St. Bede Youth Ministry

Dear Families:

Thank you for taking an interest in St. Bede’s Catholic Youth Ministry Program, EDGE and thank you for making your child’s spiritual growth a priority for your family.

What Is EDGE? EDGE is a program that brings Catholic youth in 7th & 8th grade together to: -enjoy a fun and relaxed environment where they can just be themselves, -build relationships with one another rooted in Christ, -and grow in their faith and Catholic spirituality. EDGE Nights will be facilitated by a team of fun, faith-filled, relatable leaders who will guide activities and discussions. All 7th and 8th graders are welcome, including those who attend St. Bede School or another private school! Each EDGE Night will cover a new topic relevant to middle school teens (e.g.: peer pressure, getting to know Jesus as a friend, Catholic Social Teaching, etc.) in a more informal and relational setting. They will use music, skits, videos, games and small group faith sharing to explore the subject matter of the evening.

When is EDGE? EDGE will take place (almost) every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month from September 2016 to May 2017 (see attached calendar for exact dates and schedule) from 6:30pm-8:00pm in the Teen Room (Elizabeth Ann Seton Room) behind the Parish Hall. Each EDGE Night will begin with dinner followed by the evening’s activities.

Why EDGE? EDGE is designed to help 7th and 8th graders grow spiritually in a way that is accessible and age appropriate. As pre-teens they’re no longer little kids, and they are beginning to develop their own individual identities that will help them as they navigate adolescence and become fully-formed adults. Additionally, as the youth in EDGE grow closer to one another and to God through their shared faith experiences, they will be more open and ready to embrace the Confirmation experience when they enter high school. As Catholics, when we baptize our children, we make a promise to pass along our faith to them. EDGE is here to help you keep that promise by creating a fun and dynamic atmosphere for junior high students to continue to develop their Catholic faith.

Attached you will find registration materials for the 2015-16 school year. Please complete the Registration, Emergency Info, Family Commitment and Teaching Touching Safety forms and return them to the Youth Ministry Office (in the Parish Center) by no later than August 24th, 2016. If you register before June 15th you’ll get $25 off. Registration packets will also be available online at www.bede.org/135, in the Youth Ministry Office in the Parish Center, and in the vestibule of the Church.

Please feel free to contact us should you have any questions and/or concerns.

Christ’s peace,



Jessica Gerhardt Director of Youth Ministry & Confirmation

St. Bede the Venerable // 215 Foothill Blvd, La Canada, CA 91011 // (818) 949-4325 // [email protected]