Children & Youth

Children 3 & Above

Rite 13

J2A

Young Adults in  Church

 

Journey to Adulthood

The opening activity for the two years of J2A is an activity in independence, of naming and owning a particular role in an activity (often preparing a meal for themselves and their leaders), of learning from the feedback they receive from others in the group.

J2A builds on Rite 13 by training young people in six necessary skills of adulthood: listening, assertion, negotiation, research & information management, and partnership & leadership. The content areas which are focused on all aspects of a whole person are: Self, Society, Sexuality, and Spirituality. These are covered in depth and in light of the Gospel, in order that the reality of young people’s lives can be strengthened, encouraged, healed, corrected, and empowered by the life and wisdom of Jesus Christ. The program takes seriously the need to deal with what is real for young people, to honor their questions and ambivalences, to assure them that they are real people with real, valid, and authentic experiences.  And we undertake to place a scriptural, spiritual, and liturgical frame around each and every one of those experiences. To do less than that is to imply that God is only interested in our piety or in our ability to participate in certain rituals.

During the second year in J2A, the focus is on preparation for Confirmation. Each youth will have an adult sponsor who will participate in classes and activities with him/her. These adults, who are neither parent nor teacher, fill the role of mentor, sharing their own faith journeys with the young people. After four years in the Journey to Adulthood Program (Rite 13 + J2A), participation in Confirmation becomes a mature decision made by spiritually equipped young people, and it places Confirmation in its proper context, not as a rite of passage, not as an exit ritual, but rather a chance for the individual youth to confirm that which was said for them and to them at their Baptism.

This group also meets after the 10:00am service from roughly 11:45-12:30 every week. There are additional activities about once a month, either of a service to the community nature or just plain fun, like a movie or hike or any number of other less “classroom oriented” events.

Accomodation is easily made in those instances where a teen enters into this faith community 'in the middle' of the program.  That is not a barrier to participation in Confirmation with one's peers.