The Catholic Parishes of St. Francis & St. Joseph Traverse City, MI

Leading teens closer to Christ

Acting as a catalyst for collaboration between all members of the Catholic Family, The EDGE and LIFE TEEN UNDERGROUND shepherds success through a wide range of programs and projects which bring the Catholic values to life.

The 5:00 pm Sunday Mass – Celebrated every Sunday at St. Francis Church. This Mass is open to all ages, with active involvement from our teenagers. They serve as greeters, ushers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, lectors, choir, instrumentalists, gift bearers, and altar servers. This is a great opportunity for our teens to deeply experience the Mass with music that is geared toward their worship experience. Celebrants for this Mass include Fr. Ken Stachnik, Fr. Edwin Thome, and Fr. Bill Lipscomb.

The EDGE - Prior to the 5:00pm evening Mass, students in grades seven and eight are encouraged to attend the EDGE of UNDERGROUND from 3:00 – 4:30pm. Teens will experience their Catholic faith at an age appropriate level. The EDGE is designed to meet the educational, spiritual, emotional, and social needs of young adolescents. In many aspects middle school youth are on the edge, so much is changing and going on in their lives. We desire to give our children The EDGE they need in life: Jesus, The Word of God, The Eucharist, and The Church. Students will close their meeting each week with a snack.

LIFE TEEN - Following the 5:00pm evening Mass, teens in grades nine through twelve are encouraged to attend LIFE TEEN UNDERGROUND from 6:30 – 8:00pm. These creative nights bring our Catholic faith to life and break open relevant issues for teens by openly sharing and experiencing what it is to be a Catholic today. These nights are presented in line with the teachings of the Catholic Church. Teens, along with an adult core team, plan and execute these nights, allowing teens to share their gifts with their peers and the parish community. A meal will be provided for these students immediately after Mass.

LIFE TEEN & EDGE Retreats - A LIFE TEEN retreat will be held in March for students in grades 9-12 and an EDGE retreat in April for students in grades 7-8. A retreat is a great opportunity to build community with the youth. Retreats offer teens a comfortable setting for examining and talking about their relationship with God. It is a time to deepen that relationship and learn new ways to communicate with God.