JYM: The Edge is a Catholic middle school youth ministry for early adolescents in grades seven and eight. JYM: The Edge is designed to meet the educational, spiritual, emotional, and social needs of young adolescents, and to ease the transitions these teens will make coming from elementary school, and heading into high school. Here at St. Jude, we have infused Confirmation Preparation into the program.
JYM - The Edge:
Over the course of this 2-year Confirmation Program, students
will do in-depth study of the following pillars of our Catholic
faith:
Saints of the New Testament |
Saints of the Old Testament |
Seven Sacraments |
Ten Commandments |
The Creed |
The Mass (Liturgy) |
Beatitudes |
Jesus Christ |
Respect for Life / Pro-Life |
Vocations |
| |
Chastity |
JYM ~ Year 1: For 7th graders and all candidates who are just beginning Confirmation preparation. These classes occur every Wednesday night from 6:00 - 8:00pm during the school year. (See Calendar)
JYM - The Edge ~ Year 2: For 8th graders and all candidates who have completed 1 year of confirmation preparation classes (Year 1 must have been completed in the previous year). These classes occur every Sunday afternoon from 1:30 - 3:30pm during the school year. (See Calendar)
(For more information on the Sacrament of Confirmation
at St. Jude, click
here.)
A typical JYM - The Edge session includes:
Prayer, catechesis, large group activities, small group discussion, bible study, catechism study, social time, fellowship, food and fun.
Fun & Fellowship Opportunities:
We also offer social and recreational activities and fellowship retreats and lock-ins during the school year designed to create a greater sense of community among our middle school youth.
Service Opportunities:
We have different opportunities for the youth to be involved in service ministries. In the fall, our confirmation teens serve the community by participating in the St. Jude Parish Carnival, and in the spring, the Year 2 confirmation teens serves the community through a presentation of the Living Stations of the Cross. There are various other service opportunities, such as serving side-by-side with the Knights of Columbus at their weekly Lenten Fish Fry’s.
Summer Programming:
We offer a summer activities for our youth through a program called WACK (We Are Christ's Kids). We plan various fun and fellowship activities for our middle school AND high school teens to socialize with each other and build friendships. This also allows opportunities for our high school teens to mentor to our middle school youth.
Mission Week:
Each summer, high school and middle school youth participate in a local, week-long, daily service camp. This week provides an opportunity for service to those in need. Outreach activities include (but are not limited to!): food drives for the community food pantry; baby-item drives for the White Rose Women's Center; visits to the senior citizen home; serving the elderly and shut-in in our parish by doing yard work, providing meals; and participating in a Youth Rosary for Life.
Parents are important! We have many opportunities
for parents to be involved, and the parents' component is designed to assist parents in raising their middle school youngster.
Goals of JYM: The Edge
