By Dan Sullivan
Catholic Herald

Sanborn parish launches Life Teen

SANBORN -- A wave of excitement has hit northern Wisconsin. The elation is over Life Teen, a youth-based ministry found in 960 parishes throughout the United States and in 19 foreign countries, that has found its way into the Diocese of Superior.

St. Bridget Parish in River Falls is in its third year of sponsoring Life Teen and on Nov. 28 young people gathered at St. Anne Church in Sanborn to start the program here.

The teens came from within the Mellen, Glidden, Clam Lake, Highbridge and Sanborn parish cluster and from other Ashland area parishes, to hear a message about God.

Welcoming the youth and adults in attendance, Becky Mika, a St. Anne parishioner and one of the adult leaders responsible for bringing the movement to the parish, told participants, "I hope you look back at this evening with great fondness and joy."

Entering an overflowing church, Fr. Jozef Barszcz, pastor of the Mellen, Glidden, Clam Lake, Highbridge and Sanborn cluster, beamed with a smile that showed through his beard.

"I knew this church was going to be too small," Barszcz said. "What a great joy this is."

Life Teen, Barszcz explained, was started 19 years ago at St. Timothy Parish in Mesa, Ariz., by its pastor, Msgr. Dale Fushek.

With Jesus looking for teens, Barszcz pleaded with the young people to give up hanging on the street corner with their friends for one night.

"One day a week do something different, say amen to the Lord," Barszcz said. "Come hang around with Jesus. The love of Jesus will be so strong, we will have to share that love."

Life Teen is centered on the celebration of the Eucharist, and that was a vital focus of the evening in Sanborn. Jim Gadamus, a parishioner and parent, said he had initial concerns about Life Teen, but these worries were erased after attending the first Mass.

"To me, it was done in a very sacred way," Gadamus said. "I'm orthodox in my belief, but I approve of what I saw tonight. It was beautifully done and I love it."

Reaching out to youth, Gadamus said, is an important aspect of Life Teen. "The focus is on the youth, but it brought the entire parish community together," he said. "The youth are the next generation of the Catholic Church."

Barszcz agreed, saying the future of the church rests with the children of today's teen generation.

"If we build on this group of teens, we won't have to worry about the faith of northern Wisconsin," he said. "We will be so vibrant and bright that people will want to join us.

The idea behind a youth group at the Sanborn parish was first proposed by Sean and Rachel Duffy, and Mika and her husband, Tim Mika.

"They approached me and said we needed something for the youth," Barszcz said. "It would be a grass roots initiative, if we could get 15 to 20 youth excited about Jesus. We didn't have any idea about joining Life Teen or any other organization. The first idea for the youth club was to gather the youth around the Eucharist, get them closer to Jesus and to discuss the issues of faith."

Barszcz stressed that today's youth hunger to learn about faith. "These youngsters came here tonight because they wanted to meet Jesus on a more personal level," he said.

Teen Michael McCutchen liked relating to other teens. "It's nice to be able to talk to someone your age," McCutchen said. "It was a good excuse to meet people and make new friends."

Other teens said they were reminded that Jesus is always there for them, even in the hardest times.

As a native of Poland, Barszcz explained, he is a life member of a similar youth organization called Oasis, formed in Europe in 1954.

"My personal conversion and direction to become a priest was a direct result of belonging to that particular movement," he said. "I'm convinced that Christ Jesus asked me personally, at the age of 16, to change the course of my life."

Since Life Teen was an important part of her youth, Rachel Duffy proposed that the Sanborn parish sponsor Life Teen. Barszcz and others soon found themselves traveling to Arizona for training.

"We observed what was happening at St. Timothy," he said. "It blew my mind how thousands of youth packed (that) church one hour before the Mass. I have never seen anything like that in my life. Everything they did for the youth revolved around the liturgy."

The experience in Arizona helped excite Barszcz to bring the ministry back home to Sanborn.

"We found talented musicians in our parishes," he said. "We found other talented people to be corps members."

In addition to Masses, education and discussion sessions, called Life Nights, are also an important part of Life Teen. Some parishes combine the two in one evening, while others hold them on separate days.

At St. Bridget Parish a Life Teen Mass is held most Sunday evenings during the school year, and Life Night is held once a month, on a Wednesday. "It didn't work on Sundays for us," said Fr. Gerald Harris, St. Bridget Parish pastor.

"It gives an opportunity for high school youths to be active and keeps them in the Catholic Church," he said.

Harris stressed Life Teen Masses follow liturgical norms. "The style of music is contemporary, but they don't do anything to wild," he said.

As with Sanborn, a corps of leaders plan the Mass and Life Night in River Falls. Harris said the leaders "help with the teachings, but we do ours during the Mass."

As with any ministry, Harris cautioned, leaders need to watch for burn out.

"What works in Mesa may not work here in River Falls," Harris said. "Members come and go, but that happens. After three years we have a rhythm."

In the planning stages in River Falls is a Life Teen retreat. "It will take place after the first of the year," Harris said.

In the River Falls and Sanborn parishes, youth are involved in the various ministries during the Mass. Harris said, "It's very satisfying as a priest to see them active."

Life Teen is powerful, Harris said, but to fully appreciate it, he encourages those looking to implement it to take part in a training session in Arizona.

"I would love to take people to Arizona to show them what's happening at St. Timothy's," Harris said. "They have incredible resources, but they also have many years of experience."

According to Jennifer Swanson, director of marketing and public relations, Life Teen does offer training and resources. Leaders receive training in areas of facilitating retreats and organizing liturgies. "Life Support," provides a quarterly guide and references for leaders.

"Each week there is a reflection from teens and homily, song and skit suggestions," Swanson said. "It's a valuable resource."

Life Teen, is experiential. "Rather than just reading about it, things are discussed," Swanson said. "It gives teens a chance to talk about issues."

This was demonstrated in Sanborn, during its Life Night following the Mass. Teens and leaders talked about corporal and spiritual works of mercy.

To close the celebration in Sanborn, the song "Go light the world" was sung, as individuals held lit candles. Participants were instructed by Barszcz: "Take your candle and go light the world."

The next Life Teen Mass in Sanborn is scheduled for Dec. 12, beginning at 6 p.m. A Life Night will follow.

"Even northern Wisconsin weather will not stop us," Barszcz said. "The love of God is greater than any blizzard."

Editor's Note: Additional information on Life Teen can be found on the Web at www.lifeteen.com or by calling 480-820-7001.

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© Superior Catholic Herald, 2004