Middle School Ministry

Creating fruitful encounters to help students become joyful missionary disciples of Jesus Christ through the Catholic Church!

Edge is a Catholic middle school youth ministry program. It provides a safe fun place for youth to find solid Catholic community, to get answers to their questions about faith, and, most importantly, to experience Jesus in a profound and personal way. Edge resources speak to the physical, psychological, cognitive, relational, and spiritual maturation of middle school youth. Edge is new to Our Lady of Sorrows and we are looking for a team of adults to help act as small group leaders and core team members.. Feel free to email Tori at [email protected] for more information!

EDGE Meeting Dates!

Parents and students! Please click the button below to sign up for our Youth Discipleship Flocknote! Flocknote is an email and texting tool used to communicate with parents and students for upcoming events, reminders, registrations and so on! This information is kept safe and only the admin(myself at this time) has access to your information! Flocknote is my primary method of communication so please sign up below! Thank you!

Middle School Boys' News

Free for all 6-12th grade boys and their father figures, Exercitus Mariae! (meaning “the Army of Mary) is a ministry created to counteract the way our society drives boys to question their individual value and role in society. Volunteer adult male parishioners lead lessons on the catechism and challenging physical drills to help the boys and their fathers build fortifications against the tricks of the enemy, strong male friendships, and leadership skills. Started by two Knights of Columbus, this program is gaining more buzz and momentum with every passing day. Come see what Exercitus Mariae can do for you!

Middle School Girls' News

A Blaze Update for the 2023-2024 school year

The girls’ middle school Bible study, Blaze “Belong”, has completed their program from the 2022-2023 school year, learning about the difference between the truths in the Bible and the lies we might hear in the world. Thank you to our parent leader, Christine Parnin, for her year of service and the great success she made this program for our 20 registrants!

The next chance to register your middle school daughter for Blaze will be coming in August. To register for next year’s program: Blaze “Masterpiece!” check back for registration information and the plan for next year’s program. The sessions should start in September! In each session, participants will be led through an activity and 1-2 short lessons based on a lie found in the world and a truth found in Scripture. The girls will also leave with a small take-home gift that corresponds with the lesson, and meet via Zoom at the end of each month for additional time socializing and another short lesson.

Please contact the Office of Youth Discipleship to express your interest to volunteer to help lead this impactful program! Girls in their tween/teen years are filled with questions. They have doubts, they desire clarification, and they want to share their thoughts in a space that will allow them to make their relationship with God personal and meaningful.

You can also learn more about the BLAZE ministry at walkingwithpurpose.com/blaze.

Tori Polhill- Director of Youth Discipleship

Hi! My name is Tori Polhill and I am so excited to be joining the team here at Our Lady of Sorrows. I am so excited to meet you and especially walk with our young people as we journey together in this beautiful faith life we have.

A little bit about me outside of ministry, I grew up on the east side in Macomb Township and have two amazing parents and a twin sister! My sister and brother in law just welcomed my beautiful niece into the world in July and being an aunt to Clara has been amazing! I live in Sterling Heights with my husband Brad and our dog Kaladin. Brad and I were married in May of 2021 and have enjoyed every minute together since then. Kaladin is our good boy(most of the time…), he is named after one of our favorite characters in the Stormlight Archive novels from our favorite author (Brandon Sanderson anyone?).

When I am not with my family or working I love spending time with friends, reading, playing board games or catching up over some good coffee! I am a MAJOR coffee snob and huge nerd, luckily I married a nerd too so it all works out! I love all things Star Wars, Harry Potter and Marvel! Anytime you want to chat over some coffee or tea I would love to meet with you!

Feel free to reach out anytime! I am so excited to journey with you!