aced the test. The teen Mass is kind of the same. If teens like the music at Mass, they are more likely to take it seriously, and that spills over into taking God and their faith seriously. The traditional music and Mass is very important, but what’s most important is that they come to believe in God and follow the teachings of the Church, right?

And, as I said, not ALL teens need this to be interested, but it’s good it exists for those who do.
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I co-teach autistic kids, and we use the same methods to reach them. This thread though takes me back further. Remember how people thought Jesus Christ Superstar was just the devil incarnate? Decades later, even conservative Christians admitted that JCSS reached an entire generation and brought many of them into Christianity. I think of teen masses in the same light.
 
LilyRose_8891 said:
No one knows what is in their hearts and minds except God.

However, in the context of this discussion, I don’t think (name removed by moderator) was trying to be judgmental. Rather, I think his point was simply that a Mass where people are enthusiastic about what is going on is a good thing, even if the Mass itself is not hard core traditional.
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Had (name removed by moderator) worded it differently, or not included the ‘time for God’ comment, I would be inclined to agree with you. Not sure how else to take what was really said, other than it seems highly judgmental.
 
I saw a LifeTeen Mass on Youtube, and I was very disappointed. You can see the desperate attempt of the creators of the LT Mass to get teens back to Mass. Personally, I would never attend an LT Mass, but that is just me. I’m more traditional. I like bells, incense, and Gregorian chant, not pop music, lights changing color, and the slight liturgical abuse to make the Mass more appealing.

Most teenagers don’t attend Mass. If teenagers really understood the importance of going to Mass, they would not need an LT Mass to be happy. I personally don’t like my local Mass, as it has no traditional customs in it (except for the Sanctus bells). But, I don’t complain.

If it gets to a point where a teenager would just skip Mass entirely because it isn’t LifeTeen, then that means their Faith isn’t strong, and they’re just going to Mass for fun, not because they are obligated to.
 
I attend a LifeTeen Mass now and then. I don’t love it, but it is very well attended. I met a
couple there (whose children are grown) who told me that is their mass of choice now.
I think all in all, they can be considered a good thing.
 
bben15 said:
I saw a LifeTeen Mass on Youtube, and I was very disappointed. You can see the desperate attempt of the creators of the LT Mass to get teens back to Mass. Personally, I would never attend an LT Mass, but that is just me. I’m more traditional. I like bells, incense, and Gregorian chant, not pop music, lights changing color, and the slight liturgical abuse to make the Mass more appealing.

Most teenagers don’t attend Mass. If teenagers really understood the importance of going to Mass, they would not need an LT Mass to be happy. I personally don’t like my local Mass, as it has no traditional customs in it (except for the Sanctus bells). But, I don’t complain.

If it gets to a point where a teenager would just skip Mass entirely because it isn’t LifeTeen, then that means their Faith isn’t strong, and they’re just going to Mass for fun, not because they are obligated to.
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LifeTeen Masses are not there to be “fun”. This is a common misconception.
Just like people like Chant, some people like other types of music. As I said before, nothing else outside of the music is different from a regular Mass. At most Masses unless you go to an uber traditional parish there is no incense. Bells or no bells is a call of the presider. LifeTeen emphasizes the need for Mass and Adoration within the curriculum. Just like chastity, evangelization, obedience to the Magisterium, and all the other topics that are taught in the classes. That’s why it is effective. Just because a group says it has “LifeTeen” doesn’t mean that have the accompanying curriculum. The curriculum is solid, basically Franciscan, and it reaches a lot of teens and adults. “Fun” is not part of worship. People outgrow LifeTeen and move on to regular Masses with the hideous music that is generally propagated there. Hopefully by then, they will have learned to love the Mass and don’t attend for the music or the so-called “fun”.
 
Wow. Lucky You. Where I am living there are less than 10 masses a year. And you have mass for teens among other choices. I would never complain.
 
Jenny35 said:
Had (name removed by moderator) worded it differently, or not included the ‘time for God’ comment, I would be inclined to agree with you. Not sure how else to take what was really said, other than it seems highly judgmental.
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Ah, but isn’t saying that someone’s statement “seems highly judgmental” is ITSELF being highly judgmental? See how it works when the “judgement” card is played?
 
bben15 said:
I saw a LifeTeen Mass on Youtube, and I was very disappointed. You can see the desperate attempt of the creators of the LT Mass to get teens back to Mass. Personally, I would never attend an LT Mass, but that is just me. I’m more traditional. I like bells, incense, and Gregorian chant, not pop music, lights changing color, and the slight liturgical abuse to make the Mass more appealing.

Most teenagers don’t attend Mass. If teenagers really understood the importance of going to Mass, they would not need an LT Mass to be happy. I personally don’t like my local Mass, as it has no traditional customs in it (except for the Sanctus bells). But, I don’t complain.

If it gets to a point where a teenager would just skip Mass entirely because it isn’t LifeTeen, then that means their Faith isn’t strong, and they’re just going to Mass for fun, not because they are obligated to.
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Wow. I am fan of Gregorian chant and incense as well :thumbs:

Nevertheless, your advice also aplies to you. If it gets to the point when You would just skip the mass because there isn’t Gregorian chant or incense, and those are what takes you to mass, than that COULD mean your faith is not strong.
My father since child taught me well this (not picking masses for taste) and it is being very useful now that I don’t have the luxury to choose. My faith is stronger than ever with the only mass I can go per month, with no chant, etc.
 
It is a real Mass, but adapted for a different culture. Think of it akin to the cultural changes and adaptations that are allowed around the world. You especially notice cultural differences in things like wedding Masses and Masses held around major holidays. “Different” doesn’t necessarily mean they are doing it wrong - just that some musical and cultural adaptations have occurred. Obviously ANY culture can make mistakes, but I think a lot of people should be impressed by the many ways we can have the SAME Mass around the world each week AND allow for cultural music and cultural differences without straying from the real Mass.
 
Without attempting to judge any particular program, my research indicates that LifeTeen was founded in 1985 at St. Timothy’s Parish, in Mesa, Arizona. The founder was then-priest Dale Fushek. Unfortunately, Fr. Fushek was caught up in the sex abuse scandal, and then started his own Protestant-oriented non-denominational worship center in the Phoenix area. He was excommunicated by the Bishop of Phoenix in 2008.

I sincerely hope LifeTeen is able to rise above all that.
 
Tarpeian_Rock said:
Ah, but isn’t saying that someone’s statement “seems highly judgmental” is ITSELF being highly judgmental? See how it works when the “judgement” card is played?
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Fine, make it about me. But I’m not the one posting as a Deacon and claiming to know that people in the pews are upset about giving God 50-60 minutes a week.
 
Shirtless said:
Without attempting to judge any particular program, my research indicates that LifeTeen was founded in 1985 at St. Timothy’s Parish, in Mesa, Arizona. The founder was then-priest Dale Fushek. Unfortunately, Fr. Fushek was caught up in the sex abuse scandal, and then started his own Protestant-oriented non-denominational worship center in the Phoenix area. He was excommunicated by the Bishop of Phoenix in 2008.

I sincerely hope LifeTeen is able to rise above all that.
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It has. It is thriving all over the world. It’s a great program because they provide solid doctrine in a format to which teens respond well. That way your catechists are not “winging it” at classes. We offer it for High School catechesis, but we have no dedicated “Youth Mass”.
Be nice if we did. Someday, maybe when we get a second priest.
 
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