Welcome to SJE Edge!
On This Page You Will Find Out
- What is Edge?
- Event Info!
- Who is our Youth Minister?
What is Edge?
What is Edge?
Edge is a Catholic middle school youth ministry program. It provides a safe fun place for youth to find solid Catholic community, to get answers to their questions about faith, and, most importantly, to experience Jesus in a profound and personal way. Edge resources speak to the physical, psychological, cognitive, relational, and spiritual maturation of middle school youth. Edge resources make it easier for youth ministers to plan out their semesters of Edge, retreats, and to train a team of adults, the Core Team, to assist them in the ministry. The resources present Catholic teaching in a way that young people can understand.
This means that youth ministers get to spend less time at the desk and more time reaching out to youth. Edge provides many resources and support to help youth ministers reach out to parents and to connect with the families of middle school youth. Edge also connects youth ministers to a veteran team of youth ministers to assist them as well as providing ample opportunities for training. Edge answers the needs of this age group in a catechetical, fun, and relevant way and provides a foundation for youth to continue onto Life Teen. Edge is a great asset to any youth ministry program, as it answers the unique needs of this age group while providing deeply impactful resources.
Why is SJE Edge Important?
We all remember that middle school was awkward and difficult. That hasn’t changed. However, societal shifts have made the middle school years more difficult than ever. Today, middle school youth are having experiences that were common only with high school students just 15 years ago. SJE EDGE provides an unparalleled moment in the life of a middle school youngster to offer guidance, reassurance, and Jesus’ love to a group of people who have so many options and choices before them.
Those who minister to middle school youth are in the seed-planting business. They are working with children who still have many significant and important decisions ahead of them, and the ministering adult has the opportunity to plant the seeds of Jesus’ love, hope, and peace in the middle school child.
The SJE EDGE consists of:
A. Multiple sessions during the entire year. SJE EDGE also has social and recreational activities designed to create a greater sense of community among our middle school youth and for the children to have fun and enjoy themselves in a church setting.
B. Occasions for middle school youth to put their faith into action through a variety of service projects.
The SJE EDGE has 4 goals…
1. To foster a transforming spiritual experience of Jesus through the liturgy which will allow early adolescents to experience the Word of God and the Eucharist in a deeper and more profound way.
2. To create a positive experience of the Catholic Church for early adolescents.
3. To assist middle schoolers in gaining an understanding and appreciation of what the Catholic Church teaches and believes.
5. To identify middle school youth ministry as being a vital and visual presence within the parish community.
Interested?
Click HERE to be placed on the Edge Email List!
Join Us For SJE Edge!
This Wednesday All 6th-8th Grade Parishioners are invited to the Parish Hall at 6:30 PM for SJE Edge!
We will be talking about the Saints and their impact on our world!
We will promptly end at 8PM
Survey for Availability This Summer!
Meet your Youth Minister!
Joe is SO excited for this next journey as Youth Minister for St John's! Joe is an Experienced Ministry leader with over 10 years of dedicated service in leading and guiding young individuals. Skilled in effectively communicating and building relationships with diverse groups of people! Joe started as a Core member with Stoughton Lifeteen at age 18. In his time there he formed a great platform to hone his skills for public speaking and giving talks, testimonies, and much more. Soon thereafter, Joe Spent 2 years on the road conducting over 250 retreats with NET Ministries. NET consisted of ministry teams of 8-12 young adults. These young adults traveled around the country conducting retreats that aimed to show the love of the Father. Joe gave countless talks and led over 15,000 youth in small group altogether during his time with NET Ministries.
Shortly after finishing his time with NET as a missionary, Joe was hired by them and worked as a regional office local outreach specialist at their regional office in Cincinnati, OH. Joe developed strong leadership and team management skills as he served as the main liaison between diocesan office and NET. Moreover, as a worship leader for the past 10 years as well; Joe has fostered the atmosphere of worship at over 500+ events. Some of them weddings, retreats, and workshops to name a few. Joe also was honored to take the role of training potential worship leaders at NET Ministries "Worship Leader Training" as it was called. In this role he encouraged the NET Missionaries to not only become a better musician, but a better steward of the knowledge that they are cultivating a true heart of worship in those they serve.
Joe is one who passionately leads others closer to Christ through a heart of worship. All in all St. John's is extremely excited about Joe's experience and confidence to effectively lead the teens at St John's closer to Christ.
Joe is an avid bowler, sports fanatic, and loves to play NHL 24, NBA 2k24, and Madden 24!!!
(So if any youth want to test their skills please contact Joe @ at the Parish Center!)