Edge

Edge is our middle school youth group for grades 6-8. It provides a safe, fun place for youth to find solid Catholic community, to get answers to their questions about faith, and, most importantly, to  experience Jesus in a profound and personal way. Edge meets on most Tuesday evenings, from 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm in the Vance Jackson House.

Parent Meeting: Tuesday, August 29, 2023 at 7:00pm in the MFC Klesse Ballroom

Classes begin Tuesday, September 12, 2023 from 7:00-8:30pm

Please click on both links below to complete your child's registration form and pay the fee.

 Registration Form

Registration Fee

Life Teen

Life Teen is our high school youth ministry for grades 9-12.  It is also the first year of formation for those students seeking to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Life Teen is a movement within the  Roman Catholic Church, which leads teenagers and their families into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church.  Life Teen nights begin with Mass on Sunday evenings at 6:00 p.m., followed by dinner and a Life Night meeting from 7:00-9:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall. This year we are beginning the year with a two-day retreat. See dates below.
See schedule below for the school year.

All high school students, in grades 9-12 are welcome to attend Life Teen, even if not preparing for Confirmation.
 

Parent Meeting: Sunday, August 27, 2023 at 7:00pm in the MFC Klesse Ballroom

Classes begin with a two-day retreat: Saturday September 9- Sunday, September 10, 2023 at St. Matthew
 

Please click on both links below to complete your child's registration form and pay the fee.

Registration Form


Registration Fee

High School Confirmation

Our Confirmation program is a two-year program, beginning with one year of formation through our Life Teen program, followed by the second year of our Purpose Confirmation program.  Purpose is a transformative approach to confirmation. Multiple components combine impactful curriculum with a powerful digital tool to enhance communication.  Coupled with engaging supplementary material for teens and parents, Purpose is more than just a resource. It is a whole new approach to sacramental preparation. It helps teens to intellectually and spiritually receive the Sacrament of Confirmation and to become lifelong disciples of Christ. All too often we see teens drift away from the Church after Confirmation. Purpose seeks to reverse this trend by winning over the hearts of teens at a critical time in their lives and keeping them firmly planted within the faith community of the Church. Purpose meetings are on Monday evenings from 7:00-8:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall. Students must attend a Confirmation Retreat and interview with Fr. Eric during this second year of preparation.
See schedule below for the school year.

Parent and Student Meeting: Monday, August 28, 2023 at 7:00pm in the MFC Klesse Ballroom

Classes begin Monday, September 11, 2023 from 7:00-8:30pm
 

Please click on both links below to complete your child's registration form and pay the fee.

Registration Form


Registration Fee

Here are a few important facts about being a member of the Youth Leadership Team:

• For teens in grades 9-12

• Team members should possess the following qualities: a personal commitment to Jesus Christ, a love for the Catholic Church, regular participation in Sunday worship, a personal prayer life, freedom from serious
sin, and a desire to share their faith with others

• Team members must be open to training, attend meetings, and sign and honor the YES Agreement.

• Team members must continue to possess the above-mentioned qualities throughout the duration of their commitment, which will end in the Summer of 2024.

• Team members must have attended at least one Life Teen Retreat or Teen ACTS Retreat.

If you are interested in becoming a member of our YLT and are able to fulfill the qualifications above, please click on the button below to complete an application.  You will be contacted sometime in August.

YLT Application
 

Our mission in Life Teen, Purpose, and Edge is to lead teens closer to Christ.
We are able to do this at St. Matthew because of Catholic adults responding to their baptismal call and serving our teens as Core members.

Very simply, a Core member's job is to share Jesus Christ with teens. You don't have to be an expert on scripture and you don't need to have a theology degree. Your responsibility is to love teens and show them that they are loved by God.

Please read the F.A.Q. below and then click on the link below, on the right side, to fill out our Core Member Application.

F.A.Q.

Q: What is a "Core Member" and what do they do?

Our Core members are the adult volunteers who lead our teens. We ask our Core to dive in completely each night, especially in their Small Group of teens.

Q: How much of a time commitment is it to be a Core member?

As a Life Teen Core member, you are committing to Sundays from 5:45pm to 9:00pm every week that we have meetings. We gather in the entrance ways to welcome teens as they arrive for the 6:00pm Youth/Young Adult Mass. After Mass, we are in the Parish Hall for Life Night which ends at 9:00 pm.

As a Purpose Core member, you are committing to Mondays from 6:45pm to 8:30pm every week that we have meetings. We will meet in the Parish Hall.

As an Edge Core member, you are committing to Tuesdays from 6:45pm to 8:30pm every week that we have meetings.  We will meet in the Vance Jackson House.

Q: What does a "Life Night" look like?

Every Sunday after Mass, we eat dinner before gathering for our meeting. Next, we move into worship, the teaching for the night, and Small Group discussion where teens discuss how the topic of the night applies to their lives. Lastly, we gather together to close the night in prayer.

Q: Do I teach or write lesson plans?

If you are comfortable giving a talk, we welcome that, but you will have an outline you can use to help guide you. Your main responsibility is to guide conversation afterward in your Small Group. All small group questions are provided ahead of time.

Q: Do I need to like teens?

Nope, and we will teach you how to love them!

Q: Is there an age requirement?

Yes, in order to volunteer as a Core member you must be 19 years old.

Q: Do I need to have a background check?

Yes. The Archdiocese of San Antonio requires all of our adult volunteers who volunteer with youth to have a current background check on file. The Archdiocese of San Antonio also requires VIRTUS training to be completed. 

Q: How long is the commitment?

We ask all of our Core members to commit to the entire School Year to help maintain a level of consistency. That said, you can join later on in the year as long as you can commit to the remainder of the year!

Q: How much do I need to know in the way of Scripture, theology, etc.?

You don't need to come in with any prior knowledge. We will teach you everything that you need to know. 

Please click on the link below to fill out a Core Member application.
Core Member