“I find it reassuring to ask and understand the complete truth about the Church’s teachings. Not only does this give me strong reason to believe in God, but also helps me to talk to others about my faith.

“In my opinion, reason to believe is an extremely critical aspect of faith,” said Puthuparampil who has been attending Life Teen for three years.

Life Teen was founded in 1985 at St. Timothy’s parish in Mesa, Arizona, while Edge started about 10 years later.

In Canada, Life Teen and Edge ministries are held at parishes across the country from Toronto and Bolton, Ont., to Edmonton and Grande Prairie, Alta.

Life Teen spread to Canada about 14 years ago while Edge started about 12 years ago, said John MacMullen, Life Teen Ontario area contact. Thirty-six parishes currently have a Life Teen program while 35 have Edge, he said.

There are three different types of Life Teen nights.

These include catechist nights, where the youth minister reads Scripture followed by group discussions; issue nights, where issues relevant to Catholic youth are discussed; and social nights, where teens will play a game or watch a movie.

“The social nights are the key difference between Life Teen and other youth ministries,” said Miri Romero Alvarez, the youth minister at Merciful Redeemer parish.

“You can’t expect to help a teen grow in their faith if you don’t take the time to have fun and develop a relationship with them.”

Discussing sensitive issues, such as divorce, is never a problem at Life Teen.

“It’s not hard to openly discuss things in Life Teen, because I know it’s a place where I won’t get judged or looked down upon. Everyone there feels like family,” said Heather Dirckze, a Grade 11 student at St. Aloysius Gonzaga Secondary School.

Puthuparampil and Dirckze, alongside many other Life Teen members, have been going to Life Teen  since they outgrew the Edge program.

Charlotte Gaj, also a Grade 11 student at St. Aloysius Gonzaga Secondary School, said the Edge program affirmed her belief in God and shaped her into the person she is today.  

“When I came to Edge, I saw that religion is something you really need in life in order to stay grounded,” she said.

“I was influenced by all the amazing people I met. Through going to Edge I became a happier person. The people I’ve met changed my life and I’m now an Edge crew member because of it. I wanted to become one of those life-changing people for someone else.”

(Serednicki, 16, is a Grade 11 student at St. Aloysius Gonzaga Secondary School in Mississauga, Ont.)