Catholic priest on altar praying during mass

Brand-new and not-yet-released from Ascension Press and one of my very favorite youth ministry people (Mark Hart): Altaration. (I don’t even have a link to share yet. It’s THAT NEW.)

Altaration addresses head-on one of the biggest problems we all face: how do we get Catholic teens to appreciate the awesome beauty and mystery of the Mass…and to actually look forward to attending and participating?

Through a unique learning experience, including powerful cinematography and workbook resources, teens will come to see the Mass and the priesthood in a dramatically new way. Altaration is designed to stir thought, create conversation, dispel myths, and inspire young souls to a deep and lasting love for the Mass. The goal of Altaration is not to fill teens’ heads with information but to pierce their hearts with transformation.

That’s the official bill. Here’s what I have to say after having watched Lesson 3: WOW.

Mark Hart brought it in the very best way. I haven’t seen the full 3-DVD set. I haven’t seen the workbooks. But what I’ve seen and read about it so far, count me IN! This is a resource that the teens in my life probably need, yes.

But I’ll tell you this, from watching just one lesson (and not even the first one): this is a resource that *I* need.

In fact, I’ll bet most of the Catholic adults I know need it too. (I’ve said this before about Mark Hart’s studies. And I don’t think it’s just me.)

Here’s the trailer:

[youtube_sc url=”http://youtu.be/vtQZ1Hiq9J8″]

Yeah. I’m a fan. I can’t wait to see the full program!!! And, better yet, I can’t wait to SHARE the full program.

The program includes five lessons of about 30 minutes each, on three DVDS:

  1. More than Meets the Eye
  2. Our Father’s Plan
  3. The Mystery Revealed (the one I got to preview)
  4. What Is Our Response?
  5. The “Whys” Behind the “Whats”

There are both student workbooks and leader’s guides which I haven’t yet seen, but I expect to be of the same quality of the other Ascension Press products I’ve loved in the past.

The presenters include Mark Hart, of course, but also Fr. Mike Schmitz, Jackie Francois Angel, Chris Stefanick, and Fr. Josh Johnson.

Admittedly, there are limitations to this sort of program. I’ve experienced it myself as a catechist and youth leader. You have to do more than just turn on the DVD and pass out the workbooks. You have to engage. YOU have to be present too (not just relying on a movie).

That said, these tools will give you the dialogue you may lack and tap you into the passion you didn’t know you had. For that matter, this is a lot of information that I suspect many of us (myself included) just haven’t (a) thought deeply about and/or (b) ever learned.