Life Teen and Senior High
Get Involved - Shared Ministry Opportunities
St. Joseph the Worker's Senior High Faith Formation Ministry invites all Ninth through Twelfth Grade teens to deepen their faith lives, to pray, and to experience the love of God, while putting into practice the teachings of Jesus. To guide young people on their faith journey, we offer a four year program where teens are mentored in small faith-sharing communities.
Our ministry consists of small groups of teens from the same grade level that remain together for four years. By learning, serving, playing, and praying together, the youth are encouraged to support one another in a Christian environment. Our Senior High Faith Formation Program offers a variety of opportunities that encourage teens to live the Gospel.
In addition to the required small group experience, teens may elect to participate in one of two summer mission trips, as a youth advisor on our Youth Ministry Advisory Board (YMAT) or participate as a peer leader with the Summer Stretch or Faith Formation programs.
Barry Shay
Grade 7-12 Faith Formation Coordinator/Youth Minister
763-425-9801, ext. 235
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Grades 9-12 Faith Formation Program 2009-2010
Faith Formation for grades 9-12 is offered on Sunday evenings here at St. Joseph the Worker. The Life TeenTM program calls for teens to participate in the 5:30 p.m. liturgy, participate in Life Nights (Life Teen program) which incorporates, music, interactive games and activities as well as large and small group sessions for catechesis. The evening concludes at 8:30 p.m. Even though there will be designated weekends for catechesis based on grade level, teens are invited to participate in any of the 5:30 liturgies, Life Nights and engage in fellowship afterwards on any weekend.
Why 5:30 PM Liturgy
The Eucharist is the pinnacle of our faith life. Participating in the liturgy and being an active part of our faith community is central to our Catholic identity. Liturgy participation has always been a Confirmation preparation objective. Under this model, the liturgy is a major part of the catechesis and our priest plays a direct active role in the teens’ faith formation.
Worshiping together builds community. Through prayer, music, and proclaiming the Word of God the liturgy connects young people to each other and to our whole parish community. This model is not exclusive in any sense, and should be viewed as inclusive of everyone. The 5:30 p.m. Sunday liturgy is not a "teen liturgy" although some messages of the homilies may be geared toward them. Everyone in the community is invited to participate in this liturgy, as always. Parents are welcome to participate in this liturgy and/or to participate in the evening program by being catechists, aides, and helping with snacks.
The Sacraments experienced during the 5:30 p.m. liturgy act as a natural springboard for our Life Night program. We are able to build off of the graces that we have received and lessons that we learned during Mass. We are then able to connect the experience of the liturgy to a more familiar, social/educational setting, to more fully integrate their faith in their everyday life.
What if our family wants to participate at liturgy together at a different time? Does our teen have to go to the 5:30 p.m. liturgy?
The program is not intended to keep families from participating in a liturgy together. Your whole family is invited to the 5:30 p.m. liturgy, but it is not mandatory to attend only the 5:30 p.m. Mass. The important thing is for our teens to be participants in our weekend liturgy. If you opt to go as a family at a different time, then you are to document when your teen has participated in a liturgy. Your teen, however, still needs to be part of the evening session that begins at 7:00 p.m. and ends at 8:30 p.m.
What happened to Super Sundays?
We are incorporating Life Teen’s Confirmation program “Oneight” into our Life Night schedule this year. As a result we will no longer use the Super Sunday format.
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Confirmation
In Eleventh grade, upon completion of program requirements, teens may celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation. For details on our Confirmation program please visit the Sacraments page.
Confirmation Dates to Remember….
The following sessions are required Confirmation nights. All students preparing for confirmation, including students in Catholic Schools must attend all appropriate sessions.
Confirmation 1 (10th Grade):
Net Ministries Confirmation Retreat 2009: “SJTW Weekend” November 13-15*
The Confirmation Retreat can be selected from any of 9 dates offered by NET Ministries on their campus in West St. Paul. St. Joseph the Worker has 50 slots reserved for NET’s November 13-15 retreat. For more information on NET Ministries or to register for any other retreat date visit www.netusa.org.
10th Grade Candidate/Parent Meeting (Sacramental Prep.#1): October 8th or 14th.
10th Grade Sacramental Prep. Session #2: March 21, 2010
10th Grade Sacramental Prep. Session #3: April 25, 2010
Confirmation 1 Deadlines:
10th Confirmation Retreat Registration Deadline*: October 9, 2009
*NOTE: Space is limited for the November 13-15 retreat and may fill before the deadline.
Confirmation Sponsor form: March 21, 2010
Confirmation 2 (10th Grade):
11th Grade Candidate/Sponsor Meeting: (Sacramental Prep.#1): October 15th or 29th.
11th Grade Sacramental Prep. Session #2: November 15
11th Grade Sacramental Prep. Session #3: January 10, 2010
11th Grade Candidate/Sponsor rehearsal: June 6, 4:00 PM St. Joseph The Worker.
11th Grade Sending Mass and reception: June 6, 5:30 PM St. Joseph The Worker.
Our Confirmation date for 2010 is Thursday, June 10th at 7:00 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul.
Confirmation 2 Deadlines:
Confirmation Sponsor Letter: January 10, 2010
Confirmation Volunteer Hours: March 14, 2010
Retreat Requirements: March 14, 2010
Letter to the Bishop: April 11, 2010
Ministry Reflection paper: April 11, 2010
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The Living Stations
Presented by the 9th Grade Faith Formation Groups
During Lent 2010
Each year, the 9th grade Faith Formation groups present the Living Stations for the whole parish. This year, they will be presented twice - once during Junior High Faith Formation session and the other in place of the Friday Stations of the Cross. All are welcome to attend either presentation.
Under the direction of Cindi Scheffler, the 9th grade teens act out all 15 stations. Combined with lighting and music, this experience allows the audience to enter into the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Throughout the experience, all are asked to reflect upon the sacrifice Christ offered up for our sins and help us prepare for His resurrection on Easter Sunday.
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9-12th grade Social Justice and service projects
Each small group is encouraged to independently seek out a ministry project that connects our beliefs to life of the community. Some projects that groups have chosen in the past are: package food at Feed My Starving Children, serving meals at Loaves and Fishes, assist with a Knights of Columbus pancake breakfast, and purchase items for the parish Christmas giving tree.
Beginning in May of their 9th grade year, teens are able to start counting and documenting their volunteer hours toward their Confirmation ministry goals.
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TEC DATES
We encourage all 10th or 11th grade teens to consider TEC for their second retreat option. TEC is a powerful three-day combination of: Prayer, sacraments, games, presentations, small and large group discussion, recreation time, skits, and a few surprises! Focusing on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, TEC encourages deeper relationship with God, others and the Church. TEC is a great way to take some time to grow in faith in the midst of your busy schedule.
All retreats start at 9:30 a.m. the first day and end at 4:45 p.m. the third day. It is not possible to attend only a portion of the retreat. Participants must be at least 16 or a junior in high school by the time of the retreat. The cost of the retreats is $125.
Retreat Registrations are made directly with Twin Cities TEC. To register complete both sides of the registration form and mail it along with your retreat fee to: Twin Cities TEC Office, 1725 Kennard St. Suite 201, Maplewood, MN 55109. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.
TEC Retreat Dates: 2009-10
#314 October 16-18
#315 November 27-29
#316 December 27-29
#318 February 13-15
#319 March 19-21
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2009-2010 LifeNight Schedules
(LifeNights are 7:00-8:30 pm unless noted otherwise)
LifeNight Schedule: Grades 9 & 10
September 27 Life Night: Kick-off Session 7:00 (All Grades)
October 18: Life Night Session #1 (9th & 10th Grade)
November 1: Life Night Session #2 (9th & 10th Grade)
November 22: Life Night Session #3 (9th & 10th Grade)
December 6: “3 1/2 Stories of Christmas”
(One-man show by nationally acclaimed actor Frank Runyeon)
December 20: Life Night Session #4 (9th & 10th Grade)
2010
Attend at least one night of the Parish Mission (January 17th or January 24th).
Sign-in sheets will be posted in the Gathering space.
January 31: Life Night Session #5 (9th & 10th Grade)
February 21: Life Night Session #6 (9th & 10th Grade)
February 28: “Sermon on the Mount”
(One-man show by nationally acclaimed actor Frank Runyeon)
March 7: Life Night Session #7 (9th & 10th Grade)
March 2: Parish Reconciliation Service
April 18: Life Night Session #8 (9th & 10th Grade)
LifeNight Schedule: Grades 11 & 12
September 27: Life Night: Kick-off Session 7:00 (All Grades)
October 4: Life Night Session #1 (11th Grade)
October 25: Life Night Session #2 (11th Grade)
November 8: Life Night Session #3 (11th Grade)
December 6: “3 1/2 Stories of Christmas”
(One-man show by nationally acclaimed actor Frank Runyeon)
December 13: Life Night Session #4 (11th Grade)
2010
Attend at least one night of the Parish Mission (January 17th or January 31st).
Sign-in sheets will be posted in the Gathering space.
January 24: Life Night Session #5 (11th Grade)
February 7: “Life Noon” Session #6 (11th Grade)
(Note: this session runs from Noon-1:30 pm (Super Bowl Sunday)
February 28: “Sermon on the Mount”
(One-man show by nationally acclaimed actor Frank Runyeon)
March 14: Life Night Session #7 (11th Grade)
March 28: Parish Reconciliation Service
(Especially recommended for Confirmation 2 Candidates)
April 11: Life Night Session #8 (11th Grade)
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