Special to The Michigan Catholic
Grosse Pointe Woods - Middle school students at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic School are learning a great lesson: You are never too young to be an intentional disciple of Christ.
“We are helping the students gain a better understanding about how faith is so much a part of the fabric of our lives from the time we are baptized, not just when we reach adulthood,” said Michael King, religious education director at Star of the Sea.
Once a week throughout the school year, King gathers the middle school students together for an energizing session that includes small group activities, music and prayer. Regardless of the methods, all are used for the sole purpose of deepening the students’ spirituality and their relationship with Christ.
The format is loosely based on the EDGE program, a comprehensive curriculum using foundational Catholic themes and Scripture presented to foster community, individual expression and trust. King has tailored the program for the Star of the Sea school community.
“The response tells me the kids can’t get enough,” he said, adding that he has planned Taize prayer, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and interactive Stations of the Cross, in addition to inspirational talks, scavenger hunts and field trips.
Star of the Sea's pastor, Msgr. Gary Smentanka, echoes King’s observations, noting that faith formation for this generation has to be attractive to children. The weekly sessions successfully present the virtues of the Catholic faith and encourage each child to form a personal relationship with Jesus.
“It is amazing to see the students open up and articulate their faith,” Msgr. Smentanka said. “They are excited to gather in groups to lift each other up in prayer and not be afraid to share their thoughts and feelings.”
King and Msgr. Smentanka say the program is in direct response to the mission priorities presented by Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron in his pastoral letter of February 2012. When the document was published, the pastoral staff discussed how to apply those ideas to the many facets of parish life.
The weekly middle school gatherings have a theological theme, guided by a liturgical season or Church teaching. For instance, one of the themes was about sharing time, talent and treasures.
“We talked about how young people can be part of building up the school and parish community,” King said. “Something as simple as a smile can make a difference in another person’s life today, but (they need to know how a) smile is relevant to the overall development of the Catholic Church. A smile is a welcoming gesture.”
King said he is bolstered by the physical and spiritual support of the school and parish staff, who, he says, share their faith in the classrooms each day and are active participants in the faith formation sessions.
As the school year came to a close, members of the eighth-grade class affirmed King’s belief in the program when they mentioned the weekly gatherings among their “best” school memories.
King expanded the program to include students in the younger grades, who were witnessing the excitement among the older students. While sessions for the younger grades are not held as frequently, they provide an opportunity for the various age groups to interact with one another and share their faith.
The same enthusiasm surrounds the parish religious formation classes and youth group meetings, as King and his staff “get the Gospel message out to the youth in a non-threatening and fun way,” and guide them on a path that will lead them to be Christ’s disciples for life.
