The Journey to Adulthood promise:

St. Mary's Youth Program is based upon the nationally acclaimed Journey to Adulthood.  This is a program of spiritual formation for young people that…

• Provides a liturgical frame for their experience in our modern culture.
• Celebrates their individuality and creative potential
• Instructs them in the skills needed for successful adult participation in church and society.

The Journey to Adulthood is based on two key concepts:

1)  Manhood and Womanhood are gifts from God.

2) Adulthood must be earned.

• Includes in-depth exploration of self, society, sexuality, and spirituality.

• Follows the imperatives of the Baptismal Covenant.

• Enables young people to discover and experience the love of God.

• Is a complete youth program with a systematic curriculum.

Balances Bible study, prayer, and both serious and playful activities to nurture the whole person during the treacherous passage from childhood to adulthood. Leaders model living the faith and remind young people of the ever-present love and mercy of God.

Christian formation is a lifelong process; this program gives young people a firm foundation on which to build. The curriculum falls into four distinct phases:

Rite-13:  Beginning the journey to adulthood

(2 yrs; grades 6,7,8)

J2A:  Developing core values for the journey

(2 yrs; grades 8,9,10)

CAP:  Confirmation and Pilgrimage

(1 yr; grades 10 or 11)

YAC:  Young Adults in the Church

(2+ yrs; grades 11+)

Rite-13:  Beginning the journey
The Rite-13 curriculum assists young people as they take their first steps of passage away from their families and into their own lives. Youth enter into Rite-13 in the 6^th or 7^th grade and on turning 13 participate in the Rite-13 Ceremony (a liturgical celebration of the gift of womanhood and manhood). During the two years, the community acknowledges the gift of gender, celebrates the amazing creative power and potential of these young people, and creates a safe haven to explore new ideas, new interests and new abilities.

J2A:  Core values for the journey
J2A is the core program, which blends action and contemplation in teaching young people faithful living. To prepare them for adulthood, they learn six basic skills:

• Active listening
• Negotiation
• Assertion
• Research/Information Management
• Partnership
• Leadership

The program also helps them understand and affirm Christian living.

During J2A the group will determine a theme and destination for their pilgrimage. They will also begin fundraising for this.

CAP:  Confirmation and Pilgrimage

After two years of J2A the group enter into their CAP year in which they are invited to be confirmed and to make a holy pilgrimage. These are different but complimentary ways in which the community recognizes that the youth are now young adults, rather than children, and equipped for new levels of responsibility. Both Fr. Nick and Fr. Ted will assist with Confirmation preparation. The pilgrimage chaperones will also attend some classes to integrate them into the group.

YAC encourages older youth to take on adult responsibilities in all aspects of parish life and community. They are challenged to become good stewards of their time, talent and treasure. Guided by adult mentors, they use the Anglican model of Scripture, reason and tradition of the Church to guide the lifelong pilgrimage in their faith.

Two important elements of YAC are the Mentorship program (an apprenticeship to an adult with a particular duty/responsibility in the church) and the development of their personal Credo.

Rev. Ted Berktold originally found and promoted The Journey to Adulthood program. As Rector he continues to be actively involved (most especially with preparing J2A for Confirmation).

Anne Duret a longtime member of St. Mary's, is the Director of our Sunday School and Coordinator of the Youth Program.

Cheryl Crow  is chair of our Parent Committee. This committee has responsibility for giving practical support to the youth program as a whole (including help with fundraising, publicity, accounts, and organizing outside events).

Our Youth Board made up of youth, parents, leaders, staff, and members from the wider parish is charged with the  responsibility of reviewing the program as it happens here at St. Mary's.  In addition to suggesting and managing future changes the board also supports the recruitment of leaders.

St. Mary's Youth Program has leaders and not teachers. This is an important distinction as it underlines that leaders are not gate-keepers or holders of information, rather they are there to assist the youth and journey with them as together they ask questions and try and find answers.

Rite-13    Mike Lowden, Mary Beth Hepp-Elam

J2A          Carolyn Bergquist, Loren Crow, McKay Sohlberg

YAC         Bill and Theresa Mason 

As they journey through the program the youth take on more responsibility, so that by the time they enter into YAC they are capable of running the group themselves. Adults in YAC are only present as mentors.

All our groups are linked into our 9:30 a.m. Family Eucharist. The liturgical celebrations which form part of the program take place at this service, and we encourage the youth to be involved in worship as acolytes, lectors etc… The practice at this service is for the children and youth to exit during the final hymn while adults (including YAC) remain in church to listen to the readings and sermon. Rite-13, J2A and CAP ordinarily take place in a designated classroom. They begin at around 10:15 a.m. and finish at 11:15 a.m. YAC meets on Sunday evenings (7pm) at the YAC mentors' home.  

The Journey to Adulthood was developed over a ten-year period by the parishioners of St. Philip's Episcopal Church, Durham, North Carolina. Development was funded, in part, by a grant from the Episcopal Church Foundation.

St. Mary's Youth Program requires that the youth are able to share with one another in a confidential setting. To this end personal information and comments that have been shared will always remain in the room. However we encourage youth to share (and discuss) with parents and families the topics/material they are covering in class.

Anne Duret as Coordinator of the program has copies of all the material associated with the St. Mary's Youth Program.  This is available upon request. In addition each phase of the curriculum for the Journey to Adulthood on which our youth program is based is kept in the parish library. Where there are particular questions or concerns Anne is very happy to meet with parents and individuals.  

An overview of the Journey to Adulthood program can be found at the Leader Resources web site. [Adobe Reader required to view the document.]

8. How can I help?

We welcome help from anyone in the parish. Please speak to Anne Duret as to how you might get involved. The program is made possible through people offering their prayers, practical help, and financial support. We wish to thank all those who have already supported the program so generously.

revised October 2006