Christmas Party

You are invited to the Youth Ministry Christmas Party on Saturday, December 5, 2009 from 7:00 - 9:30 pm in Burnett Hall. We are dreaming of a White Christmas so wear your white.

The peer ministers are cooking up a fun evening of games, movies, music, and food. This is sure to be a party not to be missed. Feel free to bring a friend or two.

Incorrupted Saints

When I as in High School I had the opportunity to serve at a shelter down the street from St. Peter the Apostle Church in Philadelphia. I had never seen a Saint in real life before. The lady whith whom I was working said that there was a real Saint in the church and you could see him but I didn't believe her. So, I went to check it out for myself before leaving for home.

As I stood before the glass encasement where St. John Neuman was laid to rest I still doubted that this could really be him. I thought it was a wax figure representing him. I went home with many doubts about what I had just seen but thought it was kinda cool never the less.

It wasn't until I became a Youth Minister that I began to understand the idea of incorrupted bodies of our Saints. Recently I came across this video on YouTube about the topic.

I hope that you take the 6 minutes and 58 seconds to learn a little bit more about some of our fastinating Saints.

Check out this video and consider the amazing love of our God to give us proof that He is God and never far from us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbMuB3leqKQ

Kick-off This weekend!

This year it has been hands off for the adult leaders when it comes to the Kick-off this year.

Our Peer Ministers have been working hard since August to make this an amazing start to the year. We all hope that you will join us immediately following the 6:00 pm Mass this Sunday in Burnett Hall and we'll conclude around 8:30 pm.

We look forward to seeing you there and bring a friend.

This blog post is for parents of teens

So, teens please forward this to your parents. Thanks.

You are invited to a networking opportunity for parents of teenagers this Friday, September 11. We begin with potluck dinner and conversation at 6:00 pm followed by guest speaker Bill Johnson at 7:00 pm with additional networking time at 8:30 pm.

Please bring a side dish, dessert or salad to share. We will take care of the main dish.

Bill Johnson is a youth consultant and ugest speaker for a variety of youth groups and organizations in the Chicagoland and Wisconsin areas. He has spent over 25 years working with teens and families in such areas as the Big Brother/Big Sister program, juvenile corrections, and youtha nd family ministry. Bill is married with two adult children and an ordained Deacon. He is presently serving as Director of Campus Ministry and Theology teacher at Marmion Academy in Aurora. Our teens have heard Bill Johnson speak at Large Group Gatherings, lastyears Liturgical Ministry Retreat, and most recently at the Youth Leadership Conference (YLC) at Lewis University.

We hope you will join us for this great opportunity.
Please, call me with any questions 708-326-9302.
Peace to you and your family.
Sarah j
Youth Ministry Director

Liturgical Ministry Training

Next Sunday, September 13 we will host a training day for all Liturgical Ministry positions. So if you have ever thought "how does one become a Eucharistic Minister?" This is the event to attend.

We are looking for teens who are interested in the areas of:
Eucharistic Ministry (must be confirmed)
Lector (reader)
Usher/Greeter
Altar Server/Sacristin
Teen Choir

All teens are invited to add to the energy of this Mass through their active participation both in the pews and in Liturgical roles.

To register for this training please complete the form at this link and get into the Youth Ministry Office as soon as possible.

See you there.
Sarah j

NCYC 2009

The National Catholic Youth Conference is a national gathering of High School age Catholics. This dynamic gathering is difficult to describe and even harder to forget. When I attended as a high school student in 1994 there were about 7,000 teens who gathered in Philadelphia this year there is an expected 20,000 teens to gather in Kansas City.

We will be going with the Diocese of Joliet. Details can be found on our website linked below.

The parish will subsidize $100 for each teen attending. We will also be raising some funds through our Car Wash on August 23 and participants can sell stock to raise additional funds.

Check out the video that recaps the last NCYC.

St. Mary Parish Picnic

Okay, so this past weekend we held an awesome retreat day for our new Peer Ministry team. They are so awesome! Keep an eye out for the great events that they are creating and planning. You're not gonna wanna miss a thing.

Anyway, at this meeting we were talking about the Parish Picnic that is to be held on August 30 in the park next to St. Mary after the noon mass and what would make this fun for teens. So, heres some of what the Peer Ministers have put into place just for teens:

A Bags Tournament - So bring your best team - Fun Prizes will be awarded
Whip Cream Pie Eating Contest - More Fun Prizes will be awarded

There will also be two fundraisers taking place during the picnic:
A 50/50 Raffle - So tell your parents to come out and support the ministry
Pie in the Face - To be more specific Sarah's Face - This you gotta buy a ticket for. I'm not gettin pied for nothin.

There's always lots of food and drinks. There's a DJ who does some fun games, usually with hoola hoops. There's slushies, popcorn, and ice cream.

