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{{Short description|Catholic youth ministry organization}}
{{Template:Refimprove|date=August 2013}}
{{Template:Primary sources|date=August 2013}} {{More citations needed|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox organization|name=Life Teen, Inc.|logo=|logo_size=400x400|founding_location=Mesa, AZ|headquarters=Mesa, AZ
'''Life Teen''' is a ] ] organization and ] originating in the ]. Life Teen believes that "Eucharist-based ministry has the power to transform teens, transform parishes, and transform culture."<ref>, November 28, 2011</ref> "Inspired by pope ]'s call for a ], Life Teen believes that youth are the key to this new springtime in the Church."<ref name="25th"/>
Atlanta, GA
St. Louis, MO|leader_title=President & CEO|leader_name=Randy Raus|leader_title2=Vice President & CIO|leader_name2=Mark Hart|language=English, Spanish|website={{URL|lifeteen.com}}}}{{Roman Catholicism}}


'''Life Teen''' is a ] ] organization in the ].
Life Teen is known primarily for their parish-based Life Teen program for high school teenagers and is used by over 1,400 Catholic parishes in 24 countries around the world.<ref name="25th"/><ref name="Bovine"/> In 2003, "seeing the need for dynamic middle school ministry,"<ref name="25th"/> they launched the Edge program for middle school youth which is now used by almost 1,000 parishes in 10 countries.<ref name="people"/> As of 2005, over 100,000 high-school-age Catholics across the country attend Life Teen each week.<ref name="Nelson"/><ref name="25th"/>


==History== ==Overview==
Life Teen's mission statement explains, "As a Eucharist-centered movement within the Roman Catholic Church, Life Teen leads teenagers and their families into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church".<ref>, November 28, 2011</ref>
Life Teen was established in 1985 at St. Timothy's Parish in ] to "lead teens closer to Christ." It was decided by founder and then-priest ] that a new approach was needed to evangelize the ] ] in the area. The goal was to revolutionize youth ministry and bring the message of ] to teenagers in a way they could understand. ] was later ] and ] following an abuse scandal and opening of a non-denominational Protestant oriented worship center in the Phoenix area.<ref name="laicized"/>


Life Teen provides ]-based programs. The Life Teen program for high-school teenagers is used by over 1,800 Catholic parishes in 24 countries, across North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Asia and Africa.<ref></ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lifeteen.com/about/|title=Mission and Ministry|website=About|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-08}}</ref><ref name="25th"/><ref name=cardinal/><ref name="Bovine"/>
==Ministry model==
Life Teen has developed a dynamic model to help Youth Ministers and adult program leaders, known as Core members, execute comprehensive Catholic youth ministry in a parish setting. In the program, youth typically attend a Sunday Mass specifically intended for them, which is also often attended by teens' families and other interested parishioners. Music and homilies are focused on teens and teens are invited to be trained in approved liturgical ministries such as ], ushers, ], greeters, and ]. Following Mass, a "Life Night" is held, which incorporates teaching in Catholic beliefs, interactive activities, and socialization.


In 2003,<ref name="25th"/> they launched the Edge program for middle-school pupils, which was used by almost 1,000 parishes in 10 countries.<ref name="people"/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.stanthonyym.org/edge | title=EDGE }}</ref> As of 2005, over 100,000 high-school-aged Catholics in the US attended Life Teen each week.<ref name="25th"/><ref name="Nelson"/>
Most Life Teen Programs utilize multiple events during the week, such as ], social events, and the like to provide teenagers with healthy and holy activities to take part in during the week that will not only strengthen their bonds with each other, but will strengthen their relationship with God as well.


==History==
Every Life Teen and Edge program is encouraged to host two weekend-long retreats for their teens.<ref name="ministry"/> Life Teen programs are typically established in individual ]es.
Life Teen was established in 1985 at St. Timothy's Parish in ]. The founder and then-priest ] said he believed the Church needed a new approach to evangelize Christ to the Catholic youth in the area. Fushek was later ] when he opened a non-denominational, Protestant-oriented worship center in the Phoenix area. He was ultimately ] by the Church in 2010 following allegations that he had ] teenage boys and young men.<ref name="laicized"/>


Though Life Teen is present in fewer than 10% of American parishes, more than 40% of American seminarians had some connection to the program during their teenage years.<ref name=seminarians/><ref name=hart/>


===Mass=== ==Organization==
Life Teen is headed by a five-member administrative team including President and CEO Randy Raus, Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer Mark Hart, Vice President of Ministry Advancement Steve Allgeyer, Vice President of Parish Services Joel Stepanek, and Vice President of Missions and Operations Jason Ball.<ref name="staff"/>
Life Teen maintains a focus on helping teens fall deeper in love with Jesus in the Eucharist.<ref name="Spirituality"/> Primarily this is done through celebration of a youth focused Mass, "the most important part" of every Life Teen and Edge program.<ref name="ministry"/> While particular efforts are made to create a welcoming atmosphere, reverent and relevant music, and an engaging homily that speaks to the issues in teens' lives,<ref name="ministry"/> Life Teen stresses faithfulness to liturgical norms. While these liturgies often referred to by parishes as a "Life Teen" Mass, they are not a teen only Mass, but a regular/communal Mass that is normally celebrated on Sunday evening.


Its 23-member board of directors includes Bishop ], Bishop ], four priests, and several laities from around the country.<ref name="staff" />
Each week hundreds of thousands of people attend one of these liturgies. The focus of the youth Mass is on helping teens and their families to fully participate, understand, and foster transformation through their prayer at Mass. Portions of homilies are often geared toward teenagers, their culture, and the relevance of their faith today.


==Ministry model==
The music ranges from traditional Catholic hymns sometimes with a modern arrangement, to the latest Catholic worship songs. Instrumentation, quality sound and an emphasis on song as prayer help give an energy and reverence to these Masses. Life Teen has from Fr. Robert Schreiner explaining the role of music within Liturgy.
{{More citations needed|section|date=March 2022}}
Life Teen helps Youth Ministers and adult program leaders, known as Core members, minister to young Catholics in a parish setting. Teenagers typically attend a Sunday Mass specifically intended for their families and other interested parishioners. Music and homilies are focused on teenagers, who are invited to be trained in approved liturgical roles such as ], ushers, ]s, greeters, and ]. Following Mass, a "Life Night", which incorporates teaching in Catholic beliefs, interactive activities, and socialization, is held.


Many Life Teen Programs hold events such as ] and other social events. Life Teen and Edge programs are encouraged to host two weekend-long retreats for members throughout the year.<ref name="ministry" />
===Life Nights===
Following the Mass are gatherings that are aimed to be both fun and to challenge teens to go deeper in their relationship with God and to know more about their Catholic faith.<ref name="ministry"/> Known as Life Nights, they are systematic catechetical gatherings with four distinct segments: Gather, Proclaim, Break, and Send. These segments are derived from the flow of the ].<ref name="Nights"/>


===Mass===
*'''Gather''': This section of the Life Night involves an invitation to the teenagers that welcomes them to a Life Night. This can be anything from an interactive game, a chance to win a prize, a skit or a funny video clip. Depending upon the specific night, some nights might utilize several of these aids. Also considered a part of the Gather is any promotion done at the youth Mass (which normally directly precedes a Life Night). This promotion can take several forms such as the Youth Minister making an announcement or the Core members passing out an object related to the theme of the night to try to pique the interest of the teens. The Gather is always directly related to the main message of the night.
Life Teen holds youth-focused masses,<ref name="Spirituality"/> which it says are the most important part of its program.<ref name="ministry"/> Particular efforts are made to create a welcoming atmosphere, reverent and relevant music, and an engaging homily that speaks to the issues in teens' lives.<ref name="ministry"/> The music ranges from traditional Catholic hymns, sometimes with a modern arrangement, to Catholic worship songs. Life Teen has a transcription of a video talk by Fr. Robert Schreiner<ref></ref> explaining the role of music within Liturgy.


===Life Nights===
*'''Proclaim''': This section of the Life Night is devoted to the main teaching for the night. The Proclaim is advised to be 10–15 minutes long, depending on the topic. Typically, the presentation is usually given by the ], another Core member, a clergy member, or a team of people. Life Teen also has a prepared DVD component for certain Life Nights which can be shown in place of a live teaching.
Following the Mass are gatherings that are aimed to be enjoyable and to challenge teenagers to deepen their relationships with God and to learn about the Catholic faith.<ref name="ministry"/> Known as Life Nights, the gatherings consist of four segments; Gather, Proclaim, Break, and Send, which are derived from the flow of the ].<ref name="Nights"/>

*'''Break''': In this section of the Life Night, teenagers are given the chance to "break open" the message of the night. Typically this takes the form of small groups. Life Teen recommends one adult for every 6-8 teens in a group. Certain Life Nights recommend a large group wrap session or doing a group activity (like a ] walk) to provide the teens a chance to digest the message of the night.

*'''Send''': The send portion of a Life Night is to wrap up the Life Night by giving the teens a way to take the message they learned and apply it to their lives at home. Generally the send involves some personal prayer time. Depending on the night, teens might be given the chance to make a personal commitment to do something or not do something. The teens may also be presented with a small gift (such as holy water, a nail or a cross) to help them remember the message of the night. Life Teen also recommends the closing of each Life Night with a reminder of what the next Life Night will be and having the teens say as a group the ] and sing ].


Life Nights come in three varieties: catechetical, issue, and social. Catechetical nights are designed to teach teens about some aspect of the Catholic faith. Issue nights deal with real life issues that teens deal with on a daily basis such as gossip, chastity, or drinking. Social nights are designed to help teens build friendships and develop stronger social bonds.<ref name="Nights"/> Life Nights consist of ] issue and social nights. Catechetical nights are designed to teach teenagers about aspects of the Catholic faith, issue nights deal with real-life issues such as gossip, chastity, and drinking, and social nights are designed to help teenagers build friendships and strengthen social bonds.<ref name="Nights"/>


===Core values=== ===Core values===
Life Teen is guided by seven core values.<ref name="Spirituality"/> Life Teen promotes seven core values.<ref name="Spirituality"/>
# Eucharistic spirituality - As the Eucharist is the "source and summit"<ref name="cc1324"/> of the Catholic faith, Life Teen focuses the program on the Mass and receiving Christ in the Eucharist. *Eucharistic spirituality - focuses on <ref name="cc1324"/> the Mass and receiving Christ in the Eucharist.
# Love - Life Teen strives to show every teen that attends the Mass or a program offered that they are loved. * Love - Life Teen strives to show attendees of the Mass or a program offered that they are loved.
# Joy - Life Teen professes that "Jesus is a reason to be joyful and excited about life" and attempts to make sure that every experience a teen has with Life Teen is a positive one. * Joy - according to Life Teen; "Jesus is a reason to be joyful and excited about life"<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.stmarysparish.ca/ministries/life-teen-for-grades-8-to-12 | title=Life Teen (For Grades 8 to 12) - St. Mary's Catholic Parish }}</ref>
# Affirmation - As a community, all who take part in Life Teen are expected to support and encourage one another. * Affirmation - As a community, participants in Life Teen are expected to support and encourage one another.
# Authenticity - Life Tenn encourages teens to live an authentic life, one where they do not wear a "mask" or pretend to be someone they are not. * Authenticity - Life Teen encourages teenagers to live an authentic life in which they do not wear a "mask" or pretend to be someone they are not.
# Evangelization - As Jesus commissioned his disciples to "make disciples of all nations,"<ref name="mt28"/> Life Teen believes "that every teenager deserves a chance to have a relationship with Jesus" and invites all to participate. * ] - <ref name="mt28"/> Life Teen believes "every teenager deserves a chance to have a relationship with Jesus" and invites all to participate.
# Primary vocation - The adult leaders of Life Teen are also called to take care of their primary responsibilities ahead of their commitments to Life Teen or any other purpose. * Primary ] - The adult leaders of Life Teen are called to take care of their primary responsibilities ahead of their commitments to Life Teen or any other purpose.


==Additional Programs== ==Additional programs==
In addition to High School Youth Ministry, Life Teen has been branching out as of late to many different other areas of ministry. It also offers training events, summer camps, youth rallies, and conferences.<ref name="25th"/> In addition to high school youth ministry, Life Teen has been expanded to other areas of ministry. It offers training events, summer camps, youth rallies, and conferences.<ref name="25th"/>


===Summer camps=== ===Summer camps===
Life Teen operates three summer camps: Camp Hiawassee in ], Camp Tepeyac in ], and Camp Covecrest in ].<ref name="locations"/> The camps as designed to build friendships, including those with youths from their own parishes and those from other parts of the country, to allow the youths to have fun, and to deepen their faith through prayer and experiencing the sacraments. Life Teen operates summer camps at Camp Hidden Lake in ], and Camp Covecrest in ].<ref name="locations"/> The camps are designed to build friendships, allow attendees to have fun, and deepen their faith through prayer and experiencing the sacraments.


Camp activities include games and outdoor activities.<ref name="locations"/><ref name="camps"/>
Depending on the camp attended, they may mountain bike, play ], go hiking, white water rafting, zip lining, play with farm animals, play team sports, climb a rope course, go fishing, or play messy field games.<ref name="locations"/><ref name="camps"/>


The camps also encourage and assist teens to develop a deeper relationship with Christ. In addition to the Mass, teens can partake in the ], listen to dynamic speakers and ], and attend ].<ref name="camps"/> The camps also encourage and assist teens to develop a deeper relationship with Christ. In addition to the Mass, attendees can partake in the ], listen to speakers, and ], and attend ].<ref name="camps"/>


===St. John Paul II Center for the New Evangelization===
===Edge===
In 2012, Bishop ] asked Life Teen to build a base on diocesan land in Madian, Haiti. He tasked Life Teen with bringing Catholic youth ministry to the ]. The base currently serves teenagers in the area through Bible studies, Life Nights, and discipleship. The base brings together both Haitian and American missionaries.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Life Teen Missions Haiti |url=https://lifeteen.com/missions/haiti-missions/ |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=Missions |language=en-US}}</ref>
is Life Teen's middle school ministry for early adolescents in grades six, seven and eight. It is designed to meet the educational, spiritual, emotional, and social needs of young adolescents. Edge combines the best of Life Teen with the necessary adaptations to provide middle school youth with the ministry they need.


==See also==
Edge Nights occur once every week during the school year, and also has social and recreational activities designed to create a greater sense of community amongst middle school youth. In addition, several national Edge Summer Camps are held in Georgia, Arizona, and Missouri.
{{Portal|Catholicism}}

*]
===Parent Life===
*]
Life Teen recognizes the importance of ministry not only to teens but also to their families, especially parents. Parent Life was created to have a lasting effect on Life Teen parishes, as a program to, for, and with parents that allow them to draw closer to Christ. The program solidifies and strengthens the family structure, and builds community within the parish.
*]

*]
Parents Life is facilitated by the parents themselves. One person or a couple coordinates the overall parent ministry to insure consistency. The leader/leaders are under the direction of the pastor or the youth minister.
*]

==Organization==
Life Teen is headed by a five member administrative team including President and CEO Randy Rauss and Vice President of Communication and Opperation Matt Smith, who is best known as a cast member on ].<ref name="staff"/> In addition, a 23 member board of directors includes Bishop ], three priests, one deacon, and a number of laity from around the country.<ref name="staff"/>


==References== ==References==
Line 75: Line 75:
| url = http://www.catholic.org/prwire/headline.php?ID=9542 | url = http://www.catholic.org/prwire/headline.php?ID=9542
| title = MOVEMENT AWAKENS CATHOLIC TEENS: Life Teen Marks 25 years of Life-Changing Youth Ministry | title = MOVEMENT AWAKENS CATHOLIC TEENS: Life Teen Marks 25 years of Life-Changing Youth Ministry
| date = 12/13/2010 | date = 2010-12-13
| accessdate = 2013-08-21 | accessdate = 2013-08-21
}}</ref> }}</ref>
Line 83: Line 83:
| title = Bovine Voyage: A video about our newest Life Support Toy | title = Bovine Voyage: A video about our newest Life Support Toy
| author = Joel Stepanek | author = Joel Stepanek
| date = FEBRUARY 6, 2013 | date = February 6, 2013
| publisher = CatholicYouthMinistry.com | publisher = CatholicYouthMinistry.com
| accessdate = 2013-08-07 | accessdate = 2013-08-07
Line 95: Line 95:
}}</ref> }}</ref>


<ref name="cc1324">{{cite web <ref name=cardinal>{{cite news
| url = http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p2s2c1a3.htm | url = http://www.thebostonpilot.com/article.asp?ID=173318
| title = The Eucharist - source and summit of ecceslial life | title = Cardinal Celebrates Life Teen Mass for Appeal Weekend
| date = March 6, 2015
| quote = The Eucharist is "the source and summit of the Christian life."136 "The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch."
| accessdate = 2013-08-07 | accessdate = April 7, 2015
| publisher = The Boston Pilot
| first = Christopher S.
| last = Pineo
}}</ref> }}</ref>


<ref name="cc1324">{{cite web| url = https://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p2s2c1a3.htm| title = The Eucharist - source and summit of ecceslial life
<ref name="laicized">
| quote = The Eucharist is "the source and summit of the Christian life."136 "The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch."| accessdate = 2013-08-07}}</ref>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/02/16/20100216catholic-monsingor-defrocked-fushek.html
| title = Church officially strips Dale Fushek of priesthood
| author = Jim Walsh
| date = Feb. 16, 2010
| publisher = ]
| accessdate = 2013-08-13
}}</ref>


<ref name=hart>{{cite AV media |people=Mark Hart |date=October 29, 2018 |title=] |medium=] }}</ref>
<ref name="locations">{{cite web
| url = http://catholicyouthministry.com/summer-camp/camp-locations/
| title = Camp Locations
| publisher = CatholicYouthMinistry.com
| accessdate = 2013-08-21
}}</ref>


<ref name="laicized">{{cite web| url = http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/02/16/20100216catholic-monsingor-defrocked-fushek.html| title = Church officially strips Dale Fushek of priesthood| author = Jim Walsh| date = Feb 16, 2010 | publisher = ]| accessdate = 2013-08-13}}{{subscription required}}</ref>
<ref name="ministry">

{{cite web
<ref name="locations">{{cite web| url = http://catholicyouthministry.com/summer-camp/camp-locations/| title = Camp Locations| publisher = CatholicYouthMinistry.com| accessdate = 2013-08-21}}</ref>
| url = http://lifeteen.com/about/youth-ministry/

| title = About Life Teen
<ref name="ministry">{{cite web |url=http://lifeteen.com/about/youth-ministry/ |title=About Life Teen |publisher=LifeTeen.com |accessdate=2013-08-08 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130812195414/http://lifeteen.com/about/youth-ministry/ |archivedate=2013-08-12 }}</ref>
| publisher = LifeTeen.com
| accessdate = 2013-08-08
}}
</ref>


<ref name="mt28"> <ref name="mt28">{{bibleref|Matthew|28:19|NAB}}</ref>
{{bibleref|Matthew|28:19|NAB}}
</ref>


<ref name="Nelson">{{cite web <ref name="Nelson">{{cite web
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| accessdate = 2013-08-07 | accessdate = 2013-08-07
}}</ref> }}</ref>

<ref name=seminarians>{{cite AV media |people=Fr. Dave Dwyer |date=August 2, 2017 |title=Busted Halo |trans-title= |medium=] }}</ref>


<ref name="Spirituality">{{cite web <ref name="Spirituality">{{cite web
| url = http://lifeteen.com/about/spirituality/ |url=http://lifeteen.com/about/spirituality/
| title = Spirituality |title=Spirituality
| publisher = LifeTeen.com |publisher=LifeTeen.com
| accessdate = 2013-08-07 |accessdate=2013-08-07
|url-status=dead
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130812172846/http://lifeteen.com/about/spirituality/
|archivedate=2013-08-12
}}</ref> }}</ref>


<ref name="staff">{{cite web <ref name="staff">{{cite web
| url = http://catholicyouthministry.com/contact-us/staff-directory/ | url = https://lifeteen.com/about/our-staff/
| title = Life Teen Staff Directory | title = Life Teen Our Staff
| publisher = CatholicYouthMinistry.com | publisher = CatholicYouthMinistry.com
| accessdate = 2013-08-20 | accessdate = 2013-08-20
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{{Lay Catholic spirituality}} {{Lay Catholic spirituality}}


] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
]
]

Latest revision as of 15:46, 2 June 2024

Catholic youth ministry organization
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Life Teen" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (March 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
Life Teen, Inc.
Founded atMesa, AZ
HeadquartersMesa, AZ

Atlanta, GA

St. Louis, MO
Official language English, Spanish
President & CEORandy Raus
Vice President & CIOMark Hart
Websitelifeteen.com
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    Life Teen is a Catholic youth ministry organization in the United States.

    Overview

    Life Teen's mission statement explains, "As a Eucharist-centered movement within the Roman Catholic Church, Life Teen leads teenagers and their families into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church".

    Life Teen provides parish-based programs. The Life Teen program for high-school teenagers is used by over 1,800 Catholic parishes in 24 countries, across North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Asia and Africa.

    In 2003, they launched the Edge program for middle-school pupils, which was used by almost 1,000 parishes in 10 countries. As of 2005, over 100,000 high-school-aged Catholics in the US attended Life Teen each week.

    History

    Life Teen was established in 1985 at St. Timothy's Parish in Mesa, Arizona. The founder and then-priest Dale Fushek said he believed the Church needed a new approach to evangelize Christ to the Catholic youth in the area. Fushek was later excommunicated when he opened a non-denominational, Protestant-oriented worship center in the Phoenix area. He was ultimately laicized by the Church in 2010 following allegations that he had sexually abused teenage boys and young men.

    Though Life Teen is present in fewer than 10% of American parishes, more than 40% of American seminarians had some connection to the program during their teenage years.

    Organization

    Life Teen is headed by a five-member administrative team including President and CEO Randy Raus, Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer Mark Hart, Vice President of Ministry Advancement Steve Allgeyer, Vice President of Parish Services Joel Stepanek, and Vice President of Missions and Operations Jason Ball.

    Its 23-member board of directors includes Bishop Everard De Jong, Bishop James Wall, four priests, and several laities from around the country.

    Ministry model

    This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
    Find sources: "Life Teen" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (March 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

    Life Teen helps Youth Ministers and adult program leaders, known as Core members, minister to young Catholics in a parish setting. Teenagers typically attend a Sunday Mass specifically intended for their families and other interested parishioners. Music and homilies are focused on teenagers, who are invited to be trained in approved liturgical roles such as lectors, ushers, altar servers, greeters, and Extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion. Following Mass, a "Life Night", which incorporates teaching in Catholic beliefs, interactive activities, and socialization, is held.

    Many Life Teen Programs hold events such as Bible study and other social events. Life Teen and Edge programs are encouraged to host two weekend-long retreats for members throughout the year.

    Mass

    Life Teen holds youth-focused masses, which it says are the most important part of its program. Particular efforts are made to create a welcoming atmosphere, reverent and relevant music, and an engaging homily that speaks to the issues in teens' lives. The music ranges from traditional Catholic hymns, sometimes with a modern arrangement, to Catholic worship songs. Life Teen has a transcription of a video talk by Fr. Robert Schreiner explaining the role of music within Liturgy.

    Life Nights

    Following the Mass are gatherings that are aimed to be enjoyable and to challenge teenagers to deepen their relationships with God and to learn about the Catholic faith. Known as Life Nights, the gatherings consist of four segments; Gather, Proclaim, Break, and Send, which are derived from the flow of the Mass.

    Life Nights consist of catechetical issue and social nights. Catechetical nights are designed to teach teenagers about aspects of the Catholic faith, issue nights deal with real-life issues such as gossip, chastity, and drinking, and social nights are designed to help teenagers build friendships and strengthen social bonds.

    Core values

    Life Teen promotes seven core values.

