Volume 1, Issue 3

Ladders Online for December 3, 2001

 

In this issue, please find the following:

 

THIS ADVENT, log onto www.cdow.org for great resources for your parish, school or team. After you log on, click the icon under the main menu (on the left hand side of your screen) for more information. Also, there is a great article in the December 2001 Catholic Update about making Christmas less commercialized. You can get your own copy at www.americancatholic.org/messenger/dec2000/feature3.asp#f3.

 

DURING NCYC, adults are encouraged to visit CARA. The Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University needs youth ministers and some of our youth to participate in FOCUS GROUPS that CARA is conducting during NCYC. The groups will focus on faith formation and spirituality in general and Scripture in particular. This is part of a project CARA is conducting for the Bishops' Conference. Stop by and see CARA's Senior Research Associates Sr. Mary Bendyna, RSM and Dr. Mary Gautier. There will be two focus groups each morning and afternoon on Friday and Saturday. Please contact them in advance at CARA@georgetown.edu or stop by and see them at the CARA Exhibit in Raceway Park.

 

MARCH FOR LIFE is January 22, 2002 and information/registration packets have been mailed. CYM is offering spaces on diocesan buses or to facilitate the arrangements for your parish or school buses. All are invited to meet at St. Matthew’s Church in Washington, DC at 9:30 as we celebrate life with a special Mass with Bishop Saltarelli. The March begins at 1:00 p.m. after a brown bag lunch. Please email ahoegen@cdow.org for more information.

 

MARYKNOLL YOUTH AWARD is available to 16 to 21 year olds who have organized a project for the needy in their area. More information about these $1,000 scholarships is available at www.maryknoll.org. Deadline is March 1, 2002.

 

ATHLETIC UPDATE: the basketball season is off to a great start and we appreciate your patience as we make our way through the mounds of paperwork generated by more than 250 teams this season (that’s more than 1300 games!). Don’t forget that Intermediate Boys (9th and 10th grade) Rosters and Parent Consent forms are due Monday, December 10, 2001 and Wrestling Rosters, Parent Consent forms and Physical Forms are due Monday, December 17, 2001. Wrestling season begins January 6, 2002.

 

If you or your parish still needs a copy of the SPORTSMANSHIP VIDEO, please email jmcnesby@cdow.org to make your request. Let’s all “Dare to be Different” as we encourage one another to respect our coaches, officials, opponents, and ourselves!

 

NEXUS UPDATE: last call for volunteers to help plan Nexus (set for March 10, 2002). Please email pdonovan@cdow.org to be added to the list. We are also looking for MUSICIANS who would like to share their talents (in song or instrument). All are welcome! Adults spread the word.

 

CYM STAFF UPDATE: Chris Flanigan, Secretary to the Director, will move to Catholic Charities effective December 10, 2001. Please join us in wishing Chris well in this new chapter of her life and in thanking her for sharing her many gifts with us during the past two years.

DID YOU KNOW? Crime and violence by youth are declining. Despite a steady growth in the juvenile population over the past decade, there has been a 23 percent drop in juvenile violent crime arrests since 1995.  In 1999, juveniles accounted for 16 percent of arrests for serious violent crime, down 8 percent from 1998. BUT Children are at a much greater risk of being the victims than the perpetrators of violent crime. Juveniles make up 12 percent of all crime victims reported to the police, including 71 percent of all sex crimes and 38 percent of all kidnapping victims.  One out of every 18 victims of violent crime, and one of every 3 victims of sexual assault, is under age 12.

Copyright 2001, Office for Catholic Youth Ministry.