This could be a lot of fun this year. We will be at the picnic from 1-2:30 with the fun. I hope that you will join us. See you on the 30th.

Alive in You!

We receintly returned from our Summer Mission trip to Appleton, WI. It was an amazing experience of service, learning about Catholic Social Teaching, Reconcilliation, Eucharistic Adoration, and whole bunch of fun. Thank you for your prayers while we were gone. Be joyful in knowing that your prayers were answered.

The Passing of Michael Jackson

The passing of pop icon Michael Jackson has truly effected me in a very personal and spiritual way. It comes at a time when I am also preparing for our summer Mission Trip and refreshing my mind of our lessons of Catholic Social Teaching.

I am and always have been a Michael Jackson fan. I don't always understand his actions, reactions, or choices but have always given him the benefit of the doubt, prayed for him, and to the best of my ability shown him compassion.

It amazed me this past week as I over heard various conversations, both in the office and out, how people were talking about Michael Jackson as an object, as something less than human. I was shocked when a coworker talked about how wrong it was for Michael to change his appearance so drastically no matter what the circumstance or though behind the decision was and that God would not approve of that (I summarize, of course). I was shocked of the lack of compassion for a man who during such formative years was scrutinized by the media and criticized about his natural looks. I don't know if there is anyone with enough self confidence to get through that type of scrutiny without some negative effects.

We as Catholics are directed by our Catholic Social Teaching to look upon ALL people as "created in God's image." By forgetting this during Michael's formative years we, as a christian society, let him down.

Michael Jackson's daughter Paris (yes, did we forget that he was a father and has children who are devistated by his passing?) reminded us of his humanity during the memorial service. It was a slap in the gut when she said, "Ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father I could imagine. I just want to say I love him so much." It takes an 11 year old girl, on the worst day of her life, to remind us what human dignity is all about.

I am ashamed for all of the times I forget to look at a celebrity, a convicted criminal, a person with a gun (soldiers and criminals alike), a "terorist", or any of the other people who are different than me, as a human person created in the image of God. For this I ask our Lord of compassion for forgiveness.

Just a point of fact:
Michael Jackson opened up the pathway for celebrities to support their causes in new ways. Aiding causes both financially and in raising awareness of the cause. Over the course of his lifetime Michael gave away over 500 million dollars to various causes. Some of these causes I agree with and some I don't. It doesn't matter though, he gave where his heart leaded him. I wish I could say the same.

This is a great video for "Heal the World". Michael Jackson doesn't even appear in it making the message about us not about him. A brilliant move and a great challenge to us. Have we accepted the challenge? How are you changing the world?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W61Q-EZ8R7M

YLC - CLC 2009

We were truly "Empowered by the Spirit" at the 2009 Youth Leadership Conference. Participants feel free to post your comments and experiences. We would love to hear how the Holy Spirit has set you on fire.

Check it out.

This weekends Gospel reading is Mark 25-34. It is the story of the woman who was so sick with hemorrhages for 12 years of her life. No one could help and gave her no hope. She saw Jesus walking by with the crowds around him. Knowing that He could heal her she touched the end of his robe. She was healed. Jesus feeling the healing powers leave Him, He asked who touched him. When the woman came forward, Jesus said to her, "Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction."

Question of the week:
Who inspires you by how they take initiative and show courage for their faith?
When have you shown initiative or courage in acting on your faith?

Please post your answers so that we may all gain strength from your journey. Thank you.

Check out pictures from NDVI

Confession 101 - part one | Busted Halo

Confession 101 - part one | Busted Halo

Shared via AddThis

You are better than you think you are...

auction auction everywhere....

There are auction items all over my office, in storage, in my car. It is awesome. People from all over the parish and all over Mokena, Frankfort, and New Lenox have donated items and services to this auction. Check it out! We are on the web with our auction.

http://stmarymokena.cmarket.com

Get your bids in now. People are bidding like crazy. Sr. Dolores is a little depressed though because the bidding has been low on the "Dinner with the Sisters." Check it out dinner for 4 from Sr. Dolores and Sr. Rose Marie at their awesome home. It will be a steal at a $100.

OMGoodness! There is also Pizza for a year from Nancy's Pizza. You can get a pizza every month. How cool is that.

And then there's the $750 scholarship at Huntington Learning Center. Awesome!!! You can get your SAT/ACT test prep at a fraction of the cost.

Check out the website and then join us for dinner on March 14th when the final bidding takes place. Get your tickets now at the Parish Office.

Notre Dame Vision (NDVI)

NDVI is a conference for HIgh School Students at the University of Notre Dame. St. Mary will be attending as a group June 15 - 19, 2009. There is additional information about this at: http://stmarymokena.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/aa_Website_info_-_NDVI_2009.27134217.pdf

All students who will be in high school in the fall of 2009 are invited. That means current 8th graders.

Peace,
Sarah j