Middle School Ministry

Our 6th-8th Grade ministry, Quest, uses multiple resources such as Life Teen, FORMED, Ascension Press, Augustine Institute, and more. Within the context of faith formation, these youth are moving from a childlike spirituality to one that will hopefully grow into a mature faith commitment to Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church.

At this age, 6th-8th Grade students are open to good and bad behaviors and ideas they may hear out in the world. Many of the values and beliefs that they held as children are now questioned and challenged. These adolescents are on a quest to figure out who they are and what they believe.

It can be a very stressful and difficult time for them and their parents. As a Catholic community, we join the middle school teens on their quest to show them the way to Jesus Christ and his Church.
 

Quest includes sacrament preparation for 6th-8th Grade students who have not received all Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, First Eucharist, Confirmation). Per Diocesan policy, sacrament preparation is a minimum two-year journey. However, it is also contingent upon the individual candidate's spiritual journey and may take longer at the discretion of the pastor and his youth ministers.

Class times:

• Wednesdays (5:15-6:15pm)

• May - Registration Opens for All Active Parishioners
• June - Registration Opens for All 

Middle School Ministry answers the needs of this age group in a catechetical, fun, and relevant way and provides a foundation for youth to continue onto our High School Ministry with the program known as Life Teen. 

We all remember that middle school was awkward and difficult. That hasn’t changed. However, societal shifts have made the middle school years more difficult than ever. Today, middle school youth are having experiences that were common only with high school students just 15 years ago.

Threats of violence, availability of drugs and alcohol, and pervasiveness of sex and pornography are the new norm. Not only are they faced with these tough realities, but they are also in the process of moving from being family-centered to friend-centered. Peers gain greater influence and parental authority is called into question.

As they shift socially, they are also experiencing tremendous changes emotionally and intellectually. As they wade through all the difficulties of this time of life, they have real questions and need real answers. If parish leaders ignore the unique challenges of their middle school youth, they risk losing them forever.