The JYM Curriculum

At St. Thomas More we use the Discovering Program from St. Mary's Press as our Junior Youth Ministry Religion Program.

Younger teens need a religious education program that addresses real-life teen issues and different learning styles. The Discovering Program is a comprehensive set of 14 six-session minicourses and teaching resources that help you create religion classes focusing on relationship building, active student participation, and sound religious principles. For teens in grades 6-8, the minicourse format is organized by grade level and gives program coordinators and teachers the flexibility to organize the courses into a curriculum that meets the unique needs of their students.

JYM Guidelines from the Diocese of Raleigh

The Diocese of Raleigh has pubished Guidelines for Grades 6 to 8, which describe:

  • The necessary components of parish Youth Ministry based on the Bishops document "Renewing the Vision"
  • The stages of development of Youth in Grades 6 - 8
  • The knowledge JYM Youth need to have of God's Word (Revelation/Scripture/Creed)
  • The knowledge of Worship (Sacraments/Prayer/Liturgical Year)
  • The knowledge of Community (Faith and Identity/Personal Growth/Relationships/Church)
  • The knowledge and practice of Discipleship (Justice and Peace, Morality, Christian Lifestyle)
  • A list of vocabulary words for JYM Youth

The Diocese also gives a list of prayers to be memorized by JYM Youth