Christmas is coming...

ohmygoodness!
Where has the time gone? I can't believe it has been seven months since I have last updated this blog. My appologies to any of the two of you who might find this blog interesting and missed the updates.
:-)

This weekend is our annual Christmas Party. All are welcome to join us following the 6:00 pm Mass in Burnett Hall for food, fun, music, and dancing. The cost is only $5.00 and all proceeds go to the youth ministry.

We will be decorating in the afternoon from 2-5 pm if you would like to join the decorating party contact me in the office.

Have a great day!

I am soooo excited...

I am so excited about next year's Youth Ministry. I have been working on scheduling, programming, special events, Peer Ministry, Liturgical Ministry, Service and Social Justice Ministry, the list is endless. I can't wait to get this all underway. The Lord is sending us such amazing volunteers (are you one?) with wonderful gifts that are so beneficial to our Ministry.

Keep your eyes open to your mail boxes as the registration for the 2008-2009 school year should be arriving the week of May 19th. Make sure that you complete the Youth Ministry Registration form as well as the Permission/Medical form.

ohmygoodness! This is going to be so much fun!
Sarah j

PASS Hike for Life 2008

PASS (Pregnancy Aid South Suburb) network of life-affirming care reclaims life through prevention, intervention, housing, and restoration ministries. Our desire is to see the men and women in our communities restored to a right relationship with Jesus Christ and placed on the path with a firm foundation.

Join us in our mission to "Reclaim Life" by participating int he PASS network of life-affirming care Hike for Life 2008! The hike begins at 8:00 am on Saturday, May 10th at Peace Luthern Church in Frankfort.

To find out more or to donate check out:http://pass.ewalk.org/

Let us help the mother who chose life for her child through great difficulty.
If you plan to go connect with Mrs. Farhat to meet up with St. Mary teens.

Senior Citizens Prom a BIG Hit!

Ohmygosh!
I have been bombarded by e-mail and phone messages telling me how amazing the Smith Crossing Seniors Prom went last week. Congratulations to all who helped maket this event possible. Andrew G. for bringing the music. The seniors loved all the music you played even the modern music they appreciated.

One of the messages I received was from the Volunteer Coordinator at Smith Crossing who was extremely impressed with the "adult manners" that each teen portrayed as well as "their ability to ask the seniors to dance with them without being pushy."

If I hadn't been in Florida I might be more upset that I wan't there ;-]

Mrs. DeLuca will be doing a Viva Las Vagas night next month on May 16th. Wanna go? Drop her a line at barb.deluca@hotmail.com

I am extremely pleased with the way the Bingo nights have transformed and you with it. Thank you for making the lives of these people happy. I am proud of you.

Discovery 2008

This was such an awesome weekend. A special thank you to each one of you for making it so special and spirit filled.

There has been a lot of comments happening through the Facebook network. If you have Facebook check out St. Mary's Youth Ministry page and the Discovery 2008 group.

Our next Discovery Weekend will take place on November 7-9. Hope you will be able to join us for the first time or the second time or the third time or even the fourth time.

This weekend...

This weekend we will Discover our burried treasure.

Our team has been working very hard on this retreat for three months. And it is going to be AWESOME! I am so excited! I have never been on a Discovery Retreat before.

Keep us in your prayers.
Sarah j

Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner and Auction

Tickets can be picked up at the office Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. All active youth ministry participants are expected to sell 5 tickets to fulfill one of their fundraising commitments.

There will be dancing and music by Ryan Myrda and friends. The auction always has awesome items from local stores, restaurants, and professional offices. Our local friendly leprauchan is also looking for loose change to fill his pot o' gold at the end of the rainbow.

Proceeds from this fundraiser go to help youth minsitry provide amazing programming and opportunities for teens to grow in their faith and community responsibility. Some of the teens helping out will be attending our annual summer mission trip to help those less fortunate. Other teens will be attending the Notre Dame Vision Conference where they will meet other Catholics from across the country and begin to discern where God is calling them.

So, stop on by and get your tickets today.

Discovery 08

This annual amazing retreat will take place April 4-6, 2008. This retreat is totally run by a teen leadership team. AMAZING! It's a great place to meet new friends and to get involved. This is an awesome opportunity to get involved and meet others who are active in youth ministry. So, join us for a weekend of digging up our burried treasure.

More information and registration forms can be downloaded at www.digitup08.com.

Space is limited and going to fill up quickly so get your permission form and payment in as soon as possible. All forms are due no later than March 1st.

Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner and Auction

Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner: March 8, 2008 at 6:00 pm in Burnett Hall. This annual youth ministry fundraiser includes great traditional Irish Corned Beef dinner with an optional meal for children, a silent auction, Hughes Academy of Irish Dancers, and a time for fellowship. The youth need your help and support to participate in our “Summer Construction Series” which includes a mission trip to the Twin Cities, MN and to the Notre Dame Vocations Conference on the campus of the fighting Irish. Details and ticket information will be available shortly. Check the youth ministry Bulletin Board for updates.

Snapfish...

Check it out...
There are new pictures on Snapfish. Check it out at
http://stmarymokena.snapfish.com/comcast

Trivia:
Sarah's favorite food is Popcorn. She could eat it for every meal. I think that she actually did once...

How can failure be good?

Yeah, failure! Thank you Lord. I can’t spell very well, I’m slightly over weight, and I cry when celebrities are in serious trouble and when they die. Thank you Lord for my short temper, passionate emotions, and my ignorance. Thank you Lord for my imperfect yet significant life. Thank you Lord for reminding me today, through these readings and through these amazing imperfections, that I am perfect in You. Thank you Lord for spell check, the money to buy food, and compassion to see celebrities as an important life created in Your image. Thank you Lord for showing me how to use my anger, emotions, and compassion to promote Your world of love and life. For teaching me to ask questions and to continue a life of learning, I thank you Lord for opening wide the door of possibilities. Woohoo, I am chosen and so are you, failures and all.

Save the cheerleader...

Everybody needs a good cheerleader, even Jesus Himself, and boy was His cheerleader awesome. If Jesus was having a bad day John the Baptist could raise His spirits real quick. John the Baptist warms up the crowds for Jesus in today’s Gospel. Right here and right now we are witness to the beginning of a great political rally. The Savior of mankind is here. It is our charge to open our hearts and homes to Him. Over the next couple of weeks we will hear some great political speeches given by Jesus. And His cheerleader, John the Baptist, gives us comfort by reminding us that the Jesus forgives us and gives us hope for an amazing future. Everybody needs a cheerleader. If you are not someone’s cheerleader, find someone today and cheer him or her on.

Just a thought...

Have you ever gotten an invitation to a gathering, party, group that made you feel important? You smiled as soon as you received the invitation? This week you are being given the ultimate invitation. This is an invitation that if you accept it you will have to ‘step up’. It’s kinda scary but exciting at the same time. In the first reading you are invited to be a hero. God has given you all you need to know to be a hero, to help people, to save them from harm. You are all that is needed. Just you. Do you accept?