Teen Formation
Our Middle Schoolers
Ongoing Formation
Ongoing formation for our middle schoolers is focused on study of the faith. Middle school students have the option of attending Family of Faith and/or a Catholic school.
Pilgrimages, Retreats, and Mission Trips
Experiencing Catholicism beyond the parish creates a great environment for growth and conversion. Middle school youth from the Pastorate participate in Love Begins Here mission trips each summer, along with other retreats and pilgrimages throughout the year.
Sacramental Formation
If your Middle School teen is in need of any Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, First Communion, and/or Confirmation), we are happy to accompany them on that journey and help them prepare.
LOVE BEGINS HERE!
Love Begins Here mission trips provide middle and high school youth with an opportunity to encounter Jesus Christ in a life changing way through week long, local mission trips where they live in the Catholic community and continue his work on earth. Our middle school will attend July 21-24, 2025 MS4 at St. John the Baptist. Register for Love Begins Here mission trips here.
Middle School Monthly Youth Group
In addition to ongoing formation, this fall, we will be launching a monthly youth group to help our middle school teens form community , while growing in the life of prayer and other foundational discipleship habits.
Email Rhonda Reis rreis@saintmax.org if you have a teen attending, so we can plan for dinner - we’ll feed your kids while they’re with us!
Middle School Youth Group Calendar
2025 - 2026 Schedule Coming Soon!
Teen Pilgrimage
Monday August 11
All teens heading into 9th - 13th grade from St. Max are invited on our second pilgrimage of the summer! On Monday, August 11th, we will be going on a Jubilee Year pilgrimage to St. Cecilia in Wisconsin Dells and to the St. Philomena Shrine in Briggsville. The day will include:
Coffee Shop Stop + Great Conversation
Lunch with Fr. Simon’s Family
A Duck Boat Tour with Fr. Simon
Prayer Time + Mass at St. Cecilia
Rosary + Visit to St. Philomena Shrine
Space is limited to 20 teens! (If we reach that cap, parent chaperones may not be on the Duck Boat tour with Fr. Simon and on a different boat instead.) The cost is $25/teen. Payment will be taken during the online registration process.
We will depart from and return to St. John the Baptist in Waunakee.
Drop Off Time: 7:45am / Return Time: 4:45 - 5:00pm
If you have questions, email Rhonda Reis - rreis@saintmax.org!
Our High Schoolers
Ongoing Formation
Ongoing formation for our high schoolers is focused on study of the faith and growth in habits of discipleship. High school students have the option of attending one or more of the following: High School Discipleship Formation, Family of Faith, or a Catholic school.
LOVE BEGINS HERE!
Love Begins Here mission trips provide middle and high school youth with an opportunity to encounter Jesus Christ in a life changing way through week long, local mission trips where they live in the Catholic community and continue his work on earth. Our high school will travel July 13-18, 2025 to the Wisconsin Dells to serve the parish community there. Register for Love Begins Here mission trips here.
High School Discipleship Formation
2025 - 2026 Schedule Coming Soon!
Pilgrimages, Retreats, and Mission Trips
Experiencing Catholicism beyond the parish creates a great environment for growth and conversion. Teens from the Pastorate participate in Love Begins Here mission trips each summer, along with other retreats and pilgrimages throughout the year.
Save the date for February 6 - 8, 2025 for Frassati Fest - our Diocesan teen conference and festival at the Kalahari Resort! More information will come this fall regarding registration.
Sacramental Formation
If your Middle School teen is in need of any Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, First Communion, and/or Confirmation), we are happy to accompany them on that journey and help them prepare.
The normative age for Confirmation in our parish, aligned with the recommendation from Bishop Hying in the Diocese of Madison is Fall of 10th grade. Visit the Confirmation page to learn more.
Volunteer with our Teens
We are in need of enthusiastic, faithful adults who want to help pass on the Catholic faith to teens in our parish! If you’re interested in learning more, please reach out to Landy Kaftan.