Youth Ministry & Education
edited: Wednesday December 7, 2011 1:31pm CST
Sunday School began September 25, 2011
Sunday School is offered to children who are 3 years old (by September 1st) through the 5th grade. Classes begin in September and run through May.
Preschool classes meet during the 10:30 mass on Sunday mornings. We use the I am Special curriculum for the preschool students.
Kindergarten through 5th grade classes meet from 9:00-10:15 on Sunday mornings. The Kindergarten-5th grade classes use the Faith First curriculum by RCL.
For more information please contact the Director of Religious Education, PreK-5th Grade.
edited: Tuesday August 9, 2011 3:04pm CDT
Family Faith Formation
We had a pilot group of families begin Family Faith Formation in 2009/2010. Fortunately, we have been able to continue this pilot program for the 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 school years. The classes meet once a month, usually the first Saturday of the month at 10:00am.
Please contact Director of Religious Education, PreK-5th Grade Colleen McDonald for more information.
edited: Monday March 9, 2009 3:08pm CDT
Sacramental Preparation
Sacramental preparation classes for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion are offered on Tuesday evenings for 2nd graders or older students who have not yet received them.
Students must have completed a year of Sunday School before beginning Sacramental preparation classes.
For more information please contact the Director of Religious Education, PreK-5th Grade.
For information on Confirmation, see below.
Tuesday May 25, 2010 4:19pm CDT
St. Ben's Youth Web Site
St. Ben's Youth Web Site
edited: Monday May 10, 2010 2:14pm CDT
Deep/Edge/Confirmation Calendar
Deep/Edge/Youth Calendar
edited: Monday May 3, 2010 2:06pm CDT
The Edge
Teen Faith Formation at St. Ben's is divided into four programs, the first of which is the EDGE. The Edge is for youth in grades 6-8 and is a collaborative program involving three parishes: St. Benedict's, Cathedral, and St. John's. The program revolves around three subjects of study, each encompassing a year of classes: Sacraments and Commandments, Jesus and the Beatitudes, and Creed and Morality. The EDGE also incorporates social nights, issue nights, and service nights to complement the educational aspect of the program.
REGISTRATION: Please CLICK HERE to register.
Required Text: Bible
For more information, please contact the Youth Minister
edited: Wednesday September 2, 2009 3:19pm CDT
The Deep
The second part of our Faith Formation program is "Confirmation Prep" which involves youth in grades 9-11. The purpose of "Confirmation Prep" is to more completely form youth in the Catholic faith so that they may receive the Sacrament of Confirmation if they should choose to do so. This three year program is centered on the four pillars of the Catholic Church with each year focusing on certain aspects: Sacraments and Liturgy, Commandments/Morality and Virtues, and Creed and Prayer. Classes will delve deep into the Bible and Catechism as well as look into the history of the Church and explore certain topics in an apologetic nature.
REGISTRATION: Please CLICK HERE to register.
Required Texts: Bible and Catechism.
For more information, please contact the Youth Minister.
edited: Monday March 9, 2009 3:09pm CDT
Confirmation
Confirmation is the third part of Youth Faith Formation at St. Ben's. This is for youth who have successfully completed all three years of Confirmation Prep and satisfied all the diocesan requirements for the Sacrament of Confirmation:
-Participation at every Sunday Mass and regular reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation are CENTRAL requirements.
-Attendance at one overnight Confirmation Retreat is required.
-15 Hours of service through Faith in Action i.e. helping the elderly, volunteering at a soup kitchen, serving at Mass, etc.
-Regular attendance and respectful participation in Confirmation Prep classes.
Each candidate must exhibit readiness and proper disposition in order to be recommended for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Primary indicators of this will be Mass participation, class participation, class notes, tests, essays, and an individual interview with our pastor. Confirmation consists of about 5 classes, usually taking place in April and May, ending with the Sacrament of Confirmation at the end of May.
For more information, please contact the Youth Minister.
edited: Wednesday December 7, 2011 1:32pm CST
Get to know our new Youth Minister!
