Welcome Home

Life Teen represents a movement within the Roman Catholic Church aimed at guiding teenagers and their families towards a deeper connection with Jesus Christ and the Church.

We firmly believe that when teenagers encounter Christ through the richness of the Catholic faith, they have the potential to positively influence their parish, community, and broader culture. This conviction drives our commitment at St. Thomas to support your teen's spiritual journey towards a closer relationship with Christ.

Life Teen adheres to the USCCB Doctrinal Framework for High School Catechesis, employing a four-year cycle to ensure that each high schooler has the opportunity to explore distinct topics throughout their high school years. Whether your teen has participated before, received their Sacraments, or even if they're not Catholic, they are welcome to join us and engage with fresh perspectives.

Our approach to youth ministry, embodied by Life Teen, encompasses a holistic understanding of the needs of young people. In 1997, the Catholic Bishops of the United States underscored the significance of Catholic youth ministry through the document "Renewing the Vision: A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry," catalyzing a renewed focus within the Church.

Inspired by the words of Pope St. John Paul II at World Youth Day 1995, which emphasized the Church's duty to engage in dialogue with young individuals and guide them in their life commitments, Renewing the Vision established three fundamental goals for ministry with adolescents:

1. Discipleship: Empowering young people to live as followers of Jesus Christ in today's world.
2. Active Participation: Encouraging young people to responsibly engage in the life, mission, and work of the Catholic faith community.
3. Growth: Fostering the overall personal and spiritual development of each young person.

To realize these goals, it is imperative for the entire Catholic community to collaborate in ministering to and empowering young individuals as disciples of Christ. At St. Thomas Aquinas Life Teen, we recognize the importance of a comprehensive approach to Catholic youth ministry, spanning from middle school through the senior year of high school.

Every aspect of Life Teen at St. Thomas, including meetings, events, trips, retreats, conferences, and activities within our youth ministry framework, is meticulously designed to contribute to these goals and is evaluated based on their effectiveness.

It's crucial to distinguish youth ministry from merely a youth group. While a youth group represents one facet of youth ministry programming, defining Life Teen solely as a youth group limits our vision for engaging with and ministering to teens in a holistic manner.

A Dynamic Encounter with God
Sundays 6pm

The Life Teen Mass offers a vibrant and meaningful experience that goes far beyond mere obligation in the realm of Christianity. It is designed to invigorate and revitalize not only our hearts and minds but also our bodies and souls. This Mass is not just a nice activity; it is an essential component that profoundly impacts the health of our Christian lives.

But why is the Life Teen Mass so significant?

Setting Priorities and Embracing Purpose - When we deliberately set aside and prioritize a commitment, we send a powerful message to ourselves and those around us that this commitment holds immense importance. In the context of our faith, the Mass stands as the ultimate expression of this principle. It serves as the source and summit of our Catholic faith—a foundational pillar upon which we can build our journey towards holiness and a closer relationship with God. Through the Mass, God bestows upon us the precious gifts He desires to share with us.

Teens are not passive observers - they are active participants. They engage in the liturgy and assume various leadership roles, such as greeters, altar servers, lectors, ushers, musicians, vocalists, and, more. This active involvement allows them to truly embody the spirit of the Mass and take ownership of their faith.

Ancient Yet Fresh -  The Life Teen Mass combines the timeless traditions of the Catholic Church with a fresh and contemporary approach. Rooted in the moral commandment inscribed within the human heart, the celebration of Sunday holds deep significance. Worship is an inherent part of our existence, as God created us out of love and for love. It is through the Mass that we encounter God in the most intimate way possible—the Eucharist.

Eucharistic Encounter -  The highlight of the Mass is the profound gift of the Eucharist. It is within the sacredness of this Mass that we are reminded of the true presence of Jesus Christ—His body, blood, soul, and divinity. It is a powerful reminder that the Mass is not just a routine obligation but a transformative encounter with the living God.

Whether we are able to receive the Eucharist or not, the Mass extends an open invitation to all. It is a place of belonging and acceptance, where each person is welcomed into the sacred space. This Mass encourages teens to deepen their relationship with God and to live out their faith more fully.

Communal Strength -  Participating in the Life Teen Mass is not just an individual experience; it is a communal journey. Through active engagement and shared worship, teens bear witness to their faith and demonstrate their commitment to Christ and His Church.

Together, they create a powerful testimony of communion, unity, and hope.

The Life Teen Mass is a unique opportunity for teens to encounter God, grow in their faith, and embrace their role as leaders within the Church. It is a dynamic and transformative experience that calls them to be fully alive in their Catholic identity. Through the Life Teen Mass, teens not only learn about the beauty of the Mass but also become integral members of the community, fostering their spiritual growth and deepening their relationship with God.

At St. Thomas Aquinas, Life Teen encompasses essential elements that align with the vision set forth by Pope St. John Paul II. He emphasized the importance of involving young people in formation, spirituality, and service, allowing them to take responsibility for themselves and their contributions, while avoiding their isolation from the broader community (cf. Listen to the True Word of Life, Pope St. John Paul II, 1993).

