Belong. Grow. Follow Jesus.
EDGE is St. Isidore’s middle school ministry for students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade — a place where young people can build friendships, ask honest questions, discover what it means to follow Jesus, and grow in their Catholic faith. Whether your child attends a Catholic school or public school, EDGE is a place where they are welcome.
While EDGE has been part of youth ministry for many years, our vision continues to grow: creating a welcoming community where young people can experience belonging, develop meaningful friendships, encounter Christ, and discover their place in the Church.
We believe middle school is an important time for young people to discover who they are, where they belong, and what God may be calling them to become. EDGE provides a space where students can have fun, form relationships, ask questions about faith and life, and grow together as disciples of Jesus.
No two EDGE nights have to look exactly the same. Throughout the year, students will experience a variety of opportunities designed to help them grow in faith and community:
Students explore Scripture, Catholic teaching, prayer, the Sacraments, the liturgical seasons, and what it means to follow Jesus in everyday life.
Students build relationships within grade-level groups where they can share, ask questions, discuss faith, and connect what they learn to their own experiences — led by trained adult and high school Core Team members.
Fun activities, team-building experiences, and social opportunities help students build friendships and develop a strong sense of belonging.
EDGE creates space to talk about topics middle school students experience today, including friendships, identity, peer pressure, social media, stress, self-image, and making good choices.
Students have opportunities to grow in prayer through worship, Eucharistic Adoration, and other experiences that help them develop a deeper relationship with Jesus.
Students learn that faith is not only something we believe, it is something we live. Through service opportunities, they discover the joy of caring for others and putting their faith into action.
Throughout the year, students will participate in special activities connected to the Church’s liturgical seasons, community building, and growing together as a youth ministry.
One of the most important parts of EDGE is community. Students will be placed in grade-level small groups where they can build friendships throughout the year. Each group will be supported by Core Team members who help create a safe and welcoming environment where students can be themselves, ask questions, and grow in faith.
Our goal is not simply to teach students about Catholicism, but to help them discover how faith connects to their everyday lives.
At EDGE, we want young people to discover that faith is more than what happens on Wednesday nights. As Catholics, our faith is centered on Jesus, and we encounter Him in a special way through the celebration of the Mass and the Eucharist.
Sunday Mass is an important part of the EDGE experience. We encourage every EDGE student and family to make Sunday Mass a regular part of their week. Throughout the year, EDGE will connect with the Sunday Gospel, the liturgical seasons, and the life of our parish, helping students see that what they experience at EDGE is connected to the larger Catholic community.
We want our young people to move from simply “going to church” to understanding that they belong to the Church. At Mass, we gather as the Body of Christ, listen to God’s Word, worship together, and receive Jesus in the Eucharist. EDGE helps middle schoolers understand why we celebrate Mass and encourages them to participate more fully in the life of the Church.
EDGE doesn't replace Sunday Mass. EDGE helps students discover why Sunday Mass matters.
EDGE is more than a weekly meeting. Throughout the year, students will have opportunities to put their faith into action through service projects, social justice experiences, prayer, Adoration, and activities connected to the Church’s liturgical seasons.
We want young people to understand that following Jesus is not something we do only at church. Faith is something we live at home, at school, with our friends, online, and wherever life takes us.
Families can expect EDGE to be a place where their middle schooler can:
Come as you are. Find your people. Follow Jesus.
EDGE is a place for middle schoolers to belong, grow, and discover that faith is meant to be lived.
Questions about Youth Ministry? We'd love to hear from you.
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