Rite 13

6th - 8th grade students

6th and 7th grade students participate in Rite 13, which is a two-year program designed to build faith self-esteem in the context of the Christian community. The main themes of the Rite 13 program are: using creative energy for change in the world, building cross-gender friendships, establishing the church as a “safety zone,” teaching freedom and responsibility, creating shared experience and group memory which will carry into their Journey to Adulthood J2A program, and affirming that the passage from childhood to manhood and womanhood is a gift from God.

This program culminates with a parish celebration of the rite of passage of students moving through adolescence and this fall’s celebration was glorious. Among other adventures, and right after I began my ministry with St. Cross, our Rite 13 students, with guidance from their talented teachers, provided a spook-tastic haunted house during our annual Halloween Party then shone brightly in different support roles during our Christmas Pageant.