THE NEXT LIMA LIFE TEEN MASS
WILL BE SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25. WE HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US!
FOR parents and other adults interested in learnING more about the lima life teen program
Please visit these webpages on the Lima life teen website:
WHAT IS LIFE TEEN
parents guide to life teen
WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE LIFE NIGHT PROGRAM
LIMA LIFE TEEN - MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR 17 YEARS
LIMA LIFE TEEN CALENDAR
RAISING CATHOLIC TEENS - VIDEO
TEENS AND SPIRITUALITY RESEARCH
HOW TO SUPPORT LIMA LIFE TEEN - vOLUNTEER - DONATE
WHAT IS LIFE TEEN
parents guide to life teen
WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE LIFE NIGHT PROGRAM
LIMA LIFE TEEN - MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR 17 YEARS
LIMA LIFE TEEN CALENDAR
RAISING CATHOLIC TEENS - VIDEO
TEENS AND SPIRITUALITY RESEARCH
HOW TO SUPPORT LIMA LIFE TEEN - vOLUNTEER - DONATE
The Lima Life Teen Parental Challenge: I challenge all parents of incoming freshman high school students to get your child to attend three Life Night programs when school resumes. If you are the aunt, uncle, grandparent of one of these teens, your challenge is to share this with the teen’s parents.
I realize that getting a teen to do something that he/she doesn’t want to do is difficult on the best of days. I also realize that I’m talking about going to church and with a group of other teens he/she may not know. That is why I’m calling this a Challenge.
First let me tell you why I think that this is important. According to research, spiritual and religious teens are more likely to have a positive self-image and feel a sense of belonging (1). Studies have found that participation in religious activities makes teens less likely to engage in risky behaviors like alcohol and drug abuse (2). Likewise, relationships with parents and family members tend to be stronger when teens are spiritual or religious (3). Other benefits to teens (and their parents) include the following: greater sense that life is meaningful and purposeful; lower anxiety and stress; more positive social interactions with friends; more friends who are positive influences; and greater success in future stages of life (4).
Now is a good time to introduce you to the Lima Life Teen website at limalifeteen.com because I have provided the sources of the research and studies cited in the previous paragraph. When you visit the website you will learn all about the Life Teen program and find links to the “Parents Guide to Life Teen”, the Life Teen calendar, how you can volunteer to support the program, and much, much more. If you need more information, please call Angie Soules who will answer your questions.
What exactly am I asking you to do? Once school resumes, the Lima Life Teen program will begin conducting Life Teen Masses from 6 to 7 every Sunday evening. Following the Mass, the teens go to the church basement for Dinner and Life Night Program from 7 to 9:10 p.m. While I would prefer that your teen attend Mass and stay for the Life Night program, I realize that some teens attend Mass earlier with their family. Approximately 30% of the teens show up at 7 for the food and the program. Put another way, we want your teen to come for the social activities and stay for the spiritual program.
The reason why the Challenge includes three Life Nights is because each Life Night is different and we have found that it takes three different experiences for a teen to be able to decide if this is something he/she wants to participate in on a weekly basis. We have also found that it takes time for teens to find new friends. Lima Life Teen is not a club, your teen does not need to join, just show up and participate. The Lima Life Teen program is for any high school student from any area high school. When you check the calendar and website, you will see that there are also prayer nights, homework nights, and fun nights. During the course of the school year, we recognize that family, school, sports, and other things in your teen’s life will need to come first which is why acknowledge the participation of every teen, every week, and recognize your parental support that is necessary for your teen to participate.
Finally, let me make a suggestions that may make it easier to win the Challenge. Have them bring one or more friends to the Life Night to share the experience.
If you have doubts about whether it’s worth all the effort, reread the third paragraph about why I believe that this is important. Your teens are going to be making life changing decisions in the next four years and their friends may have more influence on their decision than you their parents. While you can’t pick their friends, you can get them to spend a few hours in church once a week with new and old friends participating in the Lima Life Teen program.
References for studies and reports cited in paragraph three (LINK TO DOCUMENTS CITED)
1. Richard Lerner, Robert W. Roeser, and Erin Phelps (eds.), Positive Youth Development and Spirituality, (West Conshohocken, PA: Templeton Foundation Press, 2008).
2. Christian Smith and Robert Faris, Religion and American Adolescent Delinquency, Risk Behaviors, and Constructive Social Activities: A Research Report of the National Study of Youth and Religion, Number 1. Accessed May 9, 2011.http://www.youthandreligion.org/sites/youthandreligion.org/files/imported/publications.
