Best Practice
2-3 Months Ahead
Find four CORE FAMILIES to spearhead the effort.
These should be parents who value the T2 program and who are willing to commit to participating in all four topic presentations.
Settle on FOUR DATES with the Core Families and the facilitator.
RESERVE SPACE to hold programs.
Ask the pastor for an appropriate representative to begin each event with a welcome and opening prayer.
1-2 Months Ahead
Recruit SMALL GROUP LEADERS. *See Sample email. Volunteers working with youth at parish events need to be compliant with diocesan child protection policies.
ORDER SUPPLIES (baby models, pens, notebooks, and resource pamphlets).
Diagram ROOM SETUP and PLAN REFRESHMENTS.
PUBLICIZE programs with dates. *See Sample flyer
1-2 Weeks Ahead
Recruit HOSPITALITY VOLUNTEERS Setup/cleanup, greeters/registration, food, technical support.
Ask parishioners for PRAYER WARRIOR SUPPORT.
TRAIN small group leaders prior to meetings. Review topic video, review validation video (available in Abortion Basics video), review and practice each script.
PLAN FLOW of program. Print out handouts, plan logistics for phone collection, room configuration, technology setup and testing, including microphone, speakers, wifi or downloaded videos, projector or large screen. Make a schedule, see sample schedule.
At the Event
Allow 2 hours: one hour for video, one hour for role-playing.
If parents are present, arrange the room so that the focus is on the youth (i.e. youth seated in the front, parents in the back).
Open with welcome and prayer.
Present Tough Topics Video Program.
Invite the youth to share any initial reactions (e.g. How did you feel about that? What struck you? Did you learn anything new?) Material to help you answer questions can be found in additional resources on each topic page.
Have two adult facilitators demonstrate role-playing one of the scripts.
Break into small groups to act out the scripts. Adult volunteers have participants stand up one at a time to read the "You" role while the adult takes the opposing voice. Help move the participants through as many scenarios as possible.
Invite the youth to share personal experiences and collaborate on how the conversation could unfold in light of the material learned.
Gather entire group together again and have students or adults share fruits of previous Tough Topics programs put into practice.
Show additional resources list from the current topic page on toughtopics.life so they are equipped to steer friends to where to get help.
Conclude with prayer.
(we recommend the prayer of St. Teresa of Calcutta)Consider following up with a related service project
For Abortion Basics, Consider beginning the session with a pop quiz from the Contend Project.
Closing Prayer
A Prayer of St. Teresa of Calcutta (1910 - 1997 AD)
People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered; Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; It was never between you and them anyway.
Recommended Age:
13+ years old, with parents. For parents of younger children see the additional resources on each topic page.
A segment of the Abortion Basics video program contains strong and explicit material unsuitable for pre-teens. To preview sensitive segments, see time stamps noted within the sample permission slip below.
Prerequisite: Some sex ed covered by parents.
Helpful sex ed resources: Cana Vox Tips, PUREly YOU!, Theology of the Body for Teens, Sexual Wisdom for Catholic Adolescents, The Birds and Bees Online Program
See other age appropriate recommendations in Raising Children of Light.
Printable Resources & Samples:
Sample Flyer w QR code.pdfAB Sample Permission Slip.pdfImplementing Tough Topics.pdfBULLETIN ANNOUNCEMENT - OPTIONS
TOUGH TOPICS (59 words)
Feeling unsure of what to say when faced with complicated cultural issues? Tough Topics (T2) offers free video programs, sample scripts, and a wealth of resources to bolster your confidence and give you the tools to speak the truth about gender identity, abortion, and same sex attraction based in science and presented with kindness. Visit www.toughtopics.life to learn more.
TOUGH TOPICS (75 words)
A free resource for parishioners in all walks of life, Tough Topics (T2) is a project that can aid in formation to combat the most prevalent cultural issues of today: gender identity, abortion, and same sex attraction. Explore our compilation of resources for Raising Children of Light, engage youth with T2 video programs and sample scripts, and dive into the history and science to fortify your knowledge of the Truth. Visit www.toughtopics.life to learn more.
TOUGH TOPICS (50 words)
Visit www.toughtopics.life to experience the Tough Topics program. T2 was created by St. John’s Youth Ministry as a free resource to educate and encourage youth when engaging in difficult conversations about complicated cultural issues. Learn the truth about gender identity, abortion, and same sex attraction – then speak it with love.