The Catholic Church sometimes refers to the sacrament of Baptism as “illumination,” and at the baptism of each child, a special baptismal candle is illuminated from the paschal candle, and the parents and godparents are challenged to keep that light burning in their child.

There are many ways in today’s world where this light of faith can be dimmed or extinguished. In order to keep the flame of faith burning within us, we must feed the flame with knowledge, we must not hide our faith, or cover it, where the flame might be extinguished, nor should we allow the light to be quenched by the changing winds of our times. Keeping alive the Light of Christ takes work, and as Catholics we do this in and through community. The youth program at Our Lady of the Mountains is called Living in the Light (LITL), and it is a four-year program of Christian discipleship meant to assist parents in their responsibility of transmitting the faith to their children. All young people within the parish who are in high school are encouraged to participate. It is also conceived of as a pedagogy for Christian Leadership, encouraging our youth to a more mature faith, which requires of them both knowledge and practice of the faith.

In Year A we will move through the first of the four parts on the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and concentrate on the Gospel according to St. Matthew. We will also try to understand better the first five centuries of Church history, reflecting upon saints from that period. In Year B we will continue to work our way slowly through the second part of the four parts on the Compendium, and concentrate on the Gospel according to St. Mark. We will also try to understand better the second half of the first Christian millennium, learning about saints from that period. In Year C we will spend time on the third part of the Compendium, and concentrate on the Gospel according to St. Luke. This year we’ll concentrate on saints who fall roughly between the years 1000-1500 AD. And then in Year D we will spend time on the third part of the Compendium, and concentrate on the Gospel according to St. John. This year we’ll concentrate on saints who fall in the most modern period of our Church’s history (after 1500). Whenever a freshman comes in, he or she will begin the process in whatever year we are in, but if they stay for four years, they will have a rich understanding of our faith.

Stages of Formation

Living in the Light also seeks to help our young people grow in discipleship and in love of Christ, even as it seeks to prepare them to be future leaders within the Catholic Church. There are three stages of formation within the Living in the Light program:

Aspirancy Stage (pdf) (freshman year) should be a year of deep discernment about one’s life, its meaning, its direction and its purpose. The word “aspire” is derived from a Latin word which means to pant after an ultimate goal, or to desire or long for something, to seek something with ambition. In the Aspirancy year, when our youth are challenged to aspire for something greater than themselves, and when they are encouraged to seek answers, and to seek the ultimate answer, who is the Lord. When there are breakout sessions by year, this stage would be more focused on the deep questions of life and of our place in life as Catholics.
Sphragis Stage (sophomore year) is the year when our students receive the sacrament of confirmation, the further mark of faith, and are more deeply enlisted into the service of our Lord. They are marked and strengthened to live their Catholic life. If the freshman was in his or her aspirancy, the sophomore will be breathed upon by the Spirit, and inspired to live the life of faith with even greater zeal. Whenever there are breakout sessions, these young people would be encouraged to ponder more deeply what it means to be marked with the sign of faith. Living in the Light will seek to build a deeper insight into the mysteries of our faith, especially as we prepare our young people for Confirmation. A special four weeks of intensified studies will be expected of those looking to receive Confirmation, as well as a retreat, but Living in the Light does not see Confirmation as an end, but rather as a strengthening along the way.
Discipleship Stage (junior & senior years) is the stage when special attention may be given more to service and leadership. Those within the Discipleship Stage can be recruited to help their younger colleagues, by serving or cooking food, working as youth sponsors for those in the Aspirancy and Sphragis Stages, being asked to share their faith and be a part of the instruction of others. If the Aspirancy Stage was the stage to aspire for deeper faith, and the Sphragis Stage was the stage to be inspired with the Holy Spirit, the Discipleship Stage is the stage to conspire with the core team, and perspire at bit: that is to roll up our sleeves and lead through service. As we continue to focus on growing spiritually and to look at life and make decisions through the eyes of faith, this stage is also a time when discernment of vocation would be emphasized.

Overview of the Four Year Cycle

Year One (pdf)
Year Two (pdf)
Year Three (pdf)
Year Four (pdf)

Formation Team

The principle catechists of any young person is his or her parents, and so Living in the Light is largely a program that parents must necessarily take ownership in if it is to work. If the parents get involved, they send a message that the faith is important and something of value that they sincerely want to keep alive within their young people. As our young people are about to move into adulthood, this may be the last time when parents can reinforce the value of the faith, and our young people need that reinforcement as they prepare to take off into the world on their own. Still, Living in the Light is also conceived of as having four core team members, who will assist in the structure of the formation of our young people throughout their four years. The various Core Team members will work together to assure that even when one or two are away, the program can continue. Moreover, the Core Team members will work together to plan lessons and activities throughout the year based on the four year pedagogy of the Living in the Light program.

Besides the parents (who are the principle Catechists) and the Core Team, the Clergy should also be involved. At the point when the year’s calendar is conceived of, periodic events should be scheduled with the deacon or priest to come in and teach on the subjects as they are spread out over the year.