"Life Teen changed my life..." and the lives of thousands of other teens and adults.

Read their stories here.

"Even when I turned my back, someone was always there to call and check up on me, reminding me I was loved."

Lifeteen has been an amazing experience for me because it demonstrates how Christ’s love can be expressed in a deep and very real way. For me, entering high school aroused fears concerning challenges I knew were waiting for me: drugs, sex, parties, etc. I knew in my head the Lifeteen community would always ‘be there for me’, but in all honesty I wasn’t too sure what to expect. Today, I’m sure Jesus would say, “Hey, you of little faith, why did you doubt Me?”. This new family that I was slowly getting used to never let me down. Even when I turned my back, someone was always there to call and check up on me, reminding me I was loved. Knowing that material possessions, a perfect body image, and pride are not the deciding factors of my character, enables me to walk down the hallways of Saint Agnes Academy with confidence.

As I look back on my freshman, sophomore, and junior year, my heart can’t help but be incredibly grateful to people like Ennie, Aaron and Mrs. Hickman. Even as I sit here writing this, I am moved to tears thinking about how loving and accepting they always are. The core team members and especially Father Bill have helped me not only believe, but to be fully convinced my Faith is the one and only truth. This truth is my stronghold; especially when I’ve sinned the most, and feel totally unworthy to receive Christ who sacrificed Himself for me. Thanks to my experiences with Lifeteen, I know I want to study Theology and Life Studies when I go on to college next year. Still, I truly am grateful for the place where I always feel welcome: where being Catholic is not only fun, but cool as well. Most of all, I am blessed with the Food I have been given for the journey of a lifetime. Thank you Life Teen, and thank you Jesus! -Kristen Fontenot, STM c/o 2003

"The STM youth group had and still has an immense impact on my life...

I have to say that Darla Hickman, through her loving and supporting ways showed me God's love and the greatness of the Catholic Church. The youth group offered me a place to experience God, His teachings, and ways to live as a Christian woman. STM will always have a very important place in my heart because of all the wonderful people that show me God's love." - Klair Kopnicky, STM C/O '99

“It’s hard to put St. Thomas More Life Teen into words: it is just an experience...

The youth group is a true Christian community in so many senses of the word. The youth are supportive, caring, and offer help and prayers in times of need. The ministers, priests, and core members give so much of their time, talents and effort to the youth. One of the most important things about it is how at home it makes you feel. Praising the Lord with a hundred peers, knowing that the same thing is going on in at least 845 other parishes across America, and feeling the support and encouragement of the adults in the parish, I felt like a member of something special, I felt accepted, and I felt loved.

I wasn’t always Catholic. In fact, the main reason I started coming to STM Life Teen was to see a girl I liked who sang in the Choir, but the Lord takes what you give him and he turns it into his plan. God knew I was coming for the girl, and He got me to stay for the music and the friends, like the Hickmans, I had made. Sooner or later, through the instruction and support I had received at Life nights and on retreats, the Eucharist became the real reason to go to mass: not duty, not fun, not emotion, and not friends. I believe that STM LT’s ability to inculcate true faith and devotion is one of its greatest assets. I have the utmost faith in every youth who has ever come out of our program, because the message is clear and true, the attention is personal, and the love is real. The Holy Spirit works at St. Thomas More, that much is clear, and it has made a great difference for me in my faith, my happiness, and in my life. Thanks be to God for St. Thomas More Life Teen!” – David Yeager, STM C/O 2000