What kind of Catholic Teen/Youth Group is most popular?

Question

I am trying to help my Parish create a cool teen/tween youth group which ones are most popular and help with faith formation

Answer 1

Our diocese has a "Godteens" program, but I don't know if they subscribe to something or just create it in each parish according to what the teens need to grow in their faith.

If I were starting one up, I'd probably base it on the "Prove It!" book series by Amy Welborn and build in lots of service opportunities (serve at a soup kitchen; winter coat drive for the homeless; assist with funerals as altar servers, pall bearers, ushers, hostesses, Rosary, etc.; praying the Rosary at abortion clinics; food baskets for the needy, and so on ).

Answer 2

I think that a lot of the kids are thirsting for something more traditional that doesn't skirt around the issues because there has been so much watered-down catechesis over the last 30 or 40 years.

We found one that we think we might do next year called "The Dead Theologians Society." You should be able to find it online.

Right now we have a youth-group that meets once a week and does a half hour of social time, an hour of class on a topic, then an hour of food/social/discussion. We also incorporate service in some way, like raking leaves for the elderly and singing Christmas carols at the nursing home, etc.

EDIT - I agree that the Amy Welborn books are good resources for teens.

Answer 3

LifeTeen is awesome. Our parish has had it for 9 years...

Answer 4

LifeTeen seems to be a very good program: http://www.lifeteen.org/

With love in Christ.

Answer 5

probably some kind of rehab for abused and molested kids.

Answer 6

jesus camp led by ted haggard!