Ministries

LifeTeen

History of LifeTeen at St. Veronica's

In the spring of 2002, Father Brendan Williams made the decision to take Youth Ministry at St. Veronica's to a deeper level. He desired a dynamic program that would challenge the youth of St. Veronica's to live the Gospel without compromise. He hired full-time youth minister Dan Dirkes from Ann Arbor Michigan to head a new program called LIFE TEEN. Dan launched the program in the fall of 2002 and the program has continued to grow over the past three years.

The LIFE TEEN program of youth ministry began twenty years ago in Mesa, Arizona and has since spread to more than 900 parishes worldwide, touching the lives of more than 120,000 teenagers each week. LIFE TEEN is centered around the Catholic Mass and makes faith come alive for teens through LIFE Nights, Bible Studies, prayer meetings, retreats, outreach, and various social and sports activities.

LIFE TEEN was started in 1985 by Msgr. Dale Fushek, pastor of St. Timothy's Catholic Community in Mesa, Arizona. He saw a special need to bring teens closer to Jesus; a special need to make the Eucharist-and Mass-more meaningful to teens.

LIFE TEEN at St. Veronica's is a special community where teenagers feel loved and supported in their Catholic Faith. Teens gather each week for the 5pm LIFE TEEN Mass on Sunday evening and then gather downstairs in the cafeteria for the LIFE Night. During the week, teens can be found attending the God Rockers Bible Study and Open Gym on Thursday Nights, participating in food collection for the St. Veronica's Food Pantry, and serving in the community in various other ways.

"LIFE TEEN makes a huge difference in the lives of our teens at St. Veronica's," says Dan Dirkes, Coordinator of Youth Ministry. "It helps bring them into a transformational encounter with Jesus Christ and gives them courage to live a life of faith at their schools and with their families."

REGULAR MEETING DATES
(*dates may change, please check STV homepage for This Week's schedule)

Sunday
5:00pm LIFE TEEN Mass (Church)
6:15pm LIFE Night (Cafeteria)

Wednesday
6:00pm Music Team Practice (Church)

Thursday
6:00pm God Rockers Bible Study (Library)
8:30pm Open Gym (Gymnasium)