Good Morning,
This week we want to highlight the first 8-week session of the year for our middle-high school small groups. Below you'll find information about in person opportunities as well as some things you can do at home.
Parents, don't miss our Parent Section at the very end.
Peace,
Zach
Small Groups Overview
Middle-high school faith formation at Pax Christi is done through small groups. Our small groups are lead by adult volunteers who love to share the faith with our teens. Small groups are open to any 6th-12th grader whether they are in the public, Catholic/private, charter, home, or any other school. The main goal of our small groups is to be a place where our students can grow in a relationship with God, better understand the Church, and explore their vocations. Our hope is that every teen at Pax Christi would be in a small group. Below you'll find some of our small group opportunities.
We know that in-person face-to-face formation can't be beat and we are excited to be able to offer the opportunity to students and families who want to participate. Individuals/families who register for these in-person faith formation opportunities will be able to participate with their peers and adult leaders in small groups as well as a couple large group nights. Our staff and volunteers will work hard to maintain safe and clean spaces and participants will be asked to follow appropriate health/safety guidelines.
Middle School Small Groups
Wednesday Nights (Grades 6-8)
Middle Schools Students will be divided into small groups led by 2-3 trained adults using "Edge" for middle school students by Life Teen (as we have for the last handful of years).
REGISTER for more information
Confirmation Small Groups
Sun/Wed Nights (Grades 9-10)
Small groups will meet on Sun/Wed. and will offer a video conference option
(more details coming soon).
REGISTER for more information
High School Small Group
Day TBD (Grades 11-12)
Our High School Small Group for grades 11-12 has continued to meet online throughout the summer. We will continue to offer the option of calling in via video conference or coming in person for our small group meeting. The time and day are yet to be determined.
REGISTER for more information
Large Group Prayer Nights
Various Wed. (Students & Families)
During this first 8-week session we will be offering two prayer/reflection nights for all registered students and their families. The content of each night is still being planned, but you can expect a short talk, time for discussion, and time for prayer.
We have tentatively planned these nights for Wednesdays Sept 30th and Oct 28th.
REGISTER for more information
Maybe you aren't quite ready to come back to in-person small groups just yet. Or maybe you'd like to come in-person but not every week. While we encourage consistent attendance at in-person small groups we realize that this year may be a challenge. For this reason we are providing families with some resources to use together at home.
Connect Groups
Small Group Study for Families
Our content and curriculum provider, Life Teen, is the leader in Catholic Youth Ministry resources. These new Connect Groups have been created for families to engage in their very own small group study/discussion. You could even team up with some other families taking turns hosting each other from time to time.
REGISTER for more information
The Mix - Online Variety Show
Middle & High School Families
The Mix is another new resource by Life Teen in response to the change in youth ministry made necessary by the pandemic. The online variety show will be released weekly beginning Sept 20th. Make a whole family night out of it! Content will be geared towards middle-high school students and parents.
REGISTER for more information
Edge - Middle School Formation
Semester Guides/Lesson Plans
Maybe you just aren't quite ready to come back to in-person formation... or maybe you don't want to come every week. For this reason we will be sending all registered middle school students and their families the lessons we will be doing in-person for you to do at home at any time.
REGISTER for more information
Confirmation (at home component)
Family & Sponsor Meetings
Throughout the course of this first 8 week session all students preparing for Confirmation (typically done in grades 9-10) will be asked to complete a "Faith and Family Session" as well as a meeting (in-person or on-line) with their sponsor. Details about the two opportunities will be made available at a later date.
REGISTER for more information
High School Small Group
Online/Virtual Option
Our High School Small Group for grades 11-12 has continued to meet online through the summer. We will continue to offer the option of calling in via video conference or coming in person for our small group meeting. The time and day are yet to be determined.
REGISTER for more information
The following Lectionary Resources are based on the Sunday Mass Readings. We want all individuals and families to be reading, praying with, discussing, and putting into practice what they are hearing at Mass every Sunday. We will make these resources available for you to use as an individual or family for free, no registration necessary!
We recommend spending time with the readings all week; I like to start on Thursday to prepare for the coming weekend, and continue with those readings through the following Wednesday to allow God room to speak through his Word even after Mass on Sunday.
Ascend
Personal Study of the Mass Readings
Ascend is a companion to the Sunday Readings written for teenagers. Each week includes prayer, historical and theological insight, journaling prompts, and a weekly challenge. These first 8 weeks I will photo copy each week and send it out in our youth updates. Later on in the year you will have an opportunity to order the 2021 Liturgical Year edition.
Summit
Family Study of the Mass Readings
Families who pray together, stay together, and the Holy Mass is the highest form of prayer. Summit is a small group resource families can use to dive into reflection and discussion of the Sunday Mass readings together.
Sunday, Sunday, Sunday
Podcast on the Mass Readings
Mark Hart is a leading Catholic speaker popular with both teens and adults. He is great at unpacking scripture in meaningful and applicable ways. His weekly podcast runs only about 5 minutes. I am told he will be resuming shortly.
Fr. Mike Schmitz Homilies
YouTube Series of Mass Homilies
Fr. Mike Schmitz is the Newman Center Chaplin at the University of Minnesota Duluth. He is a dynamic speaker who delivers the Gospel message with clarity, humor, and conviction. If you haven't heard him before you are in for a treat!
Interest in Coffee or Dinner?
One thing I'd love to do throughout the year is make myself available for meeting with families one-on-one (or in small groups of 2-3 families at a time) over coffee or dinner. Before I put a lot of time into scheduling and blocking out time for that I am curious if anybody is even remotely interested in that. This could be a great way for me to get to know you and your family and learn about how our parish can better meet your needs! These meetings could take place at my house, the youth center, St. James Coffee, or even your house if you'd like (I'll bring the food).
My Family and/or I is/am interested in having coffee or dinner with Zach
Definitely! Especially if he cooks, or brings the pizza!
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No way!
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Blog - Teenagers and technology: Answers to your top pandemic questions
“I think it’s probably fine for us to loosen up on our family screen time rules.”
It was day four of social isolation (you know, back when we thought we would be quarantined for a few weeks). I (Kara) could already see the toll levied by loneliness, boredom, and uncertainty on our three teenagers. So much—from friends to their normal fun—had been taken from them. Giving the gift of more autonomy when it came to screen time felt like the least we parents could do.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns or just want to talk let us know.
We are here for you!
Peace,
Dana Petricka
Coordinator of Youth & Young Adult Ministry
Dana is primarily responsible for Confirmation Preparation, High School Small Groups, and Young Adult Ministry
Zach Rawson
Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministry
Zach is primarily responsible for Middle School Faith Formation, Youth Ministry activities, events, and trips, Unite Ministry efforts.