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JOURNEY TO ADULTHOOD
Spiritual formation for youth at Holy Communion is anchored by
Journey to Adulthood, a six-year program that balances Bible study,
prayer and both serious and playful activities to nurture the whole
person during the passage from childhood to adulthood. Leaders model
living the faith and remind young people of the ever-present love
and mercy of God.
Rite-13: Part I of Journey to Adulthood
The Rite-13 is a two-year program and the first of the six-year
Journey to Adulthood class. Depending on the year, sixth through
eighth graders take their first steps of passage away from their
families and into their own lives in this environment. The fall
of the second year is kicked off with a liturgical celebration of
the gifts of womanhood and manhood. An environment is fostered in
which they can explore new ideas, new interests and new abilities.
Rite -13 has their own dedicated space in room 317.
J2A: Part II of Journey to Adulthood
The J2A program follows Rite 13 and blends action and reflection
in teaching faithful living. Participants learn the skills of active
listening, negotiation, assertion, research/information management,
partnership and leadership. Youth also learn and practice new forms
of prayer and Bible study as well as looking at ways that God is
at work in our world. During this time, the group begins to start
raising money for their pilgrimage which follows the summer after
this class concludes. In the parish, the young people are being
recognized as young adults who have achieved new levels of responsibility.
J2A meets in room 319.
YAC (Young Adults in the Church): Part III of Journey to Adulthood
YAC encourages older youth, after Rite 13 and J2A, to take on adult
responsibilities in all aspects of parish life and community and
to become good stewards of their time, talent and treasure. After
returning from pilgrimage, they are to use their knowledge and skills
of spirituality and responsibility to guide their lifelong journey
of faith. Youth in the class pick many of the topics they would
like to discuss and the class is facilitated by mentors as opposed
to teachers. YAC meets in the Youth Room which is located between
the gym and the track.
Youth Pilgrimage
In 1999, the church first supported a group of youth in their desire
to explore themselves spiritually in distant lands when the J2A
class traveled to Scotland. Since then, groups have been to Italy,
Ireland, Greece, Canterbury, and most recently hiked part of the
Camino de Santiago in northern Spain. During the J2A phase of the
Journey to Adulthood program, youth begin making preparations for
a pilgrimage. With the help of mentors, they organize fundraisers,
team-building projects and community service work to prepare financially
and mentally ready for the journey they are preparing to take. God,
faith, and one’s personal journey are an integral part of the
preparation for the journey abroad. The experience is intended to
be a transformational journey in which pilgrims learn about themselves,
the group, and their relationship with God. During the summer of
2010, the J2A class will travel to follow in the footsteps of Paul
by going back to Greece. The following pilgrimage will be in 2012.
For information, please
contact John Burruss . |
