Program Map
In the beginning...
Did you know that a child's relationship with God begins when their parents are preparing for marriage, prayerfully discerning how their family will form their children as Catholics in the world today?
Our adventure of faith begins with the first two sacraments of initiation and elementary faith formation (white path*): receiving Baptismal grace and our First Eucharist. As we grow through elementary and into middle school, we realize the privilege - and struggle - in being people who believe in the Resurrection of our Lord! Parents take on an even more important role even as their children become more independent.
Did you know that a child's relationship with God begins when their parents are preparing for marriage, prayerfully discerning how their family will form their children as Catholics in the world today?
Our adventure of faith begins with the first two sacraments of initiation and elementary faith formation (white path*): receiving Baptismal grace and our First Eucharist. As we grow through elementary and into middle school, we realize the privilege - and struggle - in being people who believe in the Resurrection of our Lord! Parents take on an even more important role even as their children become more independent.

Anchored
The light gray path* shows how teens enter into ANCHOR youth ministry as a sixth grade, middle school student and begin more advanced formation. 6-8 grade programs are offered and open to both St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Cecilia parishioners, but EDGE middle school youth ministry is the first place they start to come together as one. In the adolescent years, we strive to provide a strong biblical foundation and sense of community which allow young people to be social, but also challenge them to be honest with God, to be prayerful friends and leaders of justice. As they prepare to enter high school, we encourage all 8th graders to sign up for NCYC as a pivotal beginning-of-faith experience.
At this point, young people are buoyed by a "cloud of witnesses," a community of hope: the goal of ANCHOR. Ninth graders begin Confirmation and choose a weekly faith formation program. YDisciple or Life Teen form the dark gray path*, the constant path of discipleship leading them through high school and into discernment (black path.) Chosen Confirmation preparation begins with sponsor companions at our quarterly classes. Steubenville can be a perfect companion to those entering or continuing their 1st or 2nd year of Confirmation because it intensifies our prayer life and emphasizes our personal relationship with Jesus. It answers a lot of questions to those wanting to know more about their faith, but maybe haven't been as receptive to Life Teen or even their YDisciple leader (which is okay!)
The Mountain Top
We encourage teens to attend a freshmen retreat or their fall retreat if they can, but our most beloved weekend experience is JOURNEY: a retreat only for tenth grade students. This is where we bring all of our "learning" to an apex, all of our prayer starts to hit home. After our Confirmation retreat, many teens see their upcoming sacrament as an opportunity to stay close to Jesus, who they love and want to be Lord of their life! After this retreat, we enterMission Territory. Candidates are introduced and folded into service groups, ministries with their parish and leadership positions with younger students. As the sacrament of leadership and initiation is completed, the journey really begins!
Beyond the Horizon...
Our ministry to upperclassmen is one of our crowning jewels! Who said all Confirmed Catholics leave the Church?! In Anchor, we celebrate a high retention rate - this is their moment to stand at the helm and shine as leaders of retreats, ministries, small groups and receive one-on-one discipleship. We foster a great sense of community within our older teens as they begin to discern their future through lock-in's, an internship program, dozens of leadership positions and socials gathering once a month or once a week. TheLife Teen Leadership Conference, or NDVision, are offered every year for Confirmed sophomores or incoming seniors to be forged as Catholic apostles and missionaries. All upperclassmen who apply for a high school internship with our program are accepted and taken on to gain valuable, professional ministry experience. Our interns "work" 4-6 hours per week based on their own schedule in order to be intentionally mentored and trusted with extraordinary ministry tasks. Extensive discussion is spent on discernment in our upperclassmen ministries. We are confident in their formation as a young adult Catholic as they face graduation and those big decisions.
Our goal is to provide hope and the message of God's redemptive, merciful love, in an often competitive, high-achieving area. We are always impressed with the foundation of faith and Catholic worldview many of our young people take with them to college, given to them by their parents and affirmed by their friends and mentors at Anchor. We take time to celebrate all they have done for our family as they embark on the next adventure.
This map of discipleship unifies all we do as a joint program. It takes two parishes to logistically, spiritually and financially support programs of this magnitude. With key leadership from our college interns, over 100 young adult & parent volunteers from both parishes make Anchor possible. We praise God for them - and the incredible, brave kids we serve every day.