3. Eugene Roehlkepartain, Pamela Ebstyne King, Linda Wagener, and Peter L. Benson (eds.), The Handbook of Spiritual Development in Childhood and Adolescence, (Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2006).
4. "How your child may be developing spirituality: Ages 10-14," The Search Institute, Accessed May 9, 2011. http://www.search-institute.org/csd/articles/nurturing/10-14.
I realize that getting a teen to do something that he/she doesn’t want to do is difficult on the best of days. I also realize that I’m talking about going to church and with a group of other teens he/she may not know. That is why I’m calling this a Challenge.
First let me tell you why I think that this is important. According to research, spiritual and religious teens are more likely to have a positive self-image and feel a sense of belonging (1). Studies have found that participation in religious activities makes teens less likely to engage in risky behaviors like alcohol and drug abuse (2). Likewise, relationships with parents and family members tend to be stronger when teens are spiritual or religious (3). Other benefits to teens (and their parents) include the following: greater sense that life is meaningful and purposeful; lower anxiety and stress; more positive social interactions with friends; more friends who are positive influences; and greater success in future stages of life (4).
Now is a good time to introduce you to the Lima Life Teen website at limalifeteen.com because I have provided the sources of the research and studies cited in the previous paragraph. When you visit the website you will learn all about the Life Teen program and find links to the “Parents Guide to Life Teen”, the Life Teen calendar, how you can volunteer to support the program, and much, much more. If you need more information, please call Angie Soules who will answer your questions.
What exactly am I asking you to do? Once school resumes, the Lima Life Teen program will begin conducting Life Teen Masses from 6 to 7 every Sunday evening. Following the Mass, the teens go to the church basement for Dinner and Life Night Program from 7 to 9:10 p.m. While I would prefer that your teen attend Mass and stay for the Life Night program, I realize that some teens attend Mass earlier with their family. Approximately 30% of the teens show up at 7 for the food and the program. Put another way, we want your teen to come for the social activities and stay for the spiritual program.
The reason why the Challenge includes three Life Nights is because each Life Night is different and we have found that it takes three different experiences for a teen to be able to decide if this is something he/she wants to participate in on a weekly basis. We have also found that it takes time for teens to find new friends. Lima Life Teen is not a club, your teen does not need to join, just show up and participate. The Lima Life Teen program is for any high school student from any area high school. When you check the calendar and website, you will see that there are also prayer nights, homework nights, and fun nights. During the course of the school year, we recognize that family, school, sports, and other things in your teen’s life will need to come first which is why acknowledge the participation of every teen, every week, and recognize your parental support that is necessary for your teen to participate.
Finally, let me make a suggestions that may make it easier to win the Challenge. Have them bring one or more friends to the Life Night to share the experience.
If you have doubts about whether it’s worth all the effort, reread the third paragraph about why I believe that this is important. Your teens are going to be making life changing decisions in the next four years and their friends may have more influence on their decision than you their parents. While you can’t pick their friends, you can get them to spend a few hours in church once a week with new and old friends participating in the Lima Life Teen program.
References for studies and reports cited in paragraph three (LINK TO DOCUMENTS CITED)
1. Richard Lerner, Robert W. Roeser, and Erin Phelps (eds.), Positive Youth Development and Spirituality, (West Conshohocken, PA: Templeton Foundation Press, 2008).
2. Christian Smith and Robert Faris, Religion and American Adolescent Delinquency, Risk Behaviors, and Constructive Social Activities: A Research Report of the National Study of Youth and Religion, Number 1. Accessed May 9, 2011.http://www.youthandreligion.org/sites/youthandreligion.org/files/imported/publications.
3. Eugene Roehlkepartain, Pamela Ebstyne King, Linda Wagener, and Peter L. Benson (eds.), The Handbook of Spiritual Development in Childhood and Adolescence, (Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2006).
4. "How your child may be developing spirituality: Ages 10-14," The Search Institute, Accessed May 9, 2011. http://www.search-institute.org/csd/articles/nurturing/10-14.
Important NewsI love you, the Catholic Church loves you, and Jesus loves you." - Angie
Check Angie's facebook page and the calendar link for news on upcoming activities. |
Upcoming Eventsthe calendar on this website has been updated with information on this year's awesome events and activities. We hope you will be able to join us!
|
Life Teen International Website
|
|
Lima Catholic Schools and Churches
|
