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6-8th Grade Small Groups

Click Here to Register!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is covered?
Each class examines a key aspect of Catholic Theology:
  • 6th grade explores scripture
  • 7th grade looks over  the sacraments (Using the YouCat)
  • 8th grade discusses morality and Catholic Social Teaching (Using the DoCat). 

When and where do they meet?
6-8th Grade Small Groups meet Wednesday evenings from 7:30 PM to 8:45 PM at St. Cecilia school

What If I need to drop off my student early? 
We know that raising a family is hard right now, especially when you are being asked to chauffeur your children from place to place all night long. To help you logistically we’ll also offer Open Gym on Wednesdays at 6:45 to 7:30 PM so you can have the option of dropping your student off early. During this time, students are welcome to work on homework, play games, shoot hoops, or just hang out. We hope this gives you some flexibility in your busy schedules and offers a place to relax, socialize, and make new friends.  

How is information presented?
The program is broken into a three part structure; each part lasts approximately 25 minute. During the first third students are welcomed into the class and encouraged to build community sharing about their lives, playing games and having unstructured time to enjoy each other's company. The goal of this time is to facilitate community-building by helping youth and leaders build trust with each other, experience the joy of Christian friendship, and step aside from their scheduled lives to enjoy prayer and study for its own sake. Youth will be presented with several choices of activities that they can pick to reinforce the idea that they are active participants in the faith and not mere recipients. 

During the second part, youth read and discuss a short section of Scripture, the YOUCAT
(Youth Catechism), or the DOCAT (Which Focuses on Catholic Social Teaching). During this time the leader primarily focuses on posing questions and asking the youth to consider how this knowledge impacts their relationships with God, others, and themselves. This time closes with a challenge that youth can choose to accept or not, further reinforcing the concept of faith being a  personal choice.  

Finally, youth will enter into a time of prayer to develop a personal relationship with Jesus and to process what was just discussed. Youth will be presented with several choices of activities that they can pick to reinforce the idea that they are active participants in the faith and not mere recipients. Various prayers will be offered through the year, with catechists having the freedom to repeat any that the group is interested in. 
​Anchor Youth Ministry is the outreach of Saint Cecilia and St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Parishes
​for middle school and high school students in the Ames, Iowa area.
  

About

REGISTRATION
​CONTACT​
SAINT CECILIA PARISH 
SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS PARISH ​

High School

9-12  SMALL GROUPS
​LIFE TEEN  
​CONFIRMATION

Middle School

6-8 SMALL GROUPS
EDGE 
​MIDDLE SCHOOL LEADERS
Copyright © 2022
  • Home
  • Weekly News/Updates
  • About
    • Leaders
    • Registration
    • Internship Program
    • Contact
  • High School
    • High School Small Group Ministry
    • Life Teen
    • Confirmation
  • Middle School
    • EDGE
    • Middle School Leaders
    • FOAM THUNDER IV: An EDGE Social
    • 6-8 Small Groups
  • Trips and Retreats
    • JOURNEY
    • National Catholic Youth Conference
    • Summer 2023 Trip
    • 2023 Iowa Catholic Youth Conference