On Fridays, local kids are invited to St. Kilian's in Farmingdale for a fun time with friends.

The Edge, a new St. Kilian's Middle School ministry program, is open to Regional School or Howitt students in grades six through eight. Church staff and volunteers supervise the evenings.

Fr. Joe Fitzgerald of St. Kilian's helped to kick off the program with the support of Pastor Monsignor Michael Flynn.

"With the recent challenges facing our youth, seven heroin deaths in the area in the past nine months and so many kids hanging around with no place to go, a group of parents and parishioners decided to put this program in action," he explained.

A faith based program, Fr. Fitzgerald says it "shares a message of faith, hope, and love with fun high energy, high impact activities with a spiritual sharing at the end of the night."

Already under way a month, the Edge has had over 100 participants.

Wolleyball, scooters and dodgeball are among the activities available to participants.

All Edge participants must be signed in by a parent or by whom they are dropped off. Parents are also encouraged to stay and watch or help out.

The Edge runs every Friday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the parish auditorium/gym. St. Kilian's is looking for musicians, youth leaders, and other volunteers to help serve this program. For more information contact Eric Harnisch at StKilianYouth@gmail.com or Fr. Fitzgerald.