Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Welcome to The EDGE


Overview
Goals
What can The Edge do for you?
Schedule
Photo Albums
Prayer
Meeting Minutes (PDF Format)
Volunteer Opportunities
Parental Responisbilities

The EDGE is a Catholic middle school youth ministry experience created for early adolescents in grades, six, seven, and eight. The EDGE is designed to meet the educational, spiritual, emotional, and social needs of young adolescents. Kids are always welcomed and encouraged to bring their friends to The EDGE.

At this age middle school youth are open to good and bad behaviors as well as positive and negative ideas. Many of the values and beliefs that they held as children are now questioned and challenged. As young adolescents they are trying to figure out who they are and what they believe.

In many respects middle school kids 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. As a Catholic Community, we are going to give our middle school youth The EDGE they need in life: Jesus, The Word, The Eucharist, and the Church!

Within the context of faith, middle school youngsters are moving from a child-like spirituality to one that will hopefully reach its pinnacle, through the work of the EDGE, into an adult faith commitment to Jesus Christ and the Catholic Community.











Overview of the Program:

  • EDGE Nights occur twice a month year around. The EDGE also has social and recreational activities designed to create a greater sense of community among our middle school youth.
  • Summer programming: in addition to regular EDGE nights at the parish, many extracurricular activities are planned.
  • EDGE offers middle school youth occasions to put their faith into action through a variety of service projects such as trail maintenance (American River), Creek Week activities
  • The parents' component is designed to assist parents in raising their middle school youngster. The Parish may offer educational classes and sessions on middle school spirituality, psychology, personality development, and physical development.
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Goals of EDGE:

  • Foster a transforming spiritual experience of Jesus through the liturgy, allowing early adolescents to have a profound experience the Word of God and the Eucharist.
  • Create a positive experience of the Catholic Church for early adolescents.
  • Assist middle school youngsters in gaining an understanding and appreciation for what the Catholic Church teaches as believes.
  • Incorporate the Catholic Church's vision of social justice and peace into their spiritual life.
  • Develop an identity in middle school youth and in EDGE ministry as being a vital and visual presence within the parish.
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Middle School Students - What this ministry can do for you:

The EDGE program meets two nights a month at 7:00 PM in the Nano Nagle Center. During EDGE nights we will alternate between educational, issue, and social programs. Educational nights will include bible study, issue nights will cover issues such as alcohol use, and social nights are opportunities for the youth participants to get to know each other as a community within the parish.
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Event Schedules:

DateFunction
April 27, 2008Edge Introductory BBQ
All 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th Graders Invited
May 8, 2008“Jesus and Accepting Myself”
May 22, 2008Fun Night Celebrating End of School Year
June 12, 2008"What's Your Priority"
June 26, 2006Family Night at the Rivercats
$7 per Person, Register by June 3, 2008
TBD“Keeping the Sabbath”

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Photo Albums:

April 27, 2998 - Album 1 Introductory BBQ
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EDGE Prayer:

A Prayer for the EDGE
Good and loving Creator you are the author of all that is good and holy.
We ask you to send your Holy Spirit upon our middle school youth
and bless them with your patience,
inspire them with your joy,
and nurture them with your compassion.
In their journey to follow Jesus, encourage them with holiness and peace.
In times of confusion and uncertainty,
guide them with your wisdom and truth.
May they always look to you
for strength and guidance.
We also ask you to send your blessing upon
The EDGE,
allow it to always be a source of inspiration, acceptance, and love.
May all those who minister in The EDGE walk always in the light of Christ
and bring our young people ever closer
to your son Jesus.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen
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Minutes or Agenda:

April 1, 2008
April 21, 2008
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Volunteer Opportunities

  • Edge Core Catechist - Teacher of a small group of 10-12 Jr High students.
  • Service Project Core Team - Work on a team of 10-12 adults that will plan and coordinate service projects for small edge groups.
  • Ministry Coordinator - Coordinate with other ministeries of this and other parishes
  • Support Task Team - Support the program by copying and collating lesson plans and various other office tasks. Members work on a regular schedule of their choice.
  • Floaters/Greeters- Each session we will need 4 adults that will greet and welcome the kids and act as floaters for the session. A floater will work the entire room handing out papers and filling in to help whereever needed.
  • Jr High Edge Substitute - Substitute for the Edge teacher in your kids group.
  • Help at JH Edge socials & group activites
  • Provide treats and beverages
  • Video/Audio Person- 1 person who will incorporate music and video in the Edge program. Please contact Laura Enos-Grover if you have any questions or would like to volunteer
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Parental Responsibility

Parental involvement is imperative.
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus scolded his disciples and told them: "Let the children come to me and do not hinder them"
Proverbs 22:6 states, "train a child in the way they should go; and even when they are old, they will not swerve from it." The faith foundation a parent gives a child continues for a lifetime.
Middle school is not the time to give your child the option of going to mass. It can create a poor standard of expectation.
The EDGE meets the second and fourth Thursdasy evenings. The EDGE needs to be the priority on these days. Nowhere else in your child's daily life will there be an invitation and challenge to develop a deeper relationship with Jesus and the Catholic Church then at The EDGE.
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