Life Teen Mass

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Maybe it would help to ask just exactly what Life Teen is. By that I mean, let’s suppose my parish has a good religious ed program already, and no guitar masses or kids around the altar. But now our diocese tells me that we have to “go Life-Teen”. What does that mean? What would we have to change or add? And what if we don’t want to? (Suppose all the religious ed teachers quit.)
 
Melman:
Maybe it would help to ask just exactly what Life Teen is. By that I mean, let’s suppose my parish has a good religious ed program already, and no guitar masses or kids around the altar. But now our diocese tells me that we have to “go Life-Teen”. What does that mean? What would we have to change or add? And what if we don’t want to? (Suppose all the religious ed teachers quit.)
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You might just have to add the name.

Life Teen most definately does not require any liturgical abuses. We have no one gathered around the altar. What it seeks to do is draw teens into a relationship with Jesus Christ through His Church. Typically this means that the music is more upbeat and contemporary. And the homilies are usually excellent - I’ve found that you’re more likely to hear a homily on some aspect of the Catholic faith rather than the typical “kumbaya Jesus loves you” c r a p (that word won’t pass the censors for some reason) that far too many priests try to pass off as homilies nowadays.

The other thing that LT does is what is called a Life Night. After Mass the teens gatehr together. It is different every week. But it is basically a time of catechesis on some doctrine, or moral or social issue. This could be presented through skits or games of some sort or some other creative way. It is meant to be fun but not to water down our beliefs. Most teens can’t get enough.

Another important aspect is to have what is called a dedicated youth minister and a “Core Team” around. These are adult vounteers who practice their faith and are there to answer questins, provide support, or sometimes just listen to the teens. This is what I do.

We tend to do other things throughout the week. I lead a Bible study every Wed evening for instance with about 35-40 teens.

James
 
I am in Life Teen in my church, and it has changed my life. I am now closer to Jesus Christ than ever before, and will continue to grow in my faith even after I’m no longer in Life Teen. Just because a bunch of churches don’t follow the liturgy rules, doesn’t mean all churches aren’t following them either.
 
There were 2 or 3 Life Teen threads going on. Maybe another one was closed.

James
 
I remember when I started attending Mass again durring my teenage years, that the Life Teen Mass did not do much for me, I thought I should take out my lighter and I was about to be part of a mosh pit. Then I went to Mass at another church, they had the traditional choir that sang in Latin. I never heard the Gloria sung in Latin, or the Sanctus and Agnus Dei. When the Choir chanted Kyrie eliason, it left me with such a mysterious feeling, that I got goosebumps all over, for the first time I actully felt like I was in a Catholic Church. I thought that all Vatican II did was translate the Mass into English, had the priest face the people, and allowed extraordinary ministers. I was so wrong, I remember reading my grandmother’s old chruch missal from the 1950s, I felt like I was missing out on so much, I thought the altar rail was just a decoration!!! Since then, I enjoy using the rail for what it was intended.
 
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