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We will not have any in-person Faith Formation activities until Sunday, January 3, 2021.
Edge will continue to meet via Zoom.
We wish you and your families a very blessed holiday.
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What is Edge???
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Our Parish has transitioned from the typical classroom model for faith formation to a dynamic way of reaching teens where they are at. Edge is a nationally known Catholic program designed for Middle School students. Which is made and distributed by Life Teen Inc. Edge has been proven time and time again to be very effective.
Hopefully not to confuse anyone, Life Teen is the High School youth ministry program and Edge is the Middle School youth ministry program.
When I interviewed for this position I was thrilled to hear that Edge was being used. I am very aware of how the program operates and to make it impactful, not just for the teens but hopefully to bring the energy that the teens get from an Edge night and to bring that energy home to their families.
A typical Edge night looks something like this:
Large Group
- The teens arrive, the Core Team (a group of adults who are involved with helping plan each night, lead prayer, lead games,
lead the teaching and lead small groups. Without the Core team, this program would not be able to work) welcomes the teens in
our gathering space. We start as a large group. - Get everyone settled
- Check-in with the week challenge, welcome any newcomers and introduce the night. (5 minutes)
Large Group
- Game-that is related to the theme of the night (10 minutes)
- Opening prayer (5 minutes)
- Teaching (10-15 minutes)
- Movie clip (5 minutes)
Small groups
- Break out into our small groups (each small group has up to 18 per group. Our dream is to get that down to at least 12.
We currently have 7 small groups). During small groups is when we are able to dive into the material and is where the teens
are able to take ownership of the material that was taught in the large group. (25 minutes)
Large Group
- Transition to the Church
- Send (this where we ask the whole group some of the questions that were asked during small group and have some brave souls
share what they talked about during small group) - Give the weekly challenge and any announcements
- Closing prayer
We typically meet every other Wednesday of the month in the New Hall at Holy Rosary from 6:30-8:00 pm.
To learn more about the program and to watch the promo video about Edge please visit their website:
https://lifeteen.com/edge-ministry/
For those who wish to have their child Confirmed in 9th grade, it is required that they attend Edge in the 8th grade.
It is not too late to register for Edge. Please send me an email or call me and I'll get the necessary information for you.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me!
- The teens arrive, the Core Team (a group of adults who are involved with helping plan each night, lead prayer, lead games,
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Calendar for Edge 2020-21
7th & 8th Grade Are Meeting On Different Weeks via Zoom
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Summary / Make-Up Work of Each Edge Night 2020-2021
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This week at Edge, your teen learned they were created out of the
goodness and love of God, and only in Him will they find purpose and meaning for
their lives.- The Edge Night began with a game where the youth were challenged to recreate a tower out of things that they were able to find around the house.
- The teaching discussed how the creation of the human person was the great idea of God and how we were created to know God, love God, and serve God.
- After the teaching, they discussed how things are created with intention and purpose and were reminded that they were created with intention and purpose by God.
- We ended with the youth reflecting on the story of creation along with scientific facts that reveal how all of creation works for the good of God’s greatest idea, human beings. Your child’s challenge this week is to think of one good way to show someone they love them and then make it happen.
Main Ideas- God created humanity out of love to know Him, love Him, serve Him, and one day be with Him in heaven.
- God reveals His love and plan for humanity through Jesus.
- Only in God, who created us, will we find meaning for our lives and purpose for our existence.
Catechism Reference
“Of all visible creatures only man is ‘able to know and love his creator.’ He is ‘the only creature on Earth that God has willed for its own sake,’ and he alone is called to share, by knowledge and love, in God’s own life. It was for this end that he was created, and this is the fundamental reason for his dignity” (CCC 356).
Scripture Reference
“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent His only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him” (1 John 4:9).
Family Reflection Questions- What is one great invention you learned about tonight?
- How does the fact that you are God’s greatest idea impact you?
- What is one way you can know, love, or serve God this week?
Click here for the make-up work
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This week your teen will learn that human beings are set apart from all of creation because we are made in the image and likeness of God and have both a physical body and an eternal soul.
- The Edge Night will begin with a game of virtual mute tag.
- The teaching explores what it means for us to be a unity of body and soul and how we are set above all of creation and given the responsibility to take care of God’s creation.
- After the teaching, the youth are given a series of questions to ask Siri to emphasize the difference between a human being and a programmed computer, and then the youth will have a chance to discuss the teaching.
