St. Peter Chanel Church is hosting a relaxed way to open communication between parents and adolescents. The program will feature a fast-paced weekend to cover important topics by using skits, role-playing scenarios and parent-child focused time.

Parents and middle-schoolers alike learn about making decisions on important life values from a Catholic point of view.

“It just gets them talking so they know they are there for each other,” said Catherine Anderson, one of the organizers.

Some of the discussion includes learning future dating behavior (for older teens), developing responsibilities in the family, and the changes in adolescence.

Called the Family Honor’s Real Love & Real Life program, it began 20 years ago by parents who wanted to talk with their children about life changes, God’s gift of sexuality and the virtue of chastity. The program relies on church teaching and Catholic doctrine, but a participant is not required to be Catholic to attend. The issues are aimed at seventh- or eighth-grade students.

Anderson said a goal is to help the teens to see all their talents, even those they may not consider talents, and not limit themselves by peer pressure.

The program happens at the church, so participants have a ready-made support group to help continue the conversations after the weekend workshop. The program is scheduled for Friday evening, Feb. 1, from 6:45 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. On Saturday, Feb. 2, the program begins at 8:45 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m.

Attendance is limited to 40 adults and 40 young people. In the past, the number of spaces nearly sold out. The fee is $100. Organizers said anyone interested should not be dissuaded by the fee and to contact them for financial assistance.

To register, go to www.stpeterchanel.org and click on Calendar & Events. Call Jennifer at (770) 594-1234 or Catherine at (770) 645-2125 for more information.