St. Mary of the Falls

SMOF Life Teen YM is a movement leading High School teens closer to Christ through the Sacraments of the Church as well as serving the parish of St. Mary of the Falls. We place our source and summit in the Eucharist by beginning our weekly Life Nights with the 6pm Sunday Mass. Life Nights run on a 4 year, USCCB-approved, curriculum taught by the Youth Minister, Core Members (trained adult relational ministers), and sometimes guest speakers and clergy members. The 4 year/ 8 semester curriculum with topics: Paschal Mystery, Person of Christ, Scripture, Vocations, Morality, Social Justice, Church, and Sacraments. Each Life Night has social, spiritual, catechetical/ Church education, and current life issue components. We provide 2 annual weekend retreats, weekly T-3 (That Thursday Thing, T-three, T-cubed) Teen Scripture Study of the coming Sunday's Mass readings, Service/ Out reach experiences (Servants for Christ, St. Pat's Soup Kitchen, etc), social outings (Cedar Point, White Water Rafting, Swings N Things, etc), and prayer experiences (XLT (exalt), trips to the Cathedral, Poor Clares on Rocky River Dr, shrines). Please contact Tricia in the SMOF Life Teen YM Office at  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  or 216-645-4397 for more information.

What is SMOF Life Teen?  

SEMESTER BREAKDOWN 

 Semester 1:  Paschal Mystery

• The Central Mystery of Our Faith
• Paschal Mystery
• Our Fall From Grace
• The Purpose of the Incarnation
• The Passion of Christ
• The Death of Christ
• The Resurrection of Christ
• Ascension/Pentecost
• Prayer (Part 1)
• Prayer (Part 2)

Semester 2:  Scripture

• Scripture Semester Introduction, God’s Story and Our Story
• Creation and Fall of Man
• Covenants in Scripture
• The Law and the Prophets
• Old Testament Prophecies/Incarnation
• Miracles and the Kingdom of God/the Gospels of Luke and Matthew
• Acts of the Apostles/Early Church
• Book of Revelation

Semester 3:  Person of Christ

• “Who do you say that I am?”
• Person of Christ
• Trinity
• Hypostatic Union/Incarnation
• Mary, Mother of God
• Jesus Reveals the  Church
• Prayer
• Existence of Evil/Spiritual Warfare
• Discipleship
• Existence of God

Semester 4:  Sacraments

• The Sacramental Nature of the Church
• The Visible and Invisible Reality of the Sacraments
• The Sacraments of Initiation
• The Sacraments of Healing
• Sacraments at the Service of Communion
• Sacramentals
• Challenges to Worship and Sacraments
• Living Sacramental Grace

Semester 5:  Church

• Christ Established His One Church to Continue His Presence and His Work
• The Church is Sustained and Guided by the Holy Spirit
• The Visible Structure of the Church: a Hierarchical Communion
• Teaching Office in the Church: the Magisterium
• The Church as a Sign and Instrument for Unity
• Salvation Through the Church
• The Church’s Task of Evangelization
• Active Membership in the Church

Semester 6:  Social Justice

• God’s Plan for His People
• Social Teaching of the Church/The Great Commandment
• Solidarity and Social Sin
• Promoting a Culture of Life Globally
• Promoting a Culture of Life at Home
• Preferential Option for the Poor
• Stewards of Creation
• Charity and Justice

Semester 7:  Vocations

• Universal Call to Holiness
• God’s Unique Call for Each of Us
• The Vocation of Marriage
• Divorce
• The Vocation of Holy Orders
• Objections to Holy Orders
• The Consecrated Life
• Discernment and Community

Semester 8:  Morality

• Morality and God’s Plan for our Happiness
• Revelation of Truth in Christ and His Church
• Our Response to God’s Plan/Sin/Conscience
• Loving God/Living for Him/Priorities/Commandments 1,2,3
• Dignity of Human Life/Family/Commandments 4,5,8
• Human Sexuality/Commandments 6,9
• Material Goods/Social Justice/Commandments 7,10
• Living a Moral Life/Holiness/Sainthood