LifeTeen.com

The Mystery of Modesty

Christina Mead — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 23:23:06 +0000

The words of this year’s theme, “Behold the Mystery,” can be seen around every corner and heard from every mouth here at Life Teen. As I thought and prayed about it, I remembered learning that the word mystery comes from the Latin “mysterion.” It means something that is revealed while at the same time concealed.

This definition fits well with the virtue of modesty.

Want Heaven’s Area Code? 5 Ways to Talk to God.

Vanessa Hartz — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:59:01 +0000

Working at a cell phone store, I find very few customers that don’t consider their phone a necessity. So when they come in with a freshly wet phone they dropped in the toilet… they are not calm.

If my customers cannot live one day without their cell phones that connect them to the people they love, why can some Catholics live without praying daily?

Life Teen Ghana Mission 2010

Erik Martin — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 20:24:19 +0000

Our Life Teen Mission trip back to Ghana this year was incredibly blessed. We took 12 missionaries, 3 of which were with Family Missions Company. The greatest blessing this year for me was seeing all the people we built relationships with last year, and having the opportunity to go deeper with them, from all the young adults we worked with, to the people and the children in the village, to Rose Mary and all the children that lived around the house where we stayed.

Sunday Sunday Sunday: 09/12/10

Mark Hart — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 10:00:59 +0000

Sheep. Coin. Son. Some things that are lost are worth looking for.

Readings for the Twenty-fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year C): Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14; Psalm 51:3-4, 12-13, 17, 19; 1 Timothy 1:12-17; Luke 15:1-32 or 15:1-10.

I Love You Too.

Amanda Grassi — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 05:13:02 +0000

Just a few weekends ago I was blessed to be part of the Work Staff at the LEAD conference in Schönstatt, Germany, put on by MCYM and the Franciscan University of Steubenville. Beyond registration, answering questions, and small acts of service, the Lord had so much in store for me. Hearing the speakers share a part of their hearts was an inspiration and one talk on the Father’s love stood out to me in particular. The speaker shared that this summer the Lord had challenged her to say to Him not, “I love you” but, “I love you too.” Gosh, “I love you [...]

To Save A Life

Greg Iwinski — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 18:40:19 +0000

"...it's pretty clear about fifteen minutes in that the movie's going to follow the story arc of a Christian drama. Not like 'TNT Knows Drama' drama, but the kind you see onstage at a youth conference. Movies that are 'Christian' a lot of times stay on the safe side - but To Save A Life gets closer to reality than most as it deals with teen suicide, teen pregnancy, and even cutting. It's a little long and a little predictable, but as far as church movies go, it's not half bad."

From The Editor’s Desk: What You See Is What You Get

Greg Iwinski — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:59:04 +0000

This is the official announcement of our September 2010 theme for LifeTeen.com content

Whether it’s in the headlines of Hollywood or the chambers of Congress, it seems that scandal’s everywhere these days. Celebrities, politicians, leaders… everyone is ready to prove that what they say and what they do aren’t the same things. But the stars of newspapers and gossip websites aren’t the only ones whose talk doesn’t match their walk. We all know how easy it can be to be ‘Catholic’ on Sundays. Hanging out with our ‘church’ friends and sitting in Mass, we can seem like the perfect Catholic.

Load Your iPod: A Year’s Worth of New Praise and Worship

Matt Smith — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:06:01 +0000

This summer Life Teen hosted three massive conferences for high school students: Steubenville East, Steubenville West, and Steubenville Atlanta. I called up each of our worship leaders and asked them what new music they played at each conference. If you are hungry for the same music that inspired you at the conference, you've come to the right place.

Sunday Sunday Sunday: 09/05/10

Mark Hart — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 19:23:41 +0000

You have to plan ahead.

Readings for the Twenty-third Sunday of Ordinary Time: Wisdom 9:13-18b; Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14-17; Philemon 9-10, 12-17; Luke 14:25-33.

Surviving High School: Seniors

Katie Heller — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 19:00:47 +0000

I distinctly remember my first day of senior year. I pulled into the school parking lot in my red 1994 Nissan Sentra (thanks Dad!) and walked into my homeroom like I had done everyday the three years before. Nothing around me was dramatically different. The people, the classrooms, and the schedule were all relatively familiar. However, there was one thing that was a little different - me. I held my head a little higher and my confidence was stronger. Why? Because I was a senior. Finally!

I anticipated my senior year to be full of memories and growth. It was the year I would take my first steps into adulthood, and the year that I would have to make big decisions about what I wanted to do next. Like many of you, I was excited and overwhelmed all at the same time.

Molokai: The Story of Father Damien

Greg Iwinski — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 00:50:10 +0000

...sometimes we get the idea that saints are these spiritual superstars, but the story of Father Damien shows an ordinary man answering the call to extraordinary holiness. He was a young priest who did what God asked him to do, and the movie gets that across. David Wenham as Damien continually impresses as a man who you can't help but look up to.

