A Note from Cathleen Loversky, Director of JH ProgramWelcome to The EDGE , St. Raphael's Middle School Youth Ministry Program. Our goal is to give our middle school kids The EDGE , the Catholic EDGE , the Jesus EDGE , as they go through this time of remarkable change in their lives.
In many respects middle school youth are on The EDGE because so much is going on in their lives physically, mentally, spiritually, and socially. It can be a very stressful and difficult time for them and their parents. Some psychologists have dubbed this time in a child's life as "the last great chance."
Your middle school child has many choices before them, both positive and negative. One choice that we would hope you help your child to make is the choice of Jesus Christ and the Catholic Community in their life. It is in Jesus that your middle school youngster will find peace, joy and hope in their life. This can be facilitated through a commitment to family prayer and spirituality, to attend mass on a weekly basis, and to make sure your child is at The EDGE on Sunday/Monday nights.
My experience in youth ministry has shown me time and time again that when Jesus is at the center of a young person's life, they seem to do much better emotionally, spiritually, and academically. My theory behind this is that Jesus gives them meaning and purpose to their lives. And yet, I have also seen that when something is to give in a young person's life, church is usually the first thing to go. If it is a choice on Sunday/Monday nights between football/soccer/softball/ baseball/dance/music practice or The EDGE , parents usually pick the practice, and to be honest I am not sure why? Most young people do not grow up to be professional athletes or performers, but they will grow up to be life long Catholic Christians if we give them the foundation of Jesus in their life now!
Sr. Mary Rose McCeady, Director of Covenant House, a youth shelter for homeless and abused teenagers, recently stated we live in a culture that is "spawning a generation of children who feel more lost, terrified, disenfranchised, hurt, and hopeless" than any generation in history. All you have to do is turn on the radio, MTV or television and watch and listen to someone like the popular rap star Eminem whose message according to Sr. McCeady is a "dark philosophy of recklessness, hopelessness, and nothingness." What is really frightening is that Eminem and his message have become an acceptable part of the mainstream culture.
The commitment to Jesus, the Catholic Community of St. Raphael's, and The EDGE will serve as the foundation and anchor for your middle school youngster's life. We look forward to seeing your child every Sunday/Monday night at The EDGE!
