Journey to Adulthood
(Grades 6 -12)
Sunday Mornings 9:45 -10:30
Activities typically on Sunday evenings
The St. Anne Journey Mission Statement:
Working together, advisors, parents, and the faith community,
our goal is to raise young men and women who know the Christian faith,
who enjoyed a positive, nurturing experience of Christian Formation as youths,
who were recognized, respected and celebrated by adults, beyond their parents, and who are secure in the knowledge that the St. Anne community will be there for them to turn to at any time.
For 10 years, St. Anne has offered the Journey to Adulthood program of Christian Formation to our students in 6th through 12th grade. Students form a community and move together through the three levels. New groups will be forming in the fall of 2009 as follows: Rite 13: 6th and 7th grade, J2A: 8th and 9th grade and YAC: 10th, 11th, and 12th grade
There are three levels in the Journey to Adulthood: Rite 13, J2A, and YAC.
Rite 13: The name of the first level of the Journey to Adulthood is derived from the liturgical rite of passage we celebrate with young people near their 13th birthday. Loosely based on the Jewish bar/bat mitzvah tradition, this provides a way for the entire congregation to celebrate the unique gifts and abilities of our young teens. The two years of Rite 13 focus on recognizing the gifts God has given us, celebrating our creative potential, and learning to interact as a community of faith. During Rite 13, the task of building a community among the members is a primary concern. This experience incorporates much learning and laughter as it takes our young people seriously, giving them real work to do.
J2A: The bulk of the Journey's process takes place in these two 
years, hence the acronym "J2A" (Journey to Adulthood.) During these years, teens learn and practice six basic skills of adulthood: active listening, negotiation, assertion, research and information management, partnership and leadership all while seeking God’s presence together. In J2A, we celebrate the transition form youth to adulthood. The youth are invited to become “adult” members of the church by Confirmation at the conclusion of the two years of J2A. The group designs and embarks on a Holy Pilgrimage to conclude the second year of J2A. In June of 2009, the J2A Pilgrims journeyed to England to explore their Anglican roots.
YAC (Young Adults in Church), is the final segment for our high school students. YAC members are encouraged to accept more adult responsibilities and to contribute their time, talent and treasure in ways that support the ongoing work of Christ through the Church. Teens develop a personal credo of beliefs and rely on their trusted group of peers as they explore their faith more deeply and struggle with the details of transitioning from teenager to young adult in today's world.
We encourage new students to join our youth group for class and activities at any time of the year!