Our High School Youth meet every Wednesday from 7-8:30 pm in the youth room
Middle School Seekers
Middle School Youth meet the 1st and 3rd Sundays following 11:00 am Mass till 2:00 pm, in the School Gym.
ENGAGING YOUR TEEN IN THE FAITH
Here are some DOs and DON'Ts
DON'T WAIT. Start talking to your children long before the teen years. The earlier, the better.
DON'T NEGLECT YOUR OWN FAITH LIFE. You can't give what you don't have. Nurture your prayer life and your spiritual life first, then allow that to flow into your family life.
DON'T LET THEM SKIP MASS. You would never let your child not eat or not go to school in the morning because they didn't want to. The same goes for Mass. It's OK to require your children to attend Mass as long as they live at home.
DON'T PREACH. You can't impose faith. You can propose it. Sometimes the best place to start that is poking holes in modern philosophy. Ask a lot of questions. Gently lead them to seeing the contradictions.
DON'T WASTE TEACHABLE MOMENTS. Driving in the car with your teen is the best time to talk. Don't let them put their earbuds in. Use everything - music, tv, chores - as an opportunity to talk about the Faith.
DON'T HESITATE TO CALL IN THE CAVALRY. If your teen is really fighting you, you're not going to be the person who helps them find their way through the struggle. Use resources like books, magazines, newspapers - that present the truth. Ask someone to intervene - a grandparent, Catholic friend, a youth group core member, the youth ministrer, etc. Be creative.
DON'T THINK IT'S TOO LATE. If you dropped the ball on your child's faith formation, if you neglected your faith life and only now realize the importance of God, if you haven't made Mass the priority, admit that to your child. Apoogize and tell them you want to get the familly back on track.
DO BE UNDERSTANDING. Try to see things from their vantage point. Approach discussions in a way that respects your teen.
DO PRAY. Pray daily for your teen. Call upon saints like Monica, who prayed heroically for St. Augustine's conversion. If your teen is struggling, give thanks that it's happening now, while they are at home and you can engage in these converstions with them.
DO TALK ABOUT THE SUNDAY MASS. Read the readings before Mass. Ask your teen what they thought about the Gospel or homily. Share your thoughts. Don't accept generic answers.
DO HAVE FAMILY DINNERS. Sit down at a table, put the cell phones away, turn off the tv, and eat together. If you can't do it everyday, make it possible on certain days of the week.
DO SHARE YOUR SPIRITUAL JOURNEY. Live the faith in a transparent way. Be a good witness and talk openly with your teen, in an age appropriate way, about how you became a disciple of Christ. With what did you stuggle and why do you keep following Christ. Invite them to share. DO PRAY TOGETHER. Can't pray a spontaneous prayer? Pray the rosary together in the car or at bedtime. Share with your teen what you're sharing with the Lord, and what He's saying back. DO BE PATIENT. They are teens. Their interests, passions and opinions change with the wind. Give them room to make mistakes and wait patiently for them to come back around.
(Taken from Our Sunday Visitor, In Focus, Parenting - April 13, 2014)