Journey to Adulthood
(Grades 7 -12)
Sundays, 9:45 -10:35
Activities typically on Sunday evenings
For 10 year, St. Anne has offered the Journey to Adulthood program for our students beginning in 7th grade through high school graduation. The Journey experience incorporates much learning and laughter as it takes our young people seriously, giving them real work to do.
There are three stages: Rite 13, J2A, and YAC. Each lasts for two years. That two-year grouping of teens will stay together until they graduate from high school.
Rite 13 is a name 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 its 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.
J2A: The bulk of the Journey's process takes place in these two years, building on the foundation of the Rite 13 experience-hence the acronym "J2A" (for 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. The group designs and embarks on a holy pilgrimage to end the second year of J2A. (2009 destination is England.)
Young Adults in Church or YAC, makes up the final two years. Students 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 belifes 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.
New students are welcome to join youth group classes and activities at any time of the year.