The most powerful place to pray is in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Here at St. Michael, our teens are blessed to have that opportunity on the first Friday of each month. It’s a chance to sit with Jesus, offer Him praise, and make our prayer requests known.
“Several parents were interested in getting teens more involved outside of youth group,” says Laura Lake, who helps coordinate this ministry.
Part of the reason that Laura began coordinating this ministry was to encourage involvement in faith activities following the COVID-19 pandemic. She believed that exposing teens to Eucharistic Adoration would be a great way to further engage youth in the faith. The teens can enjoy fellowship, and sometimes pizza or ice cream after Adoration. Before heading into Adoration, they gather to share prayer requests.
“We’ve been encouraging them to use their time in adoration in ‘ACTS’ — adoration, contrition, thanksgiving, and supplication,” Laura says.
Laura has a solid group of teens who attend each month. They can also bring siblings and their parents for this prayer time — in this case, the more, the merrier! Laura also hopes that teens bring friends, Catholics and non-Catholics alike.
“Even if the teens don’t spend the whole time praying, this gives them a chance to be near Jesus,” Laura says. “Sometimes teens bring friends and family, and that’s exactly what we want.”
This ministry is not facilitated by Laura alone. She extends her thanks to Katrina Royster and Sharon Eads, who help coordinate the Teen Prayer Group. Laura was very invested in making this ministry happen as she and her husband have five children, three of whom are teens. Laura also teaches middle school religion at our parish school.
“I feel called to help our teens be closer to Jesus,” Laura says. “There’s no better way to do that than Eucharistic Adoration.”
For Laura, the simplicity of this ministry is impactful because it allows the teens to experience Jesus for themselves. Youth bring their own money for the food that follows Adoration. This is a simple way to have fellowship and spend time in prayer.
Laura was especially pleased when she took a poll regarding this ministry that many of the teens said their favorite part of the night is Adoration.
“I’m blessed to have the opportunity to bring them to Jesus,” Laura says.
Eucharistic Adoration is open to anyone on the first Friday of the month. If you haven’t experienced it, stop in and spend time with Jesus!
“It’s that next level of prayer,” Laura says. “Jesus is right there. You can see Him.”
Join the Teen Prayer Group on the first Friday of each month at 5:30 p.m. For more information, contact Laura Lake at llake@stmichaelsgrfld.org.