On a Saturday night in West Chester, the doors of St. John the Evangelist Parish open wide. Inside are found laughter, games, and the joyful hum of teenagers meeting new friends. A Vigil Mass is about to begin, led by a priest whose homily speaks right to the heart of the youth. Afterward, a dynamic keynote speaker takes the stage, offering a message designed to inspire and guide young people in their faith. Later, the lights dim, a worship band begins to play, and hundreds of young people kneel before the Blessed Sacrament in quiet reverence. This is Lifeline: A Eucharistic Encounter for High School Youth, a new initiative of NET Ministries designed to help teens meet Christ in a powerful, personal way.

When NET (National Evangelization Teams) Ministries launched in 1981, its mission was clear: challenge young Catholics to love Christ and embrace the life of the Church. Today, NET sends missionary teams of eight to twelve young adults, aged 18 to 28, across the country to lead retreats, youth programs, and parish discipleship. The Cincinnati NET office opened in 2014 and serves the Archdiocese of Cincinnati through retreats and parish partnerships.

“We had been forming relationships and figuring out how NET could best fit here,” said Katie Dell, Eastern Regional Outreach Coordinator. “The overwhelming demand for youth programs was clear. When we saw how well Lifeline was working at our Minnesota headquarters, we knew it was a perfect fit for our community.”

Launched locally in 2024, Lifeline is designed to draw teens into a deeper relationship with Jesus, with everything pointing back to the Eucharist. The evening runs from 6:30 to 9:30

p.m. and begins with fellowship and games that help break the ice and spark new friendships across parishes. A Vigil Mass follows, celebrated by multiple priests whose homilies are crafted especially for teens. A keynote speaker then delivers an engaging, relatable message, and the night ends with Eucharistic adoration accompanied by a worship band, offering time for prayer, reflection, and intimacy with Christ.

Lifeline is currently hosted at St. John the Evangelist in West Chester, with a Dayton event planned for April. The goal of attendance is to see more than 150 at each gathering.

No registration is required—just a permission form and a willingness to show up. For many participants, one of the nights’ best parts is meeting other Catholic teens from across the archdiocese.

“They come as strangers but leave with a sense of love and care from each other and from Jesus,” Dell said. “Whether you are the ‘rockstar’ youth group kid or not sure where you stand with your faith, you will walk away having encountered Christ in the Eucharist and feeling loved.”

Behind the scenes, NET missionaries prepare spiritually, emotionally, and as a team for these nights. Some serve on traveling retreat teams while others are based in parishes, leading youth ministry programs and sacramental preparation. All receive training in evangelization skills, small-group leadership, and safe environment protocols before beginning their work.

“They are so joyful in sharing their faith!” Dell said. “We are all excited to make Lifeline happen, and then we just watch what the Lord does with the night.”

For teens ready to go deeper, Lifeline Upper Room offers leadership development before the main event. Participants receive an additional talk from the keynote speaker, hands-on evangelization training, and behind-the-scenes time with missionaries. The experience not only deepens their faith but also plants seeds for future missionary vocations.

Jonathan Schaefer, DRE and Youth Minister at St. John the Baptist Parish in Harrison, has also seen the impact firsthand.

“Lifeline gave my daughter a way to recharge and connect with God, while showing her that other teens are searching for Him too,” Schaefer said. “As a youth minister, I value Lifeline because it provides experiences I can’t always offer at our parish.”

Looking ahead, Katie Dell’s hope is simple yet profound: “That they leave knowing they have encountered Christ in the Eucharist.”

For parents, Lifeline is more than a night out for your teen. It is a chance for them to step into a welcoming, joyful community, to hear the Gospel in a voice they recognize, and to experience the transforming love of Jesus.

This article appeared in the October 2025 edition of The Catholic Telegraph Magazine. For your complimentary subscription, click here.