Parents, you have the most important role in helping your child to develop their faith life...you are their primary catechist! We hope that this page will offer you support in connecting with and guiding your teen. On this page you will not only find a description of what we will be discovering each week at Youth Night, but also ways you can follow-up at home. In addition, you will find links to other resourceful websites towards the bottom of this page.

What to expect this semester at Life Teen (High School Youth): This semester's theme is Person of Christ, and is all about how we can grow closer to Jesus...especially in our every day lives! We will discuss Jesus as part of the Trinity, as well as how our Blessed Mother can help us to follow him. We will dissect and discuss topics as how Jesus can be God in the flesh, what He teaches us about prayer and our Church, and we will even tackle questions like Spiritual Warfare and the Existence of God! But don't worry, we promise to have lots of fun in the process. Between ice breaker games, videos, skits, small group time for discussion, and a variety of prayer experiences, what's not to love? Throw in the fact that we always begin with dinner, and we're sure your child is bound to "come back for seconds!"

What to expect this semester at EDGE (Middle School Youth): This semester we will be learning about The Creed, both the Nicene and the Apostle's. We will be covering everything Catholic! From the Holy Trinity to the Blessed Mother, from Angels to the Communion of Saints, and of course the Paschal Mystery...we'll go over it all! That's right...to understand what we're saying when we profess The Creed, we're breaking it all down. Through skits, small groups, team projects, guest speakers, and various prayer experiences, your teen will enjoy learning about their faith and will want to come back for more. (Plus, we always start off the night with pizza...)

Here are a few conversation starters/questions for you and your teen as we start this semester:

Ways you can help Youth Ministry! It takes a village, doesn't it? There are several ways to be involved with and help support Youth Ministry! Read over the list below, and contact Laura if you feel called to serve.

Feed Your Faith Squad: If you feed them, they will come! Help us provide a meal or snacks during a youth night, and/or help serve the meal and clean-up afterwards.

Core Team: These teams (one team for Life Teen, one for Edge) consists of adults from our parish, from college age on up! Core members meet once a month to plan and prepare for upcoming youth nights and events. As a team member, you help minister to our teens through several different ways: speak or give a personal testimony, help create an atmosphere for the evening by setting-up and decorating, lead small groups in prayer and discussions, and most importantly, build a relationship with our youth! All materials, curriculum, and support will be provided.

Core Support: Help us set-up for an Edge or Life Night, or clean-up afterwards. Set-up involves decorating for the night, getting the sign-in table ready, or possibly helping in the kitchen on the nights when there isn’t a Feed Your Faith squad. The clean-up crew helps to ensure that we’ve left the place the way we’ve found it, taken trash out, wiped down tables, etc.

Prayer Warriors: One of the most invaluable, important things we can do for our youth is to PRAY for them! Become a prayer warrior, and receive bi-monthly updates and prayer requests for all involved with our youth ministry program, from our teens and their families to our volunteers.

Chaperones: Occasionally we will need extra adults to help us chaperone youth ministry events such as the youth rallies, Trunk-or-Treat, Parent’s Night Out, and the Soup Supper.

Feel free to contact Laura anytime with questions, concerns, or to volunteer! Laura can be reached at 402-861-4509 or at l.bogue@stephen.org.

Other helpful websites to visit:
Catholics Come Home:  http://www.catholicscomehome.org/
'Life Teen' and 'the Bible Geek'!  www.lifeteen.com
Christopher West's Articles on 'Theology of the Body'
U.S.C.C.B.:  Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth
Information/activities for families:  www.catholic.org, www.americancatholic.org
Center for Parent/Youth Understanding (a Christian website on youth culture today): www.cpyu.org
Information on the Bible, Catechism, current events:  www.usccb.org
Daily Scripture Readings:  www.usccb.org/nab
Saints:  www.catholic.org/saints
Vatican-Vatican- Official Website
Archdiocese of Omaha:  www.archomaha.com
Vocations-Archdiocese of Omaha:  Vocations
KVSS Catholic Radio:  KVSS- Spirit Catholic Radio
"Call to Faith":  www.harcourtreligion.com