Our former youth minister, Nic Davidson, and his wife Jacelyn moved to the island of Dominica this summer for Jacelyn to attend medical school at Ross University.
We had a fun going away party for the Davidsons on Sunday, June 26 after the 10:30am Mass. Food, a magic show, sharing of memories, and fellowship were enjoyed all in thanks for Nic and Jacelyn’s four years of service to St. Benedict’s! Please keep them in your prayers.
If you are interested in supporting Nic and Jacelyn's mission work, please contact Colleen McDonald, Director of Religious Education, PreK-5th Grade.
Our new youth minister is Jenny Boran!
“Hello! My name is Jenny Boran and I will be serving St Ben's parish as the new youth minister. I am originally from Brainerd and have been involved in diocesan youth ministry activities since I was a teenager. I graduated from the College of Saint Benedict in 2010, where I studied the environment, spent some time studying abroad in South Africa, and growing in fondness for one of my favorite saints, St. Benedict. I’ve called a lovely retreat center/camp located up in the mountains of Georgia home for the past year, where I have been serving as a missionary with the Life Teen movement. I enjoy hiking, skiing, drinking coffee, traveling, playing cards, and talking about God. With two of my passions being the outdoors and ministry, I am very excited to make Duluth my new home and look forward to serving your parish.”
edited: Wednesday December 7, 2011 1:36pm CST
Youth Rallies, Retreats, & Summer Camps
Besides having Vacation Bible School and Totus Tuus, our youth are invited to other events. The diocese provides two camps for older students and rallies and retreats throughout the school year.
Camp Survive is for students who have completed 6th, 7th, or 8th grade that year. This camp fills up fast, so register ASAP!
Discipleship Week (D-Week) is for students who have completed 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade that year.
The Gathering are gatherings for high school students that happen a few times during the school year. See our youth minister for details.
For more information on these camps and to see other diocesan events for youth, see the diocesan website or contact our Youth Minister.
edited: Wednesday December 7, 2011 1:32pm CST
Vacation Bible School
Summer 2011
St. Ben's joined St. Joseph's and St. John's AT ST. JOHN'S for VBS this Monday-Friday, June 20-24 from 8:30am-12:00pm.
"Hometown Nazareth: Where Jesus was a Kid"
At this year's VBS, they explored where Jesus was raised and heard about his childhood.
Thank you to the many ADULT VOLUNTEERS! Please contact Director of Religious Education, PreK-5th Grade Colleen if you want to help volunteer, including helping prepare, set-up, work at, or clean-up VBS next summer. We will also need craft items. Contact Colleen!
Summer 2010
St. John's and St. Joseph's joined us last year at St. Ben's to bring you "Joseph's Journey from Prison to Palace" which followed Joseph (from the Old Testament) in Egypt! VBS was held June 21-25 last year.
Summer 2009
Thank you to the 59 campers and many volunteers for participating! For a summary of what we did, see the June 21 & 28, 2009 bulletins (links on left).
2007 theme: Avalanche Ranch
2008 theme: Fiesta!
2009 theme: Kids 4 Jesus (K4J) Summertime Blast at St. Ben's
For more information or to volunteer for 2011, please contact the Director of Religious Education, PreK-5th Grade.
edited: Monday August 31, 2009 10:54am CDT
Totus Tuus
Totus Tuus, literally "Totally Yours," is an event hosted at different parishes through the Diocese of Duluth. A team of young-adult Catholics put on a week of fun and catechesis for 1st graders through 12th graders. The elementary students meet during the day and the middle and high school students gather at night.
Totus Tuus was hosted by St. John's this year for both St. John's and St. Benedict's parishes, July 19th-24th.
Here is 2009's information:
Grades as of Fall 2009:
Grades 1-6: Monday-Friday 9:00am-2:30pm
Grades 7-12: Sunday-Thursday 7:30-9:45pm
Registration was mailed to St. Ben's religious education program families. Send registration to St. John's Church or call St. John's at 724-6332 to request a registration packet.
For more details, please contact the St. Ben's Youth Minister Nic Davidson at 724-4828 or the St. John's DRE Leah Kilsdonk at 724-6332.
