Have you ever seen two people sitting at the same table in a restaurant yet never speaking a word to each other? The social dimension seems totally absent, the meal becomes nothing more than satisfying the body's need for food and drink. The readings for the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ urge us to see the Eucharistic meal as an experience of one another. The wheat and grapes embrace the entire planet as they become bread and wine; the bread and wine embrace all creation as they become the body and blood of Jesus. The gospel passage describes the multiplication of the loaves. Luke places this miracle immediately after Jesus' preaching about the kingdom of God, a kingdom where the needs of all are satisfied. Luke also makes it clear that this miracle has a Eucharistic dimension. The Eucharist is not a private devotion separate from the rest of our lives. In eating and drinking we commit ourselves to serve the Christ who is manifested in the needs and problems of our brothers and sisters around the world. -John Craghan, Th.D., S.S.L.
 

For you this week:

1. Congratulations to Joe McNesby, who has been certified as a Youth Sports Administrator by the Academy for Youth Sports Administration of the National Alliance for Youth Sports. Joe has led CYM Athletics for nearly 15 years.

2. Time is running out to send your young people to this year's Youth Leadership Institute at St. Andrew's in Middletown. Please register with CYM before June 18, 2004.

3. Want to save a life? The Catholic Diocese of Wilmington is again participating in the Summer Blood Challenge sponsored by the Blood Bank of Delaware