Edge is a program designed to create a positive experience of the Catholic Church for all 6th, 7th and 8th graders at St. Joseph's Parish along with their friends. We have 2 different times we offer the Edge program. The first meets during Family Program the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month October through April. The second meets on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday, October through May from 6:30-8:00pm. There is an optional open gym from 6-6:30 p.m. for Wednesday Edgers before each Wednesday Edge session.
Class follows a Gather, Proclaim, Break, Send format and begins with a small group project or brainstorming activity, then large group talk, followed by small group discussion and either an individual or group project, i.e. craft, skit, creating a game. We end with prayer.
Life Teen is geared toward high school teens as a preparatory program for the sacrament of Confirmation. (See Confirmation section below for information specific to Confirmation.) Teens will gather on Sunday nights for Life Teen Masses, complete with our youth band Jam for the Lamb, twice a month on the second and fourth Sundays, October through May. After Mass the Life Teen session begins, following a Gather, Proclaim, Break, and Send format. We begin with “snack and chat” time so everyone can mingle and reconnect with friends that they have not seen for a while. After “snack and chat” we usually have a large group activity, followed by a large group talk, small group discussion, and finish prayer at 8:15 pm.
Upbeat contemporary Christian band formed from St. Joe's Youth and adults that leads songs and worship at the 5:30pm Sunday evening mass on the 2nd and 4th Sundays October through May. 7th grade through adult are invited to participate in the band. Vocalists and instrumentalists are welcome to join.
Confirmation meets on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month, October through May and on other specified dates. We begin with Life Teen Mass at 5:30 pm and then go into our Confirmation session. Teens are usually Confirmed in 11th grade.* Confirmation teens are expected to fully participate in their faith and community. In addition to classes, they will attend the Confirmation retreat and complete at least 20 hours of community service.
*Prior to registering for Confirmation year, teens must have attended 2 years of Life Teen, have attended at least one retreat, youth rally, or mission’s trip, and have completed 10 hours of service per year prior to their Confirmation year. If they do not meet this prerequisite, they may not be Confirmed until 12th grade or when they are a freshman in college, depending on what they have to do to fulfill the above noted requirements.
This is a service group for anyone that is in 6th grade through adult. (If there is a family involved, and the parents are present, younger children can help out depending on the project.) We help in the local parish community and local community. If you are in need of help from the Hands and Hearts team please call Lori Labidie at 262-662-3317 at the CFM office or eamil at labadiel@archmil.org. The group can help with a variety of things from outdoor yardwork to painting to cleaning tasks.
If you would like to add your name to the list of volunteers please call Lori as well. When help is needed with a project, an email is sent out to the entire team asking for help, and then whoever can make it can let Lori know. No one is expected to attend every event. It is a great ministry to be able to help when you can and where you can.
Youth Ministry Policy and Requirements Handbook
