Two churches in Butler County share more than a common faith.

St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Oakland Township and Mater Dolorosa Roman Catholic Church in Chicora have shared a pastor since the late 1990s. They also share a director of religious education.

While both churches have historically offered Sunday education programs for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, last year they also began to streamline the programs, combining like age groups from both congregations.

"Families are not as large today," said the Rev. David DeWitt, explaining how combing the programs avoids duplicating efforts at both sites.

"There was a shift in the number of families, and we began to examine ways in which we could meet the religious needs of kids."

DeWitt serves as pastor at both churches. DeWitt said the combined number of families at both churches is about 500. Although they share some resources, the churches are otherwise separate, he noted.

Beginning her fifth year as director of religious education, Sister Mary Zita Green of the Order of St. Francis is one such resource. Describing the frustration of "running between parishes," Green said the streamlined system should allow her to focus more intently on administrative duties.

Although the combined groups have been meeting in various rooms at Mater Dolorosa since the 2004-05 season, the teen group on Sunday will begin meeting in a newly renovated space at St. Joseph.

The sessions for pre-kindergarten through grade eight will be offered from 8:55 to 10 a.m. every Sunday at Mater Dolorosa. Mass is set for 8 a.m. in Chicora and 10:30 a.m. in North Oakland.

The teen sessions will be offered from 7 to 9 p.m. at St. Joseph the second Sunday of each month. The teen group will be called Pencils of Second Sunday Evening, or POSSE - so named for Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, who described herself as a pencil in God's hands, said DeWitt.

Although service projects will be among ongoing priorities of POSSE, a recent project of the teens has been to paint and otherwise help to prepare their new meeting space. The space will also be used for adult education.

With the help of the church's Holy Name Society and other volunteers, a new retaining wall has been built outside, and the 1,300-square-foot lower level of the rectory has been cleaned, waterproofed and painted. A small kitchen area has been outfitted with a refrigerator, dishes and other items.

Haley Bachman, a ninth grader at Karns City High School, was among the teens who helped to prepare the space.

"It was very fun, we had a paint war," she said. "We first painted a base coat, then we're going to be painting hand prints in the (shape) of a cross."

"We really haven't done anything. We just painted the building," she said, explaining some of the decorative touches were still to come.

"Our first meeting is going to be about ideas. … It's our very first year, so we're not sure what to do," she added.

Although the teens are just beginning to take ownership of their evolving group, DeWitt said he has been contemplating a teen group since he began as pastor six years ago.

"It takes a long time to get programs off the ground, especially with young people: to design a program that's going to be appealing to them," he said.

"I think it will be really successful if kids will just participate," said Bachman. Kids don't really know what they're getting themselves into these days, and youth group is one way to help them decide."

Bachman also said joining with teens from the other church allows her to meet peers from other school districts.

"There are some from Moniteau and Butler," she said. "I met these two real nice girls that are helping us paint, and we are all having such a fun time," she said.