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Category Archives: Catechesis

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Meeting Teens Where They’re At: Reflections Before NCYC

By | November 16, 2011

What are your hopes for youth ministry?
I want to help change the perspective of teenagers. When teenagers get involved in their faith in a youth group or when they come to an event like this, they think that they’re seeking God. They think they’re going out of their way for God, but very seldom do they pause to realize that God is already at work. God is seeking them. What God desires from them is that encounter, that sacramental encounter, which really is rooted in intimacy.

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Video: Helping Our Catholic Teens Understand Liturgical Change – Fr. Richard Hilgartner

By | September 16, 2011

Fr. Richard Hilgartner, Executive Director of the Secretariat of Divine Worship, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), shares some of the changes behind the new translation of the Roman Missal. He particularly talks about the challenges and opportunities about sharing these changes in the context of youth ministry. Video is taken from the 2010 Life Teen Liturgy and Music Conference.

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‘And With Your Spirit’: Preparing for the New Roman Missal

By | September 9, 2011

Change can be difficult, especially change to the celebration of Mass. Changes to the Mass we are accustomed to can be unsettling, but it is also an amazing opportunity to pray Mass with new eyes and ears. instead of just automatically responding without thinking, these changes to the Roman Missal challenge us to really listen and think about the words we say in Mass. The question is, will we take this opportunity to dive into the beauty and mystery of the holy Mass, or just see the changes to the Roman Missal as an inconvenience, or worse, a detriment to prayer?

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Mary and May

By | May 6, 2011

On May 1, John Paul II was beatified; there are so many things this great pope brought to us, but one that stands out to me is the Luminous Mysteries. I remember being an excited youth minister when these new mysteries were unveiled to help us meditate on the life of Christ, as we asked for Our Lady’s intercession. As John Paul is recognized for his holiness, we begin a month that pays special attention to Mary.

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The Young Church Needs More SIN… (so to speak)

By | April 4, 2011

Their shoulders slump from fatigue. Their eyes are bloodshot. Their stoles are a beautiful, albeit disgusting, blend of countless young souls’ tears and snot. It’s a not-too-uncommon sight in youth ministry, actually: priests sitting in persona Christi capitas, offering mercy and absolution to an endless line of adolescent sinners ardently desiring sainthood. The scene repeats [...]

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Bringing Lent to Life: Resources for Lent

By | March 4, 2011

Each Lent, we have another great opportunity to immerse our teens into the heart of the Church. We have such a gift in the 40 days of Lent. We need to walk with our teens through the desert of Lent and help them meet our Lord there. Our ministry should be a reflection of the changes happening in the Liturgy and be an invitation to fully participate in the mystery of Christ’s Passion, death, and Resurrection. There are a lot of resources that Life Teen has for you to being Lent to Life in your program.

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Dealing with Unacceptable Behavior in Middle School Youth

By | September 27, 2010

No one ever signs up to be a youth minister for the joy of being a disciplinarian. It is, however, one of those areas that come with the territory (like mopping, filing folders, copying papers, and the occasional bathroom plumbing issue…). Individual behavior like anger, negative comments, hitting, personal boundary issues and bullying are just a few common issues you may face in your middle school youth group. These issues, if not dealt with, can draw other youth into participating in the same disruptive behavior. They can cause distraction in small groups and can eventually interfere with the behavior of the whole group.

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Edge Nights Part III: Break It Open

By | September 24, 2010

You’ve come to the critical part of the Edge Night – small groups. For some Core Members, this is the part that scares them the most. However, with the right tools and training, it can be the most fruitful. Small groups are the time for the middle school youth to “break” open the theme for the night and find out how it relates to their lives. This particular blog is in two parts: a) thoughts on the Break; b) small group dynamics.

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Edge Nights Part II: Proclaim the Truth

By | September 17, 2010

You’ve herded them in, stuck a nametag on them, welcomed them, sung a moving rendition of “Happy Birthday,” and now its time to get their attention. I’m talking about the middle school youth, of course. Getting and holding the attention of all the youth in the room seems like an impossible task (and very well could be). However, there are some things you can do to make sure your Proclaims are well delivered, get across the right message, and engage the youth.

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Edge Nights Part I: Gather Them In

By | September 10, 2010

The beginning of an Edge Night may seem like giant ball of chaos and energy. There are middle school youth running around, parents demanding a few moments of your time, Core Members calling to say they are running late, and the projector just burned out – this seems to be a recipe for disaster, not relational ministry. Here are some tips to help start your Edge Night on the right foot while maintaining your sanity: