Our program is a dynamic program made and tailored just for High School youth. Sunday nights 7:00 - 8:30pm (bi-weekly)  In years past, we used materials from Life Teen or Alpha Youth geared towards High School teens.  Although materials will come from various sources, we will utilize a combined format which follows the structure of Mass -- Gather, Proclaim, Break and Send.  This format enables teens to get to know each other and build friendships as well as keeps them engaged as they learn. 

• Calendar with dates highlighted
• List of dates for each program

We will begin Altaration: The Mystery of The Mass Revealed at our next class. Do not forget to bring your workbook with you to each class. Also bring a journal with you. If you don't have one, a small one will be provided for you.
 
What we've covered thus far...

• Jan 9: diocesan required Child Safety - Relationships
  • Please use this outline & click on links in it to complete at home
  • Homework
• Dec 19: Love Wins - we concluded our semester on spiritual warfare. We talked about evangelization, and how sharing our faith comes from the hope and joy we find in Christ. We talked about sharing the Gospel with others. During the Break, they spent time in their small groups processing the importance of sharing our faith, and fears they confront when doing this. The Life Night ended with a time of prayer and a challenge for teenagers to continue to share their faith and be courageous in their spiritual battles.
• Dec 5: Christmas Party
• Nov 21:: The Battlefield - we discussed the areas of our life that are open to spiritual battle. We challenged teenagers to reflect on areas where they are weak and need to fortify their spiritual defenses. Your son or daughter wrote a “battle plan” that examined these areas and then he or she made resolutions for how to respond with prayer and action. Take time to reflect on your own life and areas where you find spiritual attack most prevalent. How can you combat these areas? Spend a few minutes reflecting on your own faith; the greatest example that at teenager can have of our Catholic faith comes from you.
• Nov 7: Armor  Angels - we discussed the sacraments and angels as our spiritual protection against evil. Teenagers were challenged to reflect on how well they are fortifying their faith with the sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation, as well as prayer. They learned about angels as our protectors, particular St. Michael. At the end of the Life Night, we renewed our Baptismal Promises and gave each teen a prayer card with the St. Michael prayer on it. Take a few minutes to discuss this Life Night with your son or daughter. The following questions provide an excellent starting point for your discussion:
  • Share what you remember about their baptism.. Why was it a special day
  • Pray the St. Michael prayer together as a family every day this week.
• Oct 24: The Fallen Ones - we talked about the reality of Satan and the tactics he uses to lead us away from Christ. More people are ascribing to the idea that Satan is a concept or a myth rather than an actual intelligent being. This idea is not held by the Church, which maintains that Satan is a real being that was created by God, but chose to rebel against God and seeks our ruin. It is dangerous to think otherwise, as it leaves us open to being attacked without realizing it. We began the Life Night with a video, Infestation, that presents the reality of spiritual attack and temptation. Teenagers listened to a talk about the tactics of the devil and how Christ reveals to us how we can stand firm  against these attacks. We closed the Life Night in a time of prayer and Eucharistic Adoration. The following questions can help get a discussion started:
  • How does the reality of evil challenge us as Catholics? How do we respond to it?
  • What can we do as a family to help each other be holier people and stay strong against sin?
• Oct 3: Battle Lines - we reviewed the narrative of The Fall of Humanity, and challenged teenagers to see the account as an archetype for all sin. We began the Life Night locked out of our normal meeting space. Teenagers went to small groups for a discussion about forgiveness and relationships. These themes were brought back up during the Proclaim, which challenged teenagers to evaluate their relationship with Christ. Your son or daughter had an opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation toward the end of the Life Night. We closed with a challenge to see the cross and crucifix as a symbol of God’s love. This week, follow up with your son or daughter and have a discussion about the Life Night. Use the following questions to get started: • Where do you see the effects of original sin? How do we respond to these areas as Catholics? • What can we do to help each other, as a family, stay grounded in Christ?

• Sep 26: Alpha & Omega - We began our semester on Spiritual Warfare, “The Battle.” Over the next six Life Nights, we will learn about the spiritual battle that rages on around us, but also will understand that Christ has already won the victory in this battle. When we give our lives to Him and strive to live as disciples, we share in Christ’s victory. This week, our Life Night will celebrate this victory. The teens will learn that, through Jesus’ Death and Resurrection, sin and death have been defeated, and heaven is opened for us. They will spend time processing this “good news,” and then close the evening in prayer and thanksgiving for God’s gift of life. At the end of the Life Night, we will pray a Litany to Our Lady of Victory. This is a great prayer to use every day as a family – I challenge your family to pray this litany at the end of the day every day the week following this class.

In High School, we ask all of our students to assist at least once a year in at our 6 PM Mass as Lectors or Hospitality ministers. If your family attends a different Mass time, you can also volunteer at that Mass time.  For those who are active altar servers, lectors or hospitality or extraordinary (eucharistic) ministers who serve throughout the year, you do not have to sign up.

When signing up, either choose to be a Lector or Hospitality.
When serving, please arrive 30 minutes early dressed in your Sunday best.  

What does Hospitality do?
       - Greet people as they come into the Church and hand out any worship aids
       - Help with the collection and bring up the gifts
       - Pass out bulletins
       - Help organize the Church after Mass
What does a Lector do? 
       - Proclaim one of the readings
       - Must prepare ahead of time!  

The success of our Faith Formation programs relies heavily on the volunteerism of our confirmed SJN Parishioners. Please consider sharing one of your most valuable assets with our children…your TIME! There are many ways to get involved within the High School Program, whether it is working directly with the students or helping in the background! 

We are looking for people to help in a number of different ways, but especially Environment Setup and chaperones for various events throughout the year.  If you are interested or have questions, please contact Cheri'!