In 1997 the Catholic Bishops of the United States created the document Renewing the Vision: A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry. A wake- up call to the Church, this important youth ministry document spelled out clearly the need for Catholic youth ministry in the Church today.

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“What is needed today is a church, which knows how to respond to the expectations of young people. Jesus wants to enter into dialogue with them and, through his body, which is the church, to propose the possibility of a choice, which will require a commitment of their lives. As Jesus with the disciples of Emmaus, so the church must become the traveling companion of young people...” - Pope St. John Paul II, World Youth Day 1995, Philippines

With then Pope John Paul II words echoing in the ears of the young Church and the United States Bishops, Renewing the Vision built a strong framework of goals for ministry with adolescents.

Goal 1: To empower young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in our world today.

Goal 2: To draw young people to responsible participation in the life, mission and work of the Catholic faith community.

Goal 3: To foster the total personal and spiritual growth of each young person.

To accomplish these goals, the entire Catholic community must unite to minister to and empower the young Church to be Disciples of Christ. Life Teen recognizes the need for “relational” ministry and “catechetical” resources; we recognize the need for comprehensive Catholic youth ministry beginning in middle school (EDGE) and advancing to high school. 

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Life Teen was launched in 1985, and St. Mary's adopted the program in 1993 as our high school youth ministry. Filtering in from our middle school EDGE program, Life Teen at St. Mary's has about 250 freshman through senior year.  

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St. Mary Life Teen Ministries supports and upholds the teachings of the Catholic Church.