    • Eucharistic spirituality - focuses on the Mass and receiving Christ in the Eucharist.
    • Love - Life Teen strives to show attendees of the Mass or a program offered that they are loved.
    • Joy - according to Life Teen; "Jesus is a reason to be joyful and excited about life"
    • Affirmation - As a community, participants in Life Teen are expected to support and encourage one another.
    • Authenticity - Life Teen encourages teenagers to live an authentic life in which they do not wear a "mask" or pretend to be someone they are not.
    • Evangelization - Life Teen believes "every teenager deserves a chance to have a relationship with Jesus" and invites all to participate.
    • Primary vocation - The adult leaders of Life Teen are called to take care of their primary responsibilities ahead of their commitments to Life Teen or any other purpose.

    Additional programs

    In addition to high school youth ministry, Life Teen has been expanded to other areas of ministry. It offers training events, summer camps, youth rallies, and conferences.

    Summer camps

    Life Teen operates summer camps at Camp Hidden Lake in Dahlonega, Georgia, and Camp Covecrest in Tiger, Georgia. The camps are designed to build friendships, allow attendees to have fun, and deepen their faith through prayer and experiencing the sacraments.

    Camp activities include games and outdoor activities.

    The camps also encourage and assist teens to develop a deeper relationship with Christ. In addition to the Mass, attendees can partake in the sacrament of Reconciliation, listen to speakers, and praise and worship music, and attend Eucharistic adoration.

    St. John Paul II Center for the New Evangelization

    In 2012, Bishop Pierre-André Dumas asked Life Teen to build a base on diocesan land in Madian, Haiti. He tasked Life Teen with bringing Catholic youth ministry to the Diocese of Anse-à-Veau et Miragoâne. The base currently serves teenagers in the area through Bible studies, Life Nights, and discipleship. The base brings together both Haitian and American missionaries.

    See also

    References

    1. About Life Teen, November 28, 2011
    2. Lifeteen official website, Retrieved 2023-05-04
    3. "Mission and Ministry". About. Retrieved 2019-03-08.
    4. ^ "MOVEMENT AWAKENS CATHOLIC TEENS: Life Teen Marks 25 years of Life-Changing Youth Ministry". 2010-12-13. Retrieved 2013-08-21.
    5. Pineo, Christopher S. (March 6, 2015). "Cardinal Celebrates Life Teen Mass for Appeal Weekend". The Boston Pilot. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
    6. Joel Stepanek (February 6, 2013). "Bovine Voyage: A video about our newest Life Support Toy". CatholicYouthMinistry.com. Retrieved 2013-08-07.
    7. "Edge : Catholic Middle School Youth Ministry". Retrieved 2013-08-07. 944 Catholic parishes in 10 countries have an Edge ministry for their middle school youth.
    8. "EDGE".
    9. Robert Nelson (February 24, 2005). "Cross to Bare". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 2013-08-07.
    10. Jim Walsh (Feb 16, 2010). "Church officially strips Dale Fushek of priesthood". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2013-08-13.(subscription required)
    11. Fr. Dave Dwyer (August 2, 2017). Busted Halo (Sirius XM).
    12. Mark Hart (October 29, 2018). The Catholic Guy Show (Sirius XM).
    13. ^ "Life Teen Our Staff". CatholicYouthMinistry.com. Retrieved 2013-08-20.
    14. ^ "About Life Teen". LifeTeen.com. Archived from the original on 2013-08-12. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
    15. ^ "Spirituality". LifeTeen.com. Archived from the original on 2013-08-12. Retrieved 2013-08-07.
    16. transcription of a video talk by Fr. Robert Schreiner
    17. ^ "Life Nights". CatholicYouthMinistry.com. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
    18. "The Eucharist - source and summit of ecceslial life". Retrieved 2013-08-07. The Eucharist is "the source and summit of the Christian life."136 "The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch."
    19. "Life Teen (For Grades 8 to 12) - St. Mary's Catholic Parish".
    20. Matthew 28:19
    21. ^ "Camp Locations". CatholicYouthMinistry.com. Retrieved 2013-08-21.
    22. ^ "Summer Camps". CatholicYouthMinistry.com. Retrieved 2013-08-21.
    23. "Life Teen Missions Haiti". Missions. Retrieved 2023-04-08.

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