Been a while since you changed the environment of a Life Night? Have the walls of your office become just a jog down memory lane or is it a reflection of the current group of teens? Have music playing, hang new banners, update photos and add some new paint to add new life to the spaces you hang out with teens at your parish. We serve in one of the most transformational ministries in our parishes – does the vibe of our space reflect that?
Tomorrow in Rome, Pope Benedict will again lead reflections on the way of the Cross at the Colosseum. The Vatican announced March 15 that the pope had asked Danilo and Annamaria Zanzucchi to write the meditations, which are read over loudspeakers as a cross is carried through and around the Colosseum on Good Friday. Along with Chiara [...]
10 years ago today, we signed the papers to purchase Life Teen Camp Covecrest in Tiger, GA. I can still remember the excited feeling of our owning a camp, and the sinking feeling of hoping that our obedience to God to purchase the camp wouldn’t lead to a huge dose of humility if it didn’t [...]
Goal of this Edge Night The goal of this Edge Night is to teach the youth about the dignity of the family so that they learn that in the community of the family we are called to love, forgive, and pray. The youth will also learn that we are all part of the larger family [...]
With our role comes the joy of sharing in family moments such as awards, honors and graduation. But just as we get to share in the “high points” of family life, we also share in some of the most difficult moments. Whether it is divorce or death or illness, we need to understand our role as support to the whole family, not just the teens.
Unlike most parents of teens who go to work each day in some secular job, I spend my days talking with priests, DRE’s, diocesan directors, youth leaders, teens and our amazing staff at Life Teen sharing the privilege of serving in full time youth ministry. Like the saying goes – “do what you love to [...]
I recently attended a youth ministry workshop on STRONG CATHOLIC FAMILIES. The presenter shared materials and findings based off of a National Study of American teenagers from Dr. Christian Smith at Notre Dame University. Some of the conclusions were… Only 12% of families pray together. The average couple only spends 4 minutes of uninterrupted time together a day. 71% of Jr. High and 61% of high school youth have never attended a religious retreat, rally, conference or mission trip.