Goal of this Life Night

The goal of this Life Night is to give clarity to the confusion that is integral to stereotypical rites of passage that are glorified in teen years: rebelling, drinking, disobeying parents, losing virginity, etc. After leaving this Life Night, teens will feel more prepared to face life challenges.

About this Life Night

This night is based on the Pantelion Films and Lionsgate film Girl in Progress, opening in theaters May 11, 2012. Use this resource as a full Life Night to follow up after watching the movie, or use only the questions in the Break for discussion with a group of teens after seeing the movie.

Find Girl in Progress in theaters near you: buzzplant.com/theaters

For group sales and special rates: 888-319-7866

Parental Notice

Please check with policies at your parish and within your diocese about bringing teenagers to a PG-13 movie. Local policies might advise you to speak with teenager’s parents about the subject matter of the film and acquire a signed permission slip. (Note: we do not recommend bringing middle schoolers to this film.)

The film Girl in Progress is not a Disney movie. It is a relevant and raw story of
a high school girl who tries to grow up without the guidance and support of her family. The film does reveal the futility of “going with the flow,” but only after Ansiedad flirts with different rites of passage. Because of mature thematic elements, mild sexual content including crude references, and drinking, the movie has PG-13 rating. These are typical subjects in teen movies, however, the difference here is that this film doesn’t glorify these things, it shows the consequences.

As always, Edge Nights should be adapted to meet your parish needs. As you plan, be sure to keep in consideration the needs of your youth, Core Team, and parish. For example, the teaching outline for each night is filled with more information than a typical middle school youth can absorb during a 7-10 minute talk. By giving the presenter more than enough information, he or she can create an engaging and informative presentation. Encourage the presenter to look through the Scripture and Catechism of the Catholic Church  references to gain better understanding of the topic. Media, of course is important. Feel free to use the media suggestions listed, along with the videos on the Edge Video Support 7 (included in the Edge Support shipment).

Thank you for your dedication to the young people of your parish. We at Life Teen are here to serve you in your mission of leading youth closer to Christ. We pray that this Edge Semester Planning Guide  will allow you to more effectively reach and form your middle school youth as vibrant, active, and holy disciples of Christ.

Middle school is often a time of self-discovery, where the youth begin to see even more clearly that the world doesn’t revolve around them. Middle school youth often think their decisions do not effect others and they go about doing whatever is necessary to make themselves the center, disregarding parents, friends, siblings, teachers, authority, etc. This retreat will help the youth realize they must give up their “self” (selfish ways) and fill their hearts with God through virtuous acts of self-giving love (practice of Beatitudes). With prayer and the Sacraments as their strength, the youth can surrender their lives to God.

Overview:

Through this retreat, the middle school youth will better understand how practicing good habits (virtue) defends us against sinfulness. Of the deadly sins, pride is the most apparent within us, while humility is its counter. Jesus gave us the beatitudes as a way to live virtuous lives, and we must look at them as tools for walking a faith that is all about God and not about us and our own selfish desires. Once we say, “So long self,” to all the things we selfishly — and often mindlessly — fill our lives with, we combat pride and sin and are able to put on our new selves. It is Jesus who told us, “I make all things new.” In other words, we have to let go and let God, speaking the words of St. Augustine: “My heart is restless until it rests in You, O Lord.” In their love for God, the middle school youth will experience true freedom and, through this love, come to a true love of self (which is secondary and results only from love of God, who desires happiness for all). As we ascend to the Mount of Beatitudes during the weekend, we hope the middle school youth walk back down the mountain changed and ready to lead lives more focused on God, who alone is Lord.

The goal of this Edge Night is to teach the youth to be aware of spiritual darkness and how to avoid it and walk in the light of Christ’s love.

Edge Night at a Glance

Tonight’s teaching is going to give the middle school youth a very basic understanding of spiritual darkness, or evil. By introducing the topic, our goal is to teach the teens the dangers of spiritual evils — magic, superstition, fortune-telling, horoscopes, etc.— so they can turn to the light of God’s love and not delve into practices contradictory of the first commandment. Scripture constantly calls us to stand in God’s light, live in His love, and be holy. Our lives are ordered towards adoration of God, not in giving power to evil or anything that is not God. The Catechism teaches us that idolatry eliminates man’s religious sense, and Origen said an idolater is someone who “transfers his indestructible notion of God to anything other than God.” Keeping in mind that scripture calls us to be holy, all spiritual evils are forms of idolatry. By remaining in the light, we experience the love God has for each one of us.

The Gather begins with a piñata contest to introduce the concept of our souls. During the Proclaim, the youth will learn why they should avoid spiritual evils/darkness and what some of the evils the Church specifically warns against are. For the Break, there will be a large group panel discussion led by a priest, deacon, and/or youth minister (or a combination of all). The night will end with a short biography of St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, which leads to a closing prayer St. Pio wrote askingGod to “stay with me.”

The middle school youth will grow in community and get to know other youth in the group. The youth will work together in teams to compete in games.