Life Teen at St. Thomas Aquinas goes beyond a mere class; it represents a comprehensive approach to formation. This approach is not limited to a singular program or a fixed formula for ministry. Instead, it offers a framework for seamlessly integrating ministry with teenagers and their families into the overall life and mission of the Church. Within this framework, we provide the following components:

• Weekly Life Teen Mass on Sun at 6:00pm
• Life Nights on Sun at 7:pm
• Small Group on Wed at 7pm
  • Jesus & Java
    
  • Bagels & Bibles
  • Tacos & The Testament
• Missionary Discipleship
  • Jcore Team
    
• Service & Volunteering Opportunities
• Special Events
  • Retreats
  • Summer Camps
  • Steubenville Conferences
  • World Youth Day
• XLT Praise and Worship with Eucharistic Adoration
• Twitch Streams
• Sacramental Formation
  • Baptism, Confession, Communion
  • Purpose Confirmation Formation
    

Does your teen need preparation to receive sacraments?

Since Life Teen follows the USCCB Doctrinal Framework for High School Catechesis this makes things a little easier.

 All Teens that desire sacrament(s) need to:

• Actively participating in Life Nights and Small Groups and have completed at least one year (about 28 meetings, we meet all year long)  
• Be Registered at St. Thomas Aquinas (or pay a fee and receive permission from your pastor)
• Be Attending Sunday Mass and turning in the Teen Tithing Envelopes
• Master basic formal prayers (provided in October).
• Other requirements for their specific Sacrament

For more info go to

• Baptism
• First Holy Communion
• Confirmation  

Our faith calls us to work  to serve those in need; to pursue peace; and to defend the life, dignity, and rights of all our sisters and brothers. This is the call of Jesus, the urging of his spirit, the challenge of the prophets, and the living tradition of our Church.

Our efforts to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, comfort the sorrowing, console the bereaved, welcome the stranger, and serve the poor and vulnerable must be accompanied by concrete efforts to address the causes of human suffering and injustice. We believe advocacy and action to carry out our principles and constructive dialogue about how best to do this both strengthen our Church and enrich our society. We are called to transform our hearts and our social structures, to renew the face of the earth


Service and volunteering has several distinct features that give direction to programming and action.

• Engages teens in discovering the call to justice and service in the Scriptures, in the life of Jesus, and in Catholic social teaching;
• involves teens, their families, and parish communities in actions of direct service to those in need and in efforts to address the causes of injustice and inequity;
• develops the assets, skills, and faith of  teens by promoting gospel values in their lifestyles and choices; by increasing positive self-esteem, self-confidence, and moral reasoning abilities; by building leadership and social skills; by helping them discover their personal gifts and abilities.
• incorporates doing the right thing with attention to why and how we do what we do 
• involves a supportive community that builds a sense of togetherness, nurtures a life of justice and service, works and provides support and affirmation;
• nurtures a lifelong commitment to service and justice involvement

There will be many ways that the teens can serve and Volunteer at St. Thomas and within Life Teen.   Go Beyond your comfort zone and sign up.

Let's be honest - as youth ministers, we cannot do it alone. We need the support of parents and the entire Parish Community.

At times, we as the core team might be tempted to think that we are the most significant adults in the lives of our teens. However, the truth is that we are not. God has intentionally placed specific parents in the lives of our teens (Acts 17:26), and He has entrusted the core with only a small part of their daily experiences. When we consider that our most active teens spend around 7 hours a week in youth ministry, we realize the immense influence parents can have, as they interact with their teens for many more hours each week!

How do Parents get involved?

• Encourage your teens to show up
  • to go beyond just attending one Life Night
  • Signing them up for Special Events
• Attend the 6pm Mass together
• Read the Parent Letters and use the discussion questions
• Tithe to the Church and help the teens with their tithing envelopes each week
• Donate directly to youth ministry
  • pledge or start a paycheck deduction (sometimes companies match)
  • Buy something on our begging list
• Volunteer
  • Help cook or sponsor a meal once a month
  • Send snacks or goodies for a meeting
    • We could always use Gift cards as prizes!!
  • Help other teens with a ride
  • Attend a Quarterly Parent advisory meeting

This is where the description goes.

We are incredibly grateful for the support we receive in running the Life Teen program. While there are no registration or attendance fees for our teens, we want to emphasize that it is not without cost. Our youth ministry department incurs various expenses, including personnel, supplies, training, and food. We are fortunate that the majority of our budget is covered by generous parishioners who tithe to the parish. Their contributions enable us to provide the best possible experience for our teens, and we are truly thankful for their support.

Moreover, we are deeply appreciative of the parents, parishioners, and community members who recognize the significance of our ministry for the teens and choose to partner with us beyond the minimum expectations. These individuals go above and beyond their regular tithe and make direct donations to the youth ministry. Their generosity allows us to exceed basic program costs and enhance the impact we have on the lives of young people. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all those who contribute and help us create a vibrant and meaningful experience for our teens. 

This is where the description goes.