Greetings, from the Diocesan Office of Youth Ministry!
The school bells have run and perhaps you are breathing a sigh of relief; or maybe it is more hectic than ever in this time of transition for so many. With summer winding down, we turn our thoughts toward Fall and the crisp weather, football games, apple cider, and more. It won't be long!
There are a number of informational pieces I want to share with you as we say farewell to August and turn our sights on the many "youth ministry adventures" that await us. Please note the following:
Parish Postings
Here are a few items of information that I wanted to share regarding youth ministry events at the parish level:
August 30th - Back-to-School Mass at Corpus Christi Parish in Shiloh. All are invited. Time is 6 P.M. Mass will take place in their Parish Center located at 205 Rasp Street.
September 23-24 - Doug Brummell, popular Catholic speaker and entertainer, will bring his "Lighten Up" Ministry to St. Stephen Parish in Caseyville. Event begins each evening at 6:47 sharp!
September 26 - St. Jospeh in Marion is hosting CTC 2009 (Catholic Teen Conference). Featured Speaker is Sara McGinnis Lee with music by Karl Zimmerman and the Band. For additional information, contact: Catholicteenconference@verizon.net.
Other Happenings in the Community
September 12 - Festival of Faiths and Cultures at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows. Here's a chance for your youth group to experience traditional music and dance from various cultures as wll as "taste the world" at the International Food Court. Event runs from 10 A.M. to 6 P.M. Admission is free. For more information, visit them online at: www.snows.org/festival.
September 26-27 - Youth Day Celebration at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, Belleville. Saturday is for Junior High Youth and Sunday is for Senior High Youth Register by September 17th. For additional information, call 618-394-6286.
October 11-12 - "Prayer and Worship" course as part of the Youth Ministry Certificate Program presented at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows. This workshop targets adults who work with youth. Cost is $215.00 and includes tuition, books, handouts, a continental breakfast and Sunday lunch. For more information, contact Aquinas Institute at 314-977-3869.
Diocesan-sponsored Youth Ministry Events
November 19-22 - National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) in Kansas City; Mo. Nearly 275 youth and their adults leaders have registered for this wonderful experience which captures the spirit of the Young Catholic Church in the United States. There are a few openings available for registration but you must act fast. For information, e-mail: oym@diobelle.org, or call 618-235-9601, Ext. 146.
March 13-14, 2010 - Diocesan Youth Conference (DYC 2010) will take place at the Gateway Center in Collinsville IL. Theme is "Based in Faith" and Jesse Manibusan will headline this event. Mark your calendars now and plan to be with us. This Conference targets high school youth. We encourage you to post the attached promotional flyer on your church bulletin board.
April 25, 2010 - It's our first Diocesan Junior High Rally at the Holiday Inn located in Mt. Vernon IL. Theme is "Catch the Spirit" and Oddwalk Ministries will be the featured presenters. Cost is $30.00 per person and includes lunch. Registration materials will be available in the coming months but we have attached a promotional flyer to get you started. This is a great opportunity for your parish's 6th, 7th and 8th grade students. You don't want to miss it!
August 11-22, 2011 - International World Youth Day Pilgrimage to Madrid, Spain. Here's your chance to celebrate with a global faith community. This event targets those 18 to 35 so we encourage you to spread the word among those young adults that you know who may be seeking an international adventure that will strengthen their faith. Youth 16 and over may attend with special provisions. See attached flyer for additional details including payment plan and spread the word within your parish community.
October 15-16 - Confirmation Rally at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows. Event features Mr. Eric Sova, national presenter and musician. Fee is $6.00 per person and chaperone are free. Contact the Shrine at 618-394-6286 for additional details.
Helpful Reminders & Resources
Please continue to check the website of the Diocese of Belleville for information on Diocesan Child Protection trainings. There are a number of sessions upcoming that will cover Initial Child Protection which gives your parish the opportunity to get your newest youth ministry volunteers on board. You may visit the Diocesan website at: www.diobelle.org to check the listing of trainings, or contact your Parish Location Coordinator for details.
HUNGER AWARENESS: Catholic Relief Services (CRS) invites all of our parishes and their youth to get involved in FoodFast, a 24-hour hunger awareness program for Catholic youth. Youth will learn about food security and explore the principles of solidarity. You can obtain free materials to get your group going by contacting Catholic Relief Services at: www.foodfast.org.
We invite you visit and explore our Diocesan Office of Youth Ministry website. Note that we post these Resource Updates on a regular basis. So if you've missed them or have just come on board; it's not too late to find what you need. Visit our site at: www.diobelleoym.catholicweb.com.
We hope you will find these resources helpful. Please feel free to call upon our Office if we can be of service to you and your youth ministry. God bless you for all that you do and thank you for helping to build the Young Catholic Church here in Southern Illinois because you also help to build a Kingdom!
Don't forget to take a moment for yourself during these busy days. We'll be back with more helpful resources soon!
