Middle School  Youth Ministry

 grades 6-7-8

Registration is open!  Read about the program, then scroll down for the Form.

Welcome to EDGE!
At EDGE, 6th-8th grade youth explore their Catholic Faith with their peers. As they strive to grow in their relationship with Jesus, they'll experience:

• fun activities
• service opportunities
• witness talks 
• small group discussions
• prayer experiences
• and more!

Throughout the year, there will be additional opportunities, such as retreats, lock-ins, deanery and archdiocesan events, and offsite outings. EDGE also counts as the first part of  Confirmation preparation. To Register for EDGE, scroll down this page.

When does EDGE meet?
We meet on Sunday Nights following the 5:00pm Life Teen Mass. (6:30pm-8:00pm). Once a month, we'll have Parent Nights. On those nights, parents will have a program just for them. Depending on the night, they may be together with the teens! 

We're looking forward to meeting you!  Our first nights are listed below. We'll give a full calendar as programs get going. Notice the year starts with an outdoor Mass - "Mass on the Grass!"
     Mass on the Grass- 5pm, ., September 11 (Bring a lawn chair and picnic dinner.
     First EDGE Night- 6:30-8pm, Sunday, September 18 (We'll start right after Mass.)
     First Parent Night (for both EDGE and Life Teen)- 6:30-8pm, Sunday, October 9
 
For those starting Confirmation preparation this fall, there will be a Parent/Teen retreat on Saturday, October 8, 8:30a-noon. For more information about Confirmation, click HERE.

Regarding Covid-19: 
Much of what we offer is defined (and often limited) by archdiocesan safety policies and state/health department laws and guidelines.  We'll do everything we can to provide a safe environment for our teens and volunteers. 

Questions?
If you have any questions, or just want to touch base, please email Debbie Blomquist. She's looking forward to meeting you and your teen, and helping you connect with St. Stephens in the best way for your family.

All middle school youth need to register for EDGE, regardless of their Confirmation status.  If your teen is eligible to prepare for Confirmation, Debbie Blomquist will contact you after you register. Please watch for her email (from sstm.youth@gmail.com).  And if you have any questions, send her a quick email.

When you register, it will include releases for online/Zoom presentations, in-person activities, and photo/video use.

If you have a heart for teens and a passion for sharing the gospel, then God may be calling YOU to walk with the youth at St. Stephen's on their Faith Journey.  

We need Adult Volunteers to serve as Core Team Members, engaging the youth in community and helping them make the connection between faith and their everyday life. If you are a parent, please know you can also be a volunteer. It's a great opportunity to grow in your own faith as you journey with your teen and their friends. 

Core Team Members must be at least four years older than the youth they work with. (Youth are in 6th through 12th grade.) If you have youth ministry experience, you may also become a Core Team Leader, assisting in leading large and small group activites.

There are many opportunities to serve. In addition to joining/leading small groups, there are so many areas to contribute. Consider:

• Do you like to study the Bible or learn the "Why" behind the "What" we believe as Catholics? 
• Do you like to serve the poor and those in need? 
• Do you like to play games/sports and have fun with the youth?     
• Do you like to pray?  (Core Team will model how to pray and help to provide opportunities where the youth can have a personal encounter with Christ.)   

You may be thinking, "I do not have enough training or I am not formed well enough in my own Catholic Faith to lead teens."  We know that  God does not call the qualified, but qualifies the called!  

We provide training to help small group leaders learn to lead a small group of teens.  All small groups will have two adult leaders, so you would not be in it alone.  

For more information about how you can be involved or if you would like to sign up to join the team, contact Debbie Blomquist at sstm.youth@gmail.com.