METHUEN — Steve Bertoni disagrees when he hears people say, "Teens are the future of the Catholic Church."

The youth minister strongly believes young people are part of the "present."

"We need to really reach kids when they are in junior high," said Bertoni, 20, of St. Monica Parish. "Otherwise, their faith will be nothing to them until they come back and get married."

Last night, St. Monica Parish kicked off its annual Life Teen program, designed to bring teenagers closer to Christ. And what better way to get kids interested in anything than by letting them hang out with friends, throwing a concert and serving up plenty of free Chinese food.

A similar concert was shut down last year because organizers didn't have the proper permits and area residents complained about the noise. With the exception of uncooperative weather, last night's concert went off without a hitch.

More than 300 kids and some parents showed up for the event, which started with a 6 p.m. Mass at the 214 Lawrence St. parish. The concert was supposed to be held in the parish parking lot. But due to rain, nearby Presentation of Mary Academy allowed the church to host the concert in its school auditorium up the street.

After Mass, hundreds of kids walked up Lawrence Street, toward East Street, for the concert. Hip-hop artist Lukus Simari of Lowell was the headliner for the event. Talented and cool, Simari is also a Christian, Bertoni noted.

His appearance last night was just another way for the church "to meet kids where they are at," Bertoni said.

Life Teen also sponsors Monday night pizza and prayer meetings and a Friday night drop-in group for middle-schoolers. Kids are free to come by, watch movies, play video games and talk.

"They stay in church and stay out of trouble," said Bertoni, who noted he was involved with both drugs and alcohol when he was younger. The Randolph native said he received help and support from a youth ministry group, a program similar to St. Monica's Life Teen program.

Life Teen is bolstered by a core team of parent and youth volunteers. Kathy Jacobs, the mother of four grown children, is part of that team. She doesn't have any kids involved, but Jacobs still works with the program "because I had a son that had problems."

She said watching the teens develop their relationship with Christ and each other is just amazing.

"My heart is filled just watching these kids," she said.

Kowloon restaurant in Saugus donated the Chinese food for last night's event, Bertoni said.