St. Matthew

In the Diocese of Charlotte, two consecutive years of formal religious remote education (Catholic school or faith formation) is required prior to the reception of Confirmation.  In addition, those attending Catholic school are expected to participate in proximate preparation through parish faith formation.

The Edge program is offered in 6th, 7th and 8th grade.  Utilizing a youth ministry format, Edge provides a safe fun place for youth to find solid Catholic community, to get answers to their questions about faith, and, most importantly, to experience Jesus in a profound and personal way.  At St. Matthew, this program serves as continuing faith formation for middle school youth and lays the foundation to prepare them for the sacrament of Confirmation at the end of 8th grade.

During the 8th grade year, providing the teen has participated in either 7th grade Catholic school, faith formation or other formal Catholic religious education, the youth’s experience is enriched with our Ignite proximate preparation to complete their preparation for Confirmation and life as a fully initiated Catholic disciple of Christ.

Questions regarding Confirmation?  Answers can be found here, or you may contact Diane Kiradjieff or Avery Utz.

A regular part of our Edge expectations is for our teens to participate in service throughout the year. As young disciples we are called to give of our time, talent, and treasure for the good of our Church and our community.  For this year, we have established a new and improved way of encouraging our teens to grow both in service and in their spiritual lives. Our new Hours Log is for 6th, 7th and 8th grade participants in either the @MATT or the @HOME Edge program.

Spiritual hours are that time for personal prayer. These may include personal prayer time, adoration, attending prayer services, reading the Bible, attending daily Mass, family prayer time, and attending retreats.  Spiritual hours should not include attending/streaming Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, attending/streaming wedding/funeral Masses or attending the Ignite Retreat.

Church and Community Service hours are the time spent growing in community with their peers and/or serving others, including their family. These may include volunteering at events that serve the St. Matthew parish, attending Xtreme Edge and other Middle School events, participating in events that serve the general community and serving their family (offering to babysit, mow the lawn, etc. – this should not include normal chores and/or be in exchange for money or other reward).

6^th grade teens are asked to complete as many hours as possible. 7^th and 8^th grade teens must complete all hours. (So, as a 7th grader you complete all the hours this year, and then again next year in 8th grade.)

Hours Logs are due by April 1^st, 2020. They may be turned into the office or given to the teen’s catechist at their assigned session.

For more details, please read through the document. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Avery Utz.

So, just what is Xtreme EDGE?

These nights combine the spiritual and the social, allowing middle school youth to explore their role in our Catholic faith. It’s a place to hang out with your friends, make new friends! The middle school years are one of the toughest times of life to navigate through, and Xtreme EDGE is a ministry here to let them know that they are not alone. It gives the youth a place to belong, where they can come and have fun in a safe environment, feel important to their parish family and have an encounter with their ever-loving Father.

If you are in 6th, 7th or 8th grade, Xtreme EDGE is waiting for you!

2020-2021 dates to be announced in October!