Life Teen | High School Youth Ministry

Life Fest 2025

All teens in grades 8–12 are invited to join Nativity’s Youth Ministry at Life Fest on Thursday, January 23.  This is an evening of praise the night before the annual March for Life. You can expect adoration with Bishop Burbidge, dynamic speakers, and great music. This year’s keynote & musician is Matt Maher! 

Weekly Dinner and Fellowship: Sundays 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Every Sunday night at Life Teen, we begin by sitting down together as a community for a home-cooked meal. After dinner, we focus on a theme for the night which we explore through small groups, testimonies, activities, and prayer. See the schedule above — we meet in the Well (the Youth Ministry room near the school Cafeteria). Please fill out our free, online form before attending. This only needs to be filled out once per school year.

Life Teen is a great opportunity to make new friends while exploring how to live out your faith in daily life. Come as often as you are able. We hope to see you there!

Hospitality Crew - Adult Volunteers and Parents

Join our Hospitality Ministry! We have an amazing community of parents and parishioners who cook and serve dinner for our teens each week at Life Teen on Sunday evenings. Those on our hospitality crew not only love serving our high schoolers, but they also enjoy the fellowship they share with the other adult volunteers. Click the link below for more information and to sign up for a slot. Volunteers must be 18+.

WorkCamp 2025: June 21-27

WorkCamp is an annual youth ministry program culminating in a week-long overnight camp providing the high school teens of the Diocese with an opportunity to encounter Christ through service, faith, and fellowship. WorkCamp 2025 will take place in Shenandoah County.

The application for teens and volunteers is now open through January 20, and formation meetings begin in January 2025.

One Act Theater Ministry

Calling all 8th-12th graders!
Join us as we use the stage to praise and glorify God! Whether you’re a seasoned performer or trying it out for the first time, you are welcome. Auditions were in December, but please support our cast by coming to see the show!

Performances
Friday, February 7 at 7:30 p.m. at Nativity
Saturday, February 8 at 7:30 p.m. at Nativity
Diocesan Festival: Saturday, February 8 from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Nativity

High School Small Groups

High school small groups are an opportunity to gather for prayer, conversation, and fellowship as we support one another in our journey of faith. We offer both girls and guys small groups for teens in 9th-12th grade. This intentional gathering is a great way to go deeper in the practices and knowledge of our faith and to meet other teens in the parish who are looking to grow spiritually.

All schedules will be reflected on the Youth Ministry Calendar.

Lenten Soup Suppers - Volunteer or Donate

Lenten Soup Suppers are an opportunity to gather for a simple meal as a parish community. Parishioners of all ages donate soups, and our parish teens serve the meal. All donations collected at the door benefit Youth Ministry. Click the link below to sign up to volunteer or to donate a soup.

2025 Dates: March 12 | March 19 | March 26 | April 2
Service runs from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Volunteer Shift: 4:30 – 7:30 p.m.

7 Churches Pilgrimage

On Holy Thursday, the Church remembers Jesus’s time of prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane before he was arrested and put to death. Churches stay open until midnight and have a special area where the Eucharist is exposed for Adoration. It’s often decorated as a garden to help you imagine yourself with Jesus before his suffering and death on the cross.  We will first attend Mass together at 7:30 p.m., then visit local Churches in the area to keep Christ company, and end with Night Prayer at Nativity.

Who: Teens in grades 9-12
When: Thursday, April 17 from 7:30 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. midnight
Where: Meet at Nativity, beginning with Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7:30 p.m. We will sit together – look for our reserved pews.
Transportation: Our compliant adult volunteers will drive the teens around to each church. Teens are not permitted to drive themselves or other teens during the event.
Registration is required.

Summer Camps - Volunteers Needed!

Vacation Bible Camp (K-4th) and Camp on the Edge (5th-8th) will take place June 17-20, 2025. We are looking for adult and teen volunteers that are ready to encourage and uplift the young members of our Church as they learn to live out their faith.

Our volunteer crew always has a blast, and there are a variety of ways to get involved: art, science, Bible stories, music, outdoors, shepherd, and more! Current 8th graders and older during the 2024-2025 school year may volunteer at VBC. Current 10th-12th graders may also volunteer at COTE.

Kings Dominion Day

All high schoolers are invited to join us for a day of coasters, jumbo turkey legs, and community. This outing is a fan favorite for Youth Ministry – you don’t want to miss it!

When: Wednesday, July 23, 2025
Who: High Schoolers (recently graduated 8th graders – recently graduated 12th graders)
Transportation: We will travel together by bus from Nativity
Cost: $50

RALLY 2025

RALLY 2025 is scheduled for Sunday, October 26.  This annual event is an opportunity for the young Church in the Diocese of Arlington to gather each year to pray, learn, and celebrate the Catholic faith. RALLY includes Mass with Bishop Burbidge, Eucharistic Adoration, inspirational speakers and entertainers, breakout sessions, inflatable games, music, and more!

RALLY is open to any high school aged youth wanting to attend, at any stage in their faith journey.  If you’ve never participated in Youth Ministry at Nativity, this is a great way to join and meet new people! Registration will open in September of 2025.

Contact

If you have any questions, please contact

Rebecca Judge
Director of Youth Ministry
cym@nativityburke.org