Middle School Ministry: EDGE (Grades 6-8)
What is EDGE?
The EDGE is a Catholic middle school youth ministry experience created for early adolescents in grades six, seven and eight. The EDGE is designed to meet the educational, spiritual, emotional, and social needs of young adolescents.
Kids are always welcomed and encouraged to invite their friends to the EDGE.
SAVE THE DATES!
- September 8 – EDGE Parent Info Meeting – Parent meeting for those parents new to the EDGE program. Meets 6:30pm in the Gym.
- September 12 – Scavenger Hunt at Fox Valley Mall – Event is 6-8pm and is a combined event with St. Anne, Oswego and St. Thomas, Naperville. Permission form required.
- September 15 – EDGE Kick-Off Celebration – All EDGE students meet at 6:30pm to Kick-Off a new year of EDGE! Meets 6:30pm in the Gym.
- September 25 – EDGE Family Mass – All EDGE families come together to celebrate Mass on Thursday evening at 6:30pm in the Church.
- September 29 – EDGE Bonfire & Rosary Night
Questions? JoanaL@OLMercy.com
EDGE NIGHTS
When We Meet
Students in grades 6, 7 and 8 will participate in the EDGE program starting in September and going until April.
ALL EDGE Nights are 6:30-8:00pm in the PLC. (unless noted otherwise)
Topics will be presented to educate about the Christian Catholic faith and challenge the student to grow in a relationship with Christ. There will be large and small group activities.
EDGE Yearly Retreat
The EDGE yearly retreat provides the opportunity for students to deepen their relationship with God and to grow in their faith through talks, prayer, reflections, and fun.
The retreat is requirement for the EDGE students. Parents are needed to help chaperone. Please contact the Family Faith Formation Office for more details.
Date: Saturday, January 10, 2025
Time: 8:30am to Noon (12:00pm)
Location: OLM Parish Life Center
The retreat will begin with 8:30am Mass.
Retreat will follow in the PLC and will be presented by Marmion Academy’s Outreach Ministry.
EDGE Night Calendar 2025-2026
Times: ALL EDGE Nights are 6:30-8:00 pm in the PLC. (unless noted otherwise)
9/8 – Parent Info Meeting
9/15 – Kick-Off Celebration
9/25 (Thurs) – Family Mass (6:30pm in church)
10/6 – EDGE Night
10/20 – EDGE Night
11/3 – EDGE Night
11/10 – EDGE Night
12/1 – EDGE Night
12/8 – EDGE Night
1/5 – EDGE Night
1/10 (Sat) – Yearly EDGE Retreat (8:30am-Noon)
1/26 – EDGE Night
2/2 – EDGE Night
2/23 – EDGE Night
3/2 – EDGE Night
3/23 – EDGE Night
4/20 – EDGE Night
4/27 – End of Year Celebration
Attendance/Absence Reporting: Please email us to report an absence at KarenS@olmercy.com.
EDGE Youth Group Events
These events are optional for all our 6th, 7th and 8th graders.
Friday, Sept 12 – Scavenger Hunt at Fox Valley Mall
Scavenger Hunt at the Fox Valley Mall, 6-8pm. This is a combined event with St Anne, Oswego and St Thomas the Apostle, Naperville.
Thursday, Sept 25 – EDGE Family Mass
EDGE Family Mass at 6:30pm in the Church
Monday, Sept 29 – Bonfire Rosary Night
Enjoy a bonfire, dinner, games, and a group rosary.
Saturday, Nov 1 – Saints and Sweets
Saints and Sweets will be held in the church parking lot from 12 noon – 3:30pm.
Monday, Nov 17 – Friendsgiving Celebration & Craft
Enjoy a potluck Friendsgiving celebration with your EDGE friends, and create a craft to share.
Monday, Dec 15 – Christmas Caroling
Come join us to enjoy some Christmas Caroling!
Monday, Feb 16 – Mardi Gras Party
Come join us for pizza and lots of fun and games! 6:30pm-8pm in the gym. This is a combined event with St Anne, Oswego and St Thomas the Apostle, Naperville.
Saturday, March 7 – Holy Fire Joliet
Holy Fire Joliet from 9:30am-5:30pm
Hosted by the Catholic Diocese of Joliet presented by producers of NCYC
Monday, April 13 – Bonfire & Divine Mercy Chaplet
Come enjoy a bonfire, food, fun, games, and group praying of the Divine Mercy Chaplet!
Friday, April 24 – Feed My Starving Children (FMSC)
FMSC packing session with games afterward at St Thomas the Apostle, Naperville. This is a combined event with St Anne, Oswego and St Thomas the Apostle, Naperville. Time TBD.
Joliet Diocese Youth Events
Holy Fire Joliet
This event for Middles School Youth
Steubenville Joliet Youth Conference
This event is for graduating 8th grade students
Will update when Steubenville Joliet Youth Conference 2026 is available for registration sometime in November.
Join 2,000+ high school youth for a dynamic conference featuring speakers, music, fun, and worship.
Location: Benedictine University in Lisle, IL
When: June 26-28, 2026
Service & Discipleship Opportunities
Parish Hospitality or Dinner Events
Help with setup, cleanup, serving meals, or greeting guests for parish events such as:
- Donut Sundays
- KOC Pancake Breakfasts
- Parish Social Events (Ministry Expo, Oktoberfest, International Potluck, etc.)
Liturgy
Volunteer during Mass to help with the Liturgy.
Volunteer opportunities would include:
- Join the Youth Choir
- Be an Altar Server
Other Discipleship Opportunities
- Attend Magnify (usually on the last Wednesday of the month)
Other Volunteer Opportunities
- Vacation Bible School (VBS)
- (8th Graders) Teen Mission Trip
- (8th Graders) Teen Living Stations on Good Friday
- Childcare Assistant for Adult Formation (ALPHA, Rescue, Manna for Marriage, etc)
- Childcare Assistant for K-5 Formation
- Catechist Aide for K-5 Formation
Contact Us
Office of Family Faith Formation for Grades 6-12
Adolfo and Joana Lopez | EDGE Coordinators
AdolfoL@olmercy.com
JoanaL@olmercy.com
(331) 707-5375
Dave Miserendino | Director
DaveM@olmercy.com
(331) 707-5371
Karen Schwartz | Administrative Assistant
KarenS@olmercy.com
(331) 707-5369
Protecting Our Children
EDGE Catechist & Leaders
Our EDGE program, for our middle school students, is looking for some fun, loving, compassionate, spiritual, and caring adults and high school teens to help us for the coming year. We need help in these areas:
High School Teens:
Serve as a Peer Mentor and assist adult leaders in a small group.
Adults:
Help serve as a catechist or volunteer for the program. Whether you are a parent, grandparent or parishioner–you are welcome to help!
We need so many to help, and if many do, there will not be a huge time commitment. If you have questions or would like to get involved, please contact Adolfo or Joana Lopez at AdolfoL@olmercy.com or JoanaL@olmercy.com.
Please prayerfully think about this…our teens need YOU.
EDGE Middle School Youth Ministry Volunteers
Adults and Teens are invited to help with various parts of the EDGE ministry. To work with Middle School students (Grades 6-8) to provide formation, faith mentoring, social and service events, retreats, etc. Please complete the form below and hit submit.