- We will be ending the night with a time of prayer where the youth will be encouraged to reflect on the goodness of their bodies.
- The weekly challenge is to do one thing this week to take care of himself/herself and one thing to take care of an aspect of creation
Main Ideas- Being human is unique; our ability to reflect and think about ourselves and our existence sets us apart from all other creatures.
- Created in the image and likeness of God, we have both a physical body and an eternal soul that, united together, make us human.
- While the physical world was created good, it is passing. Our souls are eternal, and this reality guides how we live our lives.
Catechism Reference
“God created everything for man, but man in turn was created to serve and love God
and to offer all creation back to Him” (CCC 358).
Scripture Reference
“For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life?” (Matthew 16:25-26)
Car Questions- What was your favorite part of the Edge Night?
- What sets humans apart from the rest of creation?
- What is one way you can be more aware of your body and soul?
Click here for the make-up work
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EDGE SEMESTER: WIRES AND ROBOTICS
Binary Code - Does My Body Matter?
This week at Edge, your son or daughter learned about their identity as a man or a
woman and how being a man or being a woman is a gift from God that is given to
them for a reason. The teaching discussed how God created men and women in His image and likeness and how being a man or a woman is not something that is achieved or something we do but the reality of how we are created. It also explored how men and women reveal a unique aspect of who God is. After the teaching, the youth worked to decode a Bible verse and discussed the teaching. The Edge Night ended with a time for the youth to pray for one another. Your child’s challenge this week is to introduce himself/herself to one new person, get to know that person by asking them questions, and to say a silent prayer for them.
Main Ideas- The human body is remarkably complex and follows specific formulas; for example, chromosomes determine whether we are male or female.
- God created human beings as male or female, which is revealed to us in our biological sex. As men and women, we uniquely reflect the image of God.
- As men and women, we have equal dignity and are complementary to one another.
“Man and woman have been created, which is to say, willed by God: on the one hand,
in perfect equality as human persons; on the other, in their respective beings as man
and woman. ‘Being man’ or ‘being woman’ is a reality which is good and willed by God: man and woman possess an inalienable dignity which comes to them immediately from God their creator. Man and woman are both with one and the same dignity ‘in the image of God.’ In their ‘being-man’ and ‘being-woman,’ they reflect the creator’s wisdom and goodness” (CCC 369).
Scripture Reference
“So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27).
Car Questions- What is one new thing you learned at Edge?
- Do you see your identity as a man or a woman as a gift from God? Why?
The link will be posted by Wednesday, November 25.
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Hello everyone!
My name is Sean Austin. I was born and raised in Hagerstown, MD. I graduated from Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, MD, in 2013 with a B.A. in Theology with emphases in Youth Ministry and Pastoral Ministry. Right after college I moved to Buffalo, NY, and worked full time as the high school youth minister and confirmation coordinator for a little over a year then left to discern religious life. In April 2016, I had the great pleasure of hiking the El Camino de Santiago (the Way of St. James) and completing the entire French Way in Spain before I entered St. Vincent Archabbey as a monk. I was Br. Robert “Bob” S. Austin, O.S.B. (Order of St. Benedict) from July 10, 2016 till July 10, 2019. I would not trade those years for anything. With a lot of trust in God, He blessed me with introducing me to my now wife soon after leaving the monastery. In October of 2020, married the love of my life.
Ever since I was in middle school, I have been very active with the Church. I was a part of my middle school youth group, Life Teen all throughout high school and campus ministry in college. It seemed like no matter where I went, I always ended up working with youth. I never thought I would enjoy working with middle schoolers, until last year, when I was assigned to run two separate middle school programs (which used Edge) I was surprised how much I loved it!
I would like to personally invite you to pray about helping out with the middle school Edge youth ministry program. As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child. I would love for you to join our prayer team to pray for these teens. Or consider helping help out with the snack ministry. Or if you want to work with these teens, please consider joining our Core Team family to help out with the Edge Nights on Wednesdays. The best part is that there is no experience required and you do not need to have a Theology degree. All of the 12 disciples, had no experience with what Christ was calling them for, but God does not call the qualified. He qualifies the called. If you have any questions or would like to get involved, please contact me.
Thank you so very much and God Bless,
Sean
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Contact Us
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Sean Austinsaustinromeroparish.orgDirector of Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
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