Teen Night 2021-2022 Family Handbook

St. Eugene & St. Monica Teen Night 2021-2022 Family Handbook

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” - Matthew 7: 7-8 - STME Youth Ministry

Our Confirmation Team

Thaddeus Loduha, Associate Director for Youth Ministry 414.964.8780 Ext. 124 [email protected]

Meaghan Turner, Director of Adult & Youth Ministry 414.964.8780 Ext. 156 [email protected]

Juliette Anderson, CYM Coordinator 414.332.1576 Ext. 136 [email protected]

Father Jordan Berghouse, STME Associate Pastor 414.332.1576 Ext. 106 [email protected]

Youth Ministry Hub Mailing Address & Drop off Site: STME Ministry Center 5681 N Santa Monica Blvd, WFB 53217 www.stme.church

MISSION: To provide every high school student in our parishes the opportunity to experience a personal relationship with our Lord, and in that relationship with Him, to discover the richness of our Catholic faith and learn to live as His disciples.

Youth Ministry Teen Nights

Who are Youth Ministry (YM) Teen Nights For?

Teen Nights are for all high school students, and specifically the 9th and 10th grade formation ministry leading up to Confirmation. This includes teens who attend both public and Catholic High School.

TEEN NIGHT SESSIONS We plan to run Teen Night ministry in the format of 22+ sessions from September—April during Wednesday evenings at St. Monica @ 7:00 - 8:30 pm

Wed, Sept 15th Wed, Feb 16th Wed, Sept 29th Wed, Feb 23rd Wed, Oct 13 Wed, Mar 9th Wed, Oct 20th Wed, Mar 16th Wed, Oct 27th Wed, mar 30th Wed, Nov 3rd Wed, Apr 6th Wed, Nov 10th Wed, Apr 13th Wed, Nov 17th Wed, Apr 20th Wed, Dec 1st Wed April 27th Wed, Dec 8th

What Parents Are Saying: “You are preparing really meaningful experiences for our sons and daughters.”

“After the last [Teen Night], I could tell my son was contemplative and affected in a positive way by the experience.”

“Thank you for being in touch with what our teens are engaged with.”

“My daughter absolutely loves teen nights. She gets in the car feeling so inspired and moved. She also told me she and the kids at school who are in the group together talk at school about how much they are gaining from being there on Monday nights.”

WHAT I AGREE TO AS A YM PARENT Through the grace of the sacrament of marriage, parents receive the responsibility and privilege of evangelizing their children. Parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children. ~ Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2225

Share your faith with your teen. THIS MEANS: The Church firmly believes and upholds that the Build up your home. faith is first offered to and sustained at home. What we do in Christian Formation is done in order to build up your homes and Build up your family! to build up the family in faith, which will then edify the Church. Ultimately, your children look to you for direction and reality. Therefore, in sending your teen through Youth Ministry at St. Eugene and St. Monica, you agree to the following:

To PERSONALLY ATTEND SUNDAY MASS (EUCHARIST) EVERY SUNDAY. Check out www.masstimes.org for Mass times ANYWHERE YOU GO

To continue your own faith formation through reading, conversation, Bible study, personal devotions (AKA prayer), etc.

To consider, examine, and research your own questions of faith, facilitate conversations about faith, affirm the Church’s real teachings and allow your teen to converse with you about them, challenge your teen to grow in faith, and pray together as a family.

For All Parents: Safeguarding All God’s Family St Eugene and St Monica Parishes are committed to providing a safe environment for all. In compliance with the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, all volunteers over the age of 18 MUST attend a (free, one-time) Safe Environment Education Session, pass a criminal background check and read and sign the Code of Ethical Standards for Church Leaders. In addition, it is our goal to have ALL parents attend this class to increase awareness and safety. This would also qualify parents to volunteer with youth ministry in any capacity (even as simple as checking students in). Please go to www.archmil.org/offices/safeguarding.htm to register for a class. In-person attendance is normally required.

Join the Small Group Leadership Team: We looking for small group leaders to join our team! Being a small group leader requires you to be committed to the faith through daily prayer, Mass on Sundays, and the Sacramental Life. It requires you to desire to help our teens build community with one another, the Church and grow in a personal relationship with God. It does not require you to be an expert in the teachings of the Church or Scripture – but does require you to have a heart to learn as you are challenged! All materials and tools will be pro- vided to you ahead of class. You may teach for one (or as many) of the following seasons

Fall Season (Sept - Nov) Winter Season (Dec - Feb) Spring Season (Mar - May)

Tuition is FREE for one of your teens if you volunteer as a small group leader

TEEN NIGHT | Small Group

TEEN NIGHT SMALL GROUP

What: Our focus this year is going to be accompanying our teens – knowing them personally and meeting them where they are at in their faith. We want to build community through intentional small groups, and be present to one another as much as possible. Each evening will surround a certain theme of Catholic life - Prayer, Church faith, social teaching, etc. We will offer a variety of speakers and presentations for each theme, followed by small groups to discuss the relation to their own lives.

Who: The small groups will be assigned by grade & school, and taking into consideration friend groups (via teen night survey). These small groups will be consistent throughout the year.

Where: St. Monica Parish. When the weather permits, for as long as possible, small groups will meet outside with a prearranged meeting location. In the event of inclement weather, small groups will meet inside, in a predetermined location.

Check In: Students will meet in Donovan Hall before breaking up into their small groups. Name- tags and journals are used as a way for us to keep track of who is currently present that evening.

The Commitment: While we work to offer a schedule that takes into consideration families’ schedules, a student’s full, willing participation is needed...and we understand that plans can cause some conflicts! Each student’s schedule is considered on a case-by-case basis, but we ask each family to help students stay vigilant in participation. We track attendance and will begin reaching out to families if we begin seeing a pattern of absence.

Public School students are asked to attend 14 of any of the Teen Nights. Catholic School students are asked to attend 5 of any of the Teen Nights.

What students need to bring: A mask, lawn chair, bible and dressed appropriately for sitting out- doors

** We will only be able to host as many small groups as we have leaders. If you are willing to consider serving as a small group leader, please email Thaddeus Loduha and CC Annette O’Brien.

Christian Service

...Whatsoever you do for the least of my people, that you do unto Me (Matthew 25:35-40)

Jesus gave us a model for how we should treat all others, as if they were Christ in disguise. The Corporal Works of Mercy are ‘charitable actions by which we help our neighbors in their bodily needs’ (USCCA).

They respond to the basic needs of humanity as we journey together through this life. The Spiritual Works of Mercy are part of our Christian tradition, following Jesus’ example of attending to the spiritual well-being of those he ministered to, helping our neighbor in their spiritual needs (USCCA).

We encounter Christ through the persons we encounter when we serve. This is why we challenge our students to go beyond volunteering and look at how they can SERVE. Feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, shelter the homeless, visit the sick, visit the prisoners, bury the dead, give alms to the poor. …love one another as I have loved you… (John 13:35)

We encourage our students to focus less on ‘hours’ and more on opportunities to serve your neighbor.

We strongly suggest you find opportunities among your neighbors, out in the community AND in your parish community.

We will provide information throughout the year on ways you can give of

yourself and time via email as they come along within the parish.

We hope the opportunities you choose to invest yourself in allow you to encounter Jesus through the people you serve. We are the Body of Christ- let His light shine through your love of neighbor.