Goal of the Edge Night
The goal of this night is that the middle school youth will come to a better understanding and appreciation of the Sacrament of Holy Orders. They will learn about the path to ordination, understand their parish clergy better, and begin to pray about their own vocation.
Edge Night at a Glance
The Sacrament of Holy Orders is a “Sacrament at the Service of Communion” and towards the salvation of others. This night will introduce the youth to the ordination of a man to the diaconate, priesthood, and episcopacy. When Jesus appeared to the apostles after the Resurrection, He gave them the authority to continue the ministry of the priesthood – to offer sacrifice, to preach, and to grant forgiveness of sins. This ministry has been passed on from the apostles to the bishops with the authority to ordain men to the priesthood through the Sacrament of Holy Orders. At a Life Teen training convention, a priest shared the following: “I didn’t become a priest because I couldn’t get married. I became a priest because I felt the Lord calling me to serve the Catholic Church through the priesthood.”
The night begins with a small group game that allows the youth to see their priests and deacons in a human light. The teaching of the night will break open the message of this Sacrament, followed by an opportunity for a priest or deacon to share with the youth the joys of their service to the Church. The youth will have a unique opportunity to express their appreciation for their priests by writing letters or making cards. The conclusion of the night will allow the middle school youth to pray for their own vocation, as well as for vocations to Holy Orders for people in their parish.