SPY has various opportunites for 7th and 8th graders to encounter Christ on a weekly basis, as listed below. Even though 6th graders are in middle school, SPY MS now begins in 7th grade. This allows SPY MS to dive into deeper and more sensitive topics with 7th and 8th graders as these topics may be too advanced for a 6th grader. **If you have a 6th grader, click on Elementary Formation for class options. 

[LARGE GROUP FORMAT]

• SPY MS sessions are held once a month during the school year on Wednesday evenings from 7-8:15PM. Held in a large group format, the night includes fellowship, activities, and an encouraging lesson applicable to 7th and 8th graders. **SPY MS will begin again September 30, 2020.

• MS Family Sessions are also offered in a large group format. These are held once a month during the school year on Wednesday evenings from 7-8:15PM. The night includes a family lesson, activities, and sharing for 7th and 8th graders and a parent. Click on Family Sessions for more info. **MS Family Sessions will begin on September 16, 2020.

• MS Bible Study is held in a small group format and offered on select Wednesday evenings from 7-8:15PM when SPY MS or MS Family Sessions are not meeting. MS Bible Study also runs through the summer. **Due to current restrictions, MS Bible Study is meeting online through summer 2020. MS Bible Study is ideal for 7th and 8th graders who desire to learn more about Sacred Scripture and how it applies to their life.

[RETREATS]

• Retreats for 7th and 8th graders are offered throughout the year and sent to those enrolled in MS Formation. 

SPY has various opportunites for high school youth to encounter Christ on a weekly basis, as listed below.

[LARGE GROUP FORMAT]

• SPY HS sessions are held once a month during the school year on Sunday evenings from 7-8:15PM. Held in a large group format, the night includes fellowship, activities, and an encouraging lesson. **SPY HS will begin again September 27, 2020.

• HS Family Sessions are also offered in a large group format. These are held once a month during the school year on Sunday evenings from 7-8:15PM. The night includes a family lesson, acitivities, and sharing for HS teens and a parent. Click on Family Sessions for more info. **HS Family Sessions will begin again September 13, 2020.

• HS Prayer Group is offered weekly throughout the year, including summer months, on Monday evenings from 5PM-6PM in the Youth Room.  **Due to current restrictions, HS Prayer Group is meeting online through summer 2020. HS Prayer Group is a small gathering of HS teens with a mini lesson and communal prayer.

• HS Discipleship Groups are for high school teens who desire to dive deeper in faith. These groups are ideal for HS teens who are open to being mentored by adult leaders in a small community of faith with like-minded peers. Discipleship Groups meet weekly year-round and schedules vary based on each Discipleship Group. For information on joining a Discipleship Group, contact Victoria.

[RETREATS]

• Retreats are offered throughout the year and sent to those enrolled in HS Formation. 

Looking for HS Confirmation? Click here!

SPY supports various options for families who would like their children to receive Formation exclusively at home during the 2020-2021 school year. For families who enjoy workbook learning, consider the Workbook Curriculum. For families who like online learning, there are several Online Programs you can choose. For families who enjoy reading and sharing, consider doing a Book Study by reading good spiritual books throughout the course of the school year. Options for each of these learning styles are listed below. If you plan to pursue any of these recommendations, please reach out to Zach Barton to get started so we can make sure your family's specific Formation needs are being met.

[Workbook Curriculum] 

• A Family of Faith is one of the curriculums we incorporated in our Family Sessions during the 2019-2020 school year. Families interested in using this curriculum in 2020-2021, will receive new themed workbooks for the year including one Parent Guide and Student Workbooks for each child. Workbooks can be used as desired since they incorporate activities for all ages. 

[Online Programs] 

• ​​​​Link to Liturgy Online School is absolutely free! It is an online course produced by our Director of Formation and Evangelization, Matt Gill. In this series, Matt lays the foundation for our Faith in Jesus Christ and His Church. 

• My Catholic Faith Delivered is reasonably priced and offers a multitude of various topics and courses for grades 1-12. Each lesson includes an introduction, a video, and short quiz to help students retain what they've learned. Their website is www.mycatholicfaithdelivered.com         

• Formed.org is also free! St. Philip's pays for parishioners to have access to this wonderful resource. Contact Zach for login details if you want to explore this option. For SPY ages, the programs we recommend watching on Formed include...

• YDisciple provides high quality videos along with a parent guide to help families converse with their child(ren) about the Catholic Faith. Teens can choose from a multitude topics depending upon their interests.
• More programs to come soon!

• Creed in Slow Motion by Msgr. Ronald Knox is a renowed book geared towards explaining what we believe as Catholics. Msgr. Knox explains the Creed simple enough for middle school students but deep enough for high school teens. 

• Why We're Catholic by Trent Horn is an excellent resource in Catholic apologetics. Trent Horn, a convert to Catholicism, provides reasons and explanations on topics ranging from the existence of God to our hope for heaven, suitable for youth in SPY. 

HELP WITH MASS 

Youth can help serve Mass in one of these awesome ways...as an usher, lector, altar server, or extraordinary minister of Holy Communion (for teens who've already received HS Confirmation). 

PRESCHOOL/ELEMENTARY HELPER

Youth can share their faith while serving as volunteers for Elementary Formation or Vacation Bible School.

SHARE YOUR MUSICAL GIFTS

Youth can join one of our many choirs! No experience is necessary, just a willingness to learn and the commitment to be at choir rehearsals and Mass. 

SPY SUMMER MISSION

Every summer, SPY embarks on a Summer Mission Trip. For HS youth, our summer mission is usually overnight and involves travel. For MS youth, a summer mission will be available as a day trip. These are wonderful opportunities for the youth to give back and serve others, while growing in Faith.

ADDITIONAL SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

Throughout the year, there are various service opportunites that present themselves. Each service oportunity will be shared with registered SPY families to notify those interested in participating.

INTERESTED IN SERVING MS YOUTH?

• Greeting Team: Welcome the youth to SPY MS with a friendly face and warm ‘hello!’ You will keep attendance and, at times, receive paperwork. 
• Snack Team: Youth are always hungry! So you’ll set out snacks and drinks for them as they arrive for the night.
• Activity Team: Help plan and lead with other members of Core Team an interactive and fun activity to help the youth build relationships and enjoy their time. 
• Devotional Team: If you have a special devotion, i.e., the Rosary, St. Joseph, etc., we invite you to share it with the youth. You will speak briefly on what your devotion is and why it’s meaningful to you.

INTERESTED IN SERVING HS YOUTH?

• Greeting Team: Welcome the youth to SPY HS with a friendly face and warm ‘hello!’ You will keep attendance and, at times, receive paperwork. 
• Snack Team: Youth are always hungry! So you’ll set out already prepared meals and drinks for them as they arrive for the night.
• Activity Team: Help plan and lead with other members of Core Team an interactive and fun activity to help the youth build relationships and enjoy their time. 
• Devotional Team: If you have a special devotion, i.e., the Rosary, St. Joseph, etc., we invite you to share it with the youth. You will speak briefly on what your devotion is and why it’s meaningful to you.