Life Teen came to my parish in 2001, and it is the reason why I am Catholic. Life Teen started in 1985 at a parish in Mesa, Arizona, and it has become the largest movement in Catholic Youth Ministry currently. It is a Eucharist- centered movement that leads teenagers and families into a deeper relationship with Christ and His Church. I attribute Life Teen to the reason why I am a youth minister because my youth minister reminded me constantly that I am known and loved by God. As a young person in High School, I was seeking purpose and I found it through meeting Jesus in Adoration at a Life Teen sponsored retreat. I realized that all the things I wanted in life —success, affirmation by my peers, extra-curricular activities, dating relationships — were never able to satisfy the desires of my heart. All these things were temporary and I was created for the Eternal One who loved me perfectly.
On the altar, in front of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, I found my purpose.At that time, it wasn’t Jesus telling me that I should become a “Youth Minister” but Jesus said quietly in my heart, “Only I (Jesus) can satisfy you.” Life Teenbecame the place that I encountered Jesus and my life has never been thesame since. In today’s Gospel, Jesus says to his disciples – “And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Life Teen was the door that Jesus used to help me find Him.
"We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures. We are the sum of the Father's love for us."
- Saint John Paul II
