For the past few months, Morgan Hill’s St. Catherine Roman
Catholic Church, 17400 Peak Ave., has been presenting a popular
”
Youth Oriented Liturgy
”
at 5:30 p.m. Sundays.
For the past few months, Morgan Hill’s St. Catherine Roman Catholic Church, 17400 Peak Ave., has been presenting a popular “Youth Oriented Liturgy” at 5:30 p.m. Sundays.
The parish’s teenagers have been serving in many roles in a lively Eucharistic Celebration which has drawn people of all ages to enjoy skits, contemporary music, dance and general enthusiasm.
Building on this success, the parish has announced a further development of its youth ministry: affiliation with Lifeteen, “an international Catholic ministry that serves the Church and leads teens closer to Christ by providing resources and training that encourage vibrant Eucharistic celebrations and opportunities for teens to grow in their faith.”
Msgr. Dale Fushek was pastor of St. Timothy’s Church in Mesa, Ariz., when one of the brightest young people in the parish’s youth group let him know that he was attending a non-Catholic church because he felt “more loved and welcomed there, more than he ever had at a Catholic Mass.” Because of this, Fr. Fushek began a program in 1985 that has evolved into Lifeteen and has spread to nearly 900 churches around the world.
Brian and Melissa Gilpin, both physicians, had been involved with Lifeteen at their former parish near Phoenix before they moved their family and medical practice to Morgan Hill six months ago. When they mentioned the program to St. Catherine parishioners and leaders, it was decided to begin offering it locally.
A core team of adults and older teens has been meeting regularly since late November to plan the Lifeteen Nights, the first of which will be held at St. Catherine from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday.
The first four Sundays of each month, high school age youth will meet following the Youth Mass. Two of the weekly sessions will focus on education, one will focus on different social issues pertaining to youth and one will be primarily social.
The leadership team already has planned the first few evenings. Besides ordering materials from Lifeteen headquarters, they have visited Lifeteen nights held at St. Maria Goretti Church in San Jose, which is noted for its active group.
Activities may include singing contemporary Christian music, videotapes, skits, small group discussion and prayer. They are open to all South County high school age Christian youth, including non-Catholics who would like to participate in enjoyable spiritual, educational and social events. Eventually other activities like weekend retreats and camping excursions may be added.
More information about the national organization is available on the internet at www.lifeteen.org. This website features news about upcoming events, daily Bible readings, questions teens have sent in with answers provided by a priest and an interactive area where teens can discuss online “hot topics” of concern to them like sexuality and relationships.
To find out more about the Lifeteen group at St. Catherine call pastoral associate Rosemarie Peoples at 779-0542.
