Saint Mary, Mother of God Church Kicks Off a New Season of Life Teen

Middletown, NJ — September 15, 2025 — Saint Mary, Mother of God Church has launched a new season of Life Teen, the parish’s dynamic ministry for high school students designed to lead teens closer to Christ through authentic friendship, prayer, and service. Open to all high schoolers—no registration required—Life Teen forms a welcoming community where young people can belong, be known, and grow in faith together.

At the heart of the ministry is the Life Teen Mass every Sunday at 5:00 p.m. The liturgy features a message crafted with teens in mind, a blend of contemporary and traditional worship led by the Life Teen Band, and robust teen involvement in ministry: students serve as greeters, lectors, and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion. This intentional participation helps teens discover their gifts and take ownership of their faith within the wider parish family.

Following Mass, teens gather for a “Life Night”—a high-energy, content-rich experience that combines teaching, small-group discussion, prayer, and community-building activities. Life Nights make the faith practical and personal, giving teens tools to navigate real-life questions with a Catholic worldview while forging friendships that last well beyond Sunday.

“After 25 years of working with Life Teen various parishes, I’ve witnessed countless conversions, that not only transformed the teens, but transformed entire families,” said Father Jeff Kegley, Pastor of Saint Mary, Mother of God Church. “When teens encounter Jesus in the Eucharist and in genuine Christian friendship, they discover purpose, hope, and joy—and they become leaders who renew our parish and their school.”

Youth Minister Matej Živković added, “Life Teen is the antidote to a screen-based culture. Here, teens step out from behind their devices and into real, face-to-face relationships rooted in Christ. Week after week we see them grow in confidence, courage, and compassion as they pray together, serve together, and have a lot of fun along the way.”

The impact of Life Teen is already being felt by the young people of Middletown. Tommy Lorenson, a senior at Middletown North, shared, “Life Teen has given me a second family. I know I can be myself here, and I’ve found friends who really care about me.” Siena Marino, a sophomore at Red Bank Catholic, echoed that sentiment: “Life Teen helps me grow closer to God, but it’s also where I’ve made my best friends. It’s the highlight of my week.”

Now more than ever, the Life Teen community is needed to help young people face the pressures of anxiety, isolation, and online negativity. Saint Mary’s invites all high school teens—and their friends—to the 5:00 p.m. Life Teen Mass and Life Night each Sunday at 19 Cherry Tree Farm Road, Middletown. For more information about Life Teen, contact the parish office at 732-671-0071.