Youth Group

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FrankvT

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We are trying to start a youth group in our parish for teenagers in grades 8 to 12.

ANY suggestions?

ANY suggestions for resourses and help?

Thank-you
 
I am a youth minister at our local parish. We started a youth group for high school teens two years ago. We decided to go with Life Teen because of their large success rate and because all the materials are prepared and ready to go. It is fun and teaches truths of the Catholic faith. I suggest you at least look into it. Their website is LifeTeen.com. God bless you for this dedication. Our teens really need adults to care.
 
Our youth group were I live is awsome. Like last Sunday, we had a prayer meeting. We meet in the church under the crucifix. We sang, and then prayed, and then we were asked to share how God has affected our lives.
 
I plan to start this one at our parish in the fall of 2005:

Dead Theologians Society is a Catholic apostolate for high school age teens and college age young adults. Through the Saints of yesterday, the Dead Theologians Society inspires the youth of today to become the saints of tomorrow. A special charism of the Dead Theologians Society is to pray for the release of the Poor Souls in Purgatory. Its motto is, “Dead to the World, alive in Christ!” This is inspired by Romans 6:11 where St. Paul tells us to be dead to sin but alive in Christ Jesus.
Society members learn the lives of the Saints, their heroic virtue and hear their inspirational writings. Through the stories of the Saints, young people are catechized and develop positive role models at a time when they are surely needed. In addition, members make use of time honored Catholic prayers, devotions and sacramental such as, Eucharistic Adoration, the Rosary, the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and more!
deadtheologianssociety.com/index.asp?Content=Home
 
I know LifeTeens that also incorporate Dead Theologians Society into their teachings.

Heres what I have found about various programs:

Genral CCD expantion to have a fun night:
-For: kids who know some things about their faith and just want to hang together, maybe pray and discuss things.
These groups usually die after eleventh grade…if confirmation is in tenth…

LifeTeen
-For: Highschoolers (they have “the Edge” program for middle schoolers)
They focus on teens who have not had substantial teaching in the Catholic church. They work closely with RCIA programs, as they often bring teens into the church.

-CFC /YFC
For: teens to college age
The whole CFC is a family orented mission that makes a small family initself…really neat

My strongest argument is for LifeTeen because it made my life so much better. I was raised Catholic, and my parents would tell me what was moral or not, and I knew it, but LifeTeen really brought the Catholic teachings to life for me, especally things like, the teaching on homosexuality that my parents did not talk to me about. LifeTeen also provides a STRONG support for the adults who are teaching…you don’t need to be a strong Catholic to be a LifeTeen Core…sometimes our Core(adults) learn things for the first time before they teach us. Of course, the most important thing in any youth group is a strong leader who is in line with the church.
 
Meggie said:
-CFC /YFC
For: teens to college age
The whole CFC is a family orented mission that makes a small family initself…really neat
Click to expand...

Thanks Meggie,
CFC (Couples for Christ) has two ministries for our young people. First is the CFC-Kids for Christ (CFC-KFC) for 4 - 12 year old members. Second is the CFC-Youth for Christ (CFC-YFC) for 13 - 21year old members. Many parishes around the world have asked CFC to help with their family ministry program. CFC does augment (NOT REPLACE) the RE and spiritually strengthen the young people while giving them a sense of belonging to a community. Currently CFC-Youth for Christ is in all 50 states and CFC is in 121 countries.
 
Instead of just one group, why not two? We have Junior Catholic Daughters and Knights of Columbus Squires. Not only do the youth members get to do fun things and build Catholic friendships with peers, but they have strong role models and mentors too.
 
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kmktexas:
Instead of just one group, why not two? We have Junior Catholic Daughters and Knights of Columbus Squires. Not only do the youth members get to do fun things and build Catholic friendships with peers, but they have strong role models and mentors too.
Click to expand...
We have a very active Little Flowers Catholic Girls’ Club, but nothing for the young males of the parish. 😦 I have received lots of good info about the Squires, but no man/dad is getting it up and going as of yet.
 
That is so awesome that you’re going to start a youth group- congratulations and THANK YOU! 🙂

I’m sure you won’t, but just a tip: Whatever you do, please please please DO NOT water down the teachings of the Church to make them more “palatable” to teens. That’s exactly the OPPOSITE of what we need and want. Seriously I am SO SICK of people making excuses for us all the time or saying and all this MORAL RELAVITISM CRUD that’s being shoved down our throats under the euphenism of “tolerance” and no, I’m NOT saying that REAL tolerance is a bad thing, but when you’re being told to tolerate and accept and not do anything about things like abortion, active homosexuality, euthanasia, etc. because they are “personal decisions” it gets me so mad! :mad: (ok that was my rant for the week, not directed at anyone on this board)

Oh and also please don’t try to use teen lingo. :tsktsk:

Thanks again! :blessyou:
 
I definetly have no intention of watering down our faith or pretending that I am a teenager.I am thankful for everyones suggestions. 🙂 🙂 🙂
 
*pro-life_teen*:
That is so awesome that you’re going to start a youth group- congratulations and THANK YOU! 🙂

I’m sure you won’t, but just a tip: Whatever you do, please please please DO NOT water down the teachings of the Church to make them more “palatable” to teens. That’s exactly the OPPOSITE of what we need and want. Seriously I am SO SICK of people making excuses for us all the time or saying and all this MORAL RELAVITISM CRUD that’s being shoved down our throats under the euphenism of “tolerance” and no, I’m NOT saying that REAL tolerance is a bad thing, but when you’re being told to tolerate and accept and not do anything about things like abortion, active homosexuality, euthanasia, etc. because they are “personal decisions” it gets me so mad! :mad: (ok that was my rant for the week, not directed at anyone on this board)

Oh and also please don’t try to use teen lingo. :tsktsk:

Thanks again! :blessyou:
Click to expand...
hey

Your point is good…

…and I wanted to add that some people feel that LifeTeen is watered down, yet it does not have any of those terrible things you mentioned…

…the reasons the teachings are often overly simplified or in a form teens can understand is because these teens have little understanding of the church and are about to be/were confirmed. They are in genral eager to know, but unable to handle reading straight out of the chatechism…they are confirmed so they don’t feel right to be in RCIA…

…please look at the whole picture of the gap you are trying to fill…you want kids to walk off the street(comming with their friends) and not feel intimidated…if you just want to be exclusive and educate a small group of teens, then do so…
 
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