Life Teen, the fastest growing Catholic youth ministry concept in the country, has gained increasing attention recently for the dramatic impact it has made on more than 200 youth programs nationwide.

On Nov. 19 and 20, a Life Teen Training Workshop, Music Fest and Youth Rally will be conducted by the National Life Teen Office at the Church of St. Ann in Marietta. Sponsored by the archdiocese of Atlanta, the conference will provide priests, youth ministers and teens a chance to learn more about the program and to experience it.

Life Teen is an inclusive program taking into consideration a teen's spiritual, educational, social and emotional needs. Its purpose is to create an environment for high school teens to enter a relationship with God through Jesus Christ and His church.

The conference will open with an all-day training workshop for priests, youth ministers and youth ministry volunteers Nov. 19. The workshop runs from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. with registration beginning at 9:30 a.m. Topics will include "The Youth Culture of Teens," "Basis for a Teen Liturgy/The Life Teen Philosophy," and "How to Start a Life Teen Program." Cost of the workshop is $10 and includes lunch.

That evening, a Music Fest well be held at 8 p.m. at the Roswell Auditorium in Roswell and will feature the music of Life Teen composers Tom Booth of Mesa, AZ, and Ed Bolduc of St. Ann's Parish, Marietta. Concert admission is $5.

A Youth Rally will be held at St. Ann's on Nov. 20 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Sessions will include "Jesus, Do I know Him," "The Eucharist," "and "Being A Catholic Teen Today."

There will be a Life Teen Mass and an evening dance. Cost of the Youth Rally is $10 and includes lunch, dinner and a T-shirt.

Leading the conference are Father Dale Fushek, pastor of St. Timothy's Catholic Church in Mesa, AZ, and creator of the Life Teen program; Phil Banewicz, national Life Teen coordinator and director of youth ministry at St. Timothy's for eight years, and Booth, director of the Life Teen Band at St. Timothy's.

Father Fushek began the program in 1985 and now has over 500 teens participating in his parish. In addition, St. Timothy's has begun a training program in response to requests for help from Catholic parishes across the country.

In the Archdiocese of Atlanta, Life Teen began at St. Ann's in Marietta in 1992 and now is being used in 10 parishes ranging in size from small to large and from city to suburban. Randy Raus, director of youth ministry at St. Ann's and conference coordinator, says that the number of teens active in St. Ann's program has doubled from 100 to 200 in one year.

To register for the events send name, address, parish and phone number, along with appropriate fees made payable to Life Teen Youth Rally 4905 Roswell Road, Marietta, GA 30062. Registration and full payment is due by Nov. 5. Priests, youth ministers, Life Teen core members and volunteers may register for any of the three events. Teens are invited to the Music Fest and/or Youth Rally.

For further information, contact St. Ann's Life Teen Office at 770-998-6754.