Msgr. Dale Fushek, one of the founders of LIFE TEEN, once asked Mother Teresa of Calcutta: "What should we do for our young people?" Her response was: "Bring them to the Eucharist." With that inspiration, LIFE TEEN was born.

The LIFE TEEN program is a comprehensive youth ministry program with a strong emphasis on the Eucharist. Starting with a weekly LIFE TEEN Mass, high school teens are placed in an environment where they have the opportunity to experience fully the greatest gift we have as the Church. This Liturgy provides the cultural connection for the teens - allowing them to take ownership of their faith /so it's not just their "parent's thing" anymore. They begin to develop a relationship with Jesus that is both personal and real. Immediately following the Mass, teens gather for the LIFE Night to learn about the Church and their faith in challenging ways.

What attracts teens to LIFE TEEN is the TRUTH and EXPERIENCE. Teaching teens about the truth in line with the theology of the Catholic Church is how the program educated through creative Bible studies, discussions and personal experiences. Providing powerful Liturgies for teens and their families is how the program helps them experience the power and the love of Christ in the Eucharist, the Word of God and each other.

LIFE TEEN has developed a program to reach high school teens on all levels: emotional, intellectual, spiritual and relational - dispelling the notion that all it takes is a social club with lots of activities to keep them on track. It takes much more. This ministry draws every aspect of the teen's life into a faith connection and journey with and for Jesus Christ.
For more information, log onto the national website at www.lifeteen.com

LIFE TEEN At St. Philips

As a Catholic Community, St. Philip's is following the example of our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, in its commitment to reach out to the youth in our parish. After prayer and discernment, we have been led to use the LIFE TEEN program as our model for youth ministry.

With the full support and encouragement of our pastor, Fr. Gerald Beirne, his assistants Fr. Michael Colello and Fr. Bob Bailey, undertook the immense task of preparation for this program. After many months of preparation, the LIFE TEEN Ministry was begun on March 10, 2002 with our first Teen Mass and Life Night. 

From the beginning, the LIFE TEEN program has enjoyed the overwhelming support and enthusiasm of the parish community. Over the past three years, many dedicated people have volunteered their time to minister to the teens in different capacities.