Edge Night at a Glance

Ever wonder what it would be like if board games were life-size? This Edge Night takes a few simple games and brings them to life. As the youth enter the room, make sure the Core Team is welcoming them to the Edge Night.

The night will begin with a general welcoming and recognition of any birthdays. After, the youth minister will take time to explain all the different games and how each one is played. Once the games are explained the youth will then get into teams to begin playing the games. The night will conclude with a short prayer of thanksgiving for community.

The goal for this Edge Night is to create a fun and welcoming environment to foster relational ministry and community in your ministry.

Edge Night at a Glance

What middle school youth doesn’t love fire? This Edge Night will be a fun and exciting way for youth to build community and worship together.

As the youth enter the “campsite,” make sure the Core Team is welcoming them to the night (this is especially true for youth who are at the Edge Night for the first time). Youth will spend the night playing campfire games, singing songs, and making s’mores (of course!) before coming together to light candles that will symbolize the fire of Christ in our own hearts and lives.

The goal of this Edge Night is to introduce the youth to Life Teen’s 2012 theme, Radiant Joy, and to help the youth understand that true joy comes from having a relationship with God.

Edge Night at a Glance

The 2012 theme for Life Teen is Radiant Joy. We are taking a year to explore what it means to be joyful and to have that joy radiate from us to others. Joy is more than a feeling or a fleeting experience. Joy is something that comes as a result of our relationship with God. In Galatians, St. Paul tells us that joy is a fruit of the Spirit. As we plant and cultivate our faith, we experience these fruits in our lives – especially joy. It is important to note that joy is not simply a state of being happy all the time. Joy is the result of us giving our lives to God.

The Edge Night will begin with a discussion of things that make us happy. The Proclaim will help transition the night from focusing on being happy to being radiant with joy. During small groups, the youth will discuss how they can have a deeper relationship with God so as to experience true joy and be encouraged to share that joy with others. The night will conclude with a time of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

The goal of this Edge Night is to discuss the ways that rumors, gossip, and slander can hurt not only the dignity of the people around us but ourselves as well; the Christian response to gossip will also be discussed.

Edge Night at a Glance

This Edge Night is an Issue Night on gossip. The dictionary defines gossip as casual or unconstrained conversation or reports about other people, typically involving details that are not confirmed as being true. Gossip is something that most middle school youth struggle with. It is easy for a young person to feel insecure and spread rumors to elevate him/herself over another person. It is also a great temptation to participate in the gossip in one’s social network.Nowadays, Facebook, texting, and other social media makes it easier and easier to spread gossip. However, to be Christian means that we need to refrain from any word or deed that causes unjust injury. Refraining from gossip is the duty of every Christian. There is sometimes a difficulty in defining gossip as well.

The Edge Night starts with a presentation on the effects of gossip. It will look at how gossip affects our relationships with others and our relationship with Christ. There will then be a talk and witness that explains the hurtfulness of gossip and the different forms that gossip takes. Finally, the youth will be challenged to counter gossip with prayers for others and affirming words in the form of letters written to our neighbors.

The middle school youth will grow in community and get to know other youth in the group. The youth will be encouraged to get involved in activities by focusing on their gifts and talents.

Edge Night at a Glance

This Edge Night is inspired by one of our summer camp free time options. At Covecrest (in Tiger, GA – check out the camp site on www.catholicyouthministry.com/summercamp) the youth can go to a place called the “Art Barn” and select from a wide variety of activities. Tonight will give the youth a chance to explore various activities and hear how God calls us to use our gifts and talents for His glory.

The night begins with a short discussion on how we can use our gifts and talents to glorify God. Then the youth will be given the opportunity to choose from a variety of activities. Have the Core Team well prepared on their stations and ensure there is time for good relational ministry. As a special option, there will be a time for the youth to play with some musical instruments. Have your music minister or other Core Members who are willing to sit and “jam” with the youth. Conclude thenight by praying together.

The goal of this Edge Night is for the young people to explore the role of technology in their lives, recognize the impact it has on us – especially in the way we communicate – and identify ways that we can use technology (and especially social media) in moderation.

Edge Night at a Glance

The Catechism of The Catholic Church says, “The means of social communication (especially the mass media) can give rise to a certain passivity among users, making them less than vigilant consumers of what is said or shown. Users should practice moderation and discipline in their approach to the mass media.” (2496). The night is an opportunity to reflect on the ways we use technology and the media and how it affects our relationships – including our relationship with God.

The night seeks to enable the young people to come to conclusions about which aspects of their technology use are for good and which are not. The night starts with each small group creating a Catholic app. The night continues with a short video about the ways we are connected online and via social media. The teaching breaks open the topic further so that in small groups the young people can talk and reflect on the pros and cons their technology and media use. The small groups will create a “technology challenge” to encourage moderation of their media use, and will also brainstorm ways they can use technology to share their faith with others. The night ends with some “Face Time” with God – closing out with Eucharistic Adoration.