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When young adolescents enter Middle School,
lots of crazy things happen! |
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Bodies are growing rapidly, reasoning skills
increase, boys and girls are starting to notice each other, and both
are beginning to think about what it's like to be a teen or adult. |
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They are not really CHILDREN anymore, but not
yet teenagers...they are in a place we call.....THE EDGE. |
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THE EDGE is a radical new Catholic centered
youth ministry aimed at these young adolescents. The EDGE is designed
to meet their educational, spiritual, emotional, and social needs |
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The EDGE provides an environment where the
youth are a part of a community, rather than an isolated classroom. |
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Middle school youth are vulnerable and
considered by many to be at risk. Like so many aspects of their life,
their faith is in flux. They are moving from a childlike spirituality
to the "Doubting-Thomas" phase. |
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It is during this time that many tweens
become leery of their faith, and begin to question, as well as doubt,
what they believed as children. They are going through many physical,
emotional peaks and valleys, and they are not sure they even like
themselves. Middle schoolers are trying to figure out who they are and
what they believe. |
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Educators, psychologists, and youth ministers
have stated that middle school is an opportunities to positively impact
and assist a child in his of her educational, spiritual, emotional and
social development. By creating and establishing a substantial middle
school youth ministry program, early adolescents will experience Jesus
on their level. During middle school, many early adolescents may have a
difficult time living out their faith. What they say about their faith
and how they live it out can sometimes be contradictory. Since they are
very idealistic at this stage, middle school youth may know what the
"right answers" are in religion class, but to live it out the next day
at school or at home may be a completely different story. The
opportunity for catechetical learning is woven throughout the program.
Each session, including those focused on social, and personal issues,
provide an opportunity for Catholic teaching. |