Photos from Inspiration San Antonio 2010

Matt Smith — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 00:02:11 +0000

Earlier this month Life Teen hosted Inspiration San Antonio at Six Flags Fiesta. We were overwhelmed by how many parishes came to the event! Here are some photos from the event provided by Mary Bielski with Life Teen and David D. with Sunday’s Child Snapshots.Thanks to youth minister David Calavitta for giving me a T-shirt that his teens wore last year to Inspiration LA. I wear it with pride! If you live in SoCal, join us in November at Six Flags Magic Mountain for Inspiration Los Angeles.

Surviving High School: Juniors

Greg Iwinski — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 23:44:25 +0000

Surviving High School, eh? When I think back on junior year, what are the lessons I’d pass on about having a great time... hmm. I’ve been thinking about this for a few weeks, and I think I can sum it up in one sentence.

Bring on the haters.

Win a Free Trip to World Youth Day!

Life Teen — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 21:23:32 +0000

Now is an exciting time to be Catholic. Two thousand years ago, right after the events of Pentecost, the Apostles boldly went out and preached the Gospel in new ways. Think about the wide-open world they had to preach to, a world that had literally never heard of Jesus Christ. Sometimes, it can seem like there’s no new ground to cover... but your passion is something new. There are still lands to be witnessed to; there are still people who have never seen a Catholic that loved their faith.

Goodness Reigns: Share the Story is a short film competition about sharing your faith. If you win, you could be on your way to World Youth Day - all expenses paid!

Surviving High School: Sophomores

Mark Hart — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:40:27 +0000

Sophomore year is a tricky time. You’re not the youngest anymore – you know your way around the campus and the high school life. You’re also not close to graduating yet, so those college apps aren’t piling up on your desk causing you or your parents added stress. You’re the best part of the high school Oreo – you’re right in the middle. Mmmmm, Oreos…

Sophomore year might best be described as a year of opportunity. This year you have the opportunity to become who you are, who God designed you to be (Jer. 1:4-8). This year offers you all new ways to really make an impact on the school, in other peoples’ lives and in your own faith walk.

2.24 – Women Priests

Alison Oertle — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 23:00:19 +0000

Why doesn't the Catholic Church allow women to become priests?

Our short answer comes from Father Matt Lowry from the Diocese of Phoenix. Joining him in the longer discussion is catechist and Life Teen staff member Katie Heller.

Surviving High School: Freshman

Kevin Hickey — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 23:03:18 +0000

You can probably still remember what it feels like to walk down the halls of your junior high or middle school. As an 8th grader, you might have felt like you owned the building. It feels so much better when you know where all the classrooms are, who most of the teachers are, and the fastest way to get your lunch. All that seems to be a distant memory as the first days of high school are here. It can be tough to go from an environment/school where you know everyone and how to get around to a bigger school with bigger halls, larger classes, and shorter lunch periods. How do you make that transition into high school a little easier?

Spend Wisely: Staying Holy in High School

Steve Allgeyer — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:09:58 +0000

Many of us have experienced transforming spiritual experiences during the summer; through camps, conferences, retreats, and mission trips we have made huge strides to grow closer to Christ - and in a sense, fatten our spiritual wallets. We’ve built up something I call “spiritual currency,” because in the same way we can save up money working a summer job, we have built up grace through our holy encounters this summer.

These encounters with Christ might begin to lose momentum as school approaches and as we catch up with people who didn’t experience our summer. This is the key moment when we’re tempted to “sell” our spiritual currency to fit in and be accepted. The price to fit in is high this first month, and you’ll be tempted to sell your integrity to fit into the party stories, to sell your chastity to fit into a relationship, to sell your morality to fit into a group of people, or to sell your dignity to avoid rejection - but beware the back to school "sales."

Sunday Sunday Sunday: 08/29/10

Mark Hart — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 10:00:10 +0000

Stop padding your resume.

Readings for the Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C): Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29; Psalm 68:4-5, 6-7, 10-11; Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24a; Luke 14:1, 7-14.

Inception

Greg Iwinski — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 23:32:30 +0000

There are a lot of people - Catholic and secular - who are trying to turn Inception into some sort of philosophical storytelling opus, as if its messages were meant to be unfolded and discussed for generations. I beg to differ. The reason some people didn’t “get” the film is because there’s not some immense secret to get.

Inception could very possibly be the movie of the year, and it’s flat out owned the summer season. It’s a must-see, as rare as those movies are... but trying to mine it for a message on reality is like saying Terminator 2 was really a dissertation on the evils of technology. Instead, Inception is what action movies should be: a smart, well-acted story in an arrestingly beautiful and immersive world that keeps you locked in from the opening shot to the end credits.