Learning about L.I.F.E. and L.I.F.E. Plus (see list at right)

Youth Ministry Access

Sister Kieran Sawyer is a regular contributor to Youth Ministry Access, an on-line publication of the Center for Ministry Development. Titles and synopses of her lesson plans are listed below. For full access to the lessons, subscribe to Youth Ministry Access.

MIDDLE SCHOOL LESSONS

Bee-Attitudes (Summer 2011) Participants talk about the positive attitudes, character traits, and virtues that characterize a "good person" and examine how these are (or are not) manifested in their daily lives.

Belonging and Being Myself (2010 Fall) Participants reflect on the challenge of balancing three primary human needs: the need to belong in a family, the need to belong in a group of friends, and the need to be independent.

Chastity and Character, Jr Hi (Spring 2012 Partiipants are taught a simple explanation of character development. Chastity is presented as the character strength (virtue) that helps them to control and channel their sexual desires.

Church: Building a Caring Community (Fall 2011) Participants are helped to understand that they are church and that they share in the responsibility for building the caring community called "church" in their family, friendship group, and world.

Do I Hafta? (Summer 2011) Particpants are helped to examine the motivation that gudes their daily choices and are encouraged to make personal decisions based on positive character-based values and virtues. (Click here for sample access to this session.)

Emmanuel: God is with Us (2009 Winter) Particpants come to a deeper understanding of the mystery of God's presence in their everyday worlds.

God's DO and DON'T List (2010 Fall) Participants are helped to see the role the Ten Commnandments ought to play in their everyday lives.

Gold Stars and Gray Dots -- a one-day retreat (Summer 2011) Based on the story You Are Special by Max Lucado, the retreat is designed to help young people to analyze the positive and negative feedback the receive from (and give to) their peers, and to realize that what really matters is how special each person is in the eyes of God.

The Great Commandments (2010 Fall) Participants discover the Great Commandments in both the Old and New Testaments, and are encouraged to see this teaching as the basic guide for their lives.

Healthy and Unhealthy Relationships (2010 Summer) Participants are guided to see their own responsibility in developing positive, loving relationship in their families and friendship groups.

I Know Your Father (2011 Winter) Based on a clip from The Lion King, particpants reflect on their call to live as children of a loving God.

Magic and Miracles (2011 Spring) Particpants are helped to understand the difference between magic and miracles, and become more familiar with the miracles of Jesus.

My Friendship Quotient (2009 Fall) Participants examine the important role that friendship plays in their lives and analyze how well they are developing the qualities of a good friend. (Click here for sample access to this session.)

Peer Power (2010 Winter) Participants are guided to understand the positive role of social pressure in their lives and are encouraged to use their personal power to have a positive influence on their peers.

Put Ups / Put Downs (Winter 2012) Participants are helped to become aware of the use of put downs in their peer groups, to realize their negative impact, and to practice using put us -- words and actions that show acceptance and affirmation of one another.

Text Messages to God (2011 Winter) Participants learn the four purposes of prayer: thanksgiving, contrition, petition, and praise/adoration, and explore these themes in the psalms.

Were You There When They Crucified My Lord? (2010 Spring) Partipants read and tell the story of Jesus' passion and death as it is presented in the four Gospels.

We Are Easter People (2010 Spring) Participants read and tell the story of the Resurrection as it is presented in the four Gospels.

FIFTH NIGHT SESSIONS for youth with parents

Sacraments and Our Love Relationship with God (2011 Spring) Parents and youth grow in their understanding of the role sacraments play in deepening their love relationship with God.

HIGH SCHOOL SESSIONS

Chastity and Character, Sr Hi (Summer 2012) Chastity is presented as the character strenght that helps the participants make personal choices that channel their sexual desires toward authentic love and away from using others.

Created in the Image of God (Fall, 2011) On the very first page of Holy Scripture we are told that human beings are created in the image and likeness of God. This session helps youth to see how those words apply to their lives.

Covenant (Winter 2012) Covenant is a central concept in the story of God's relationship with his people. Participants follow the history of covenant through the Old Testament into the New.

Who is This Man? (2011 Summer) Participants reflect on the mystery of the Incarnation and ask themselves "Who do YOU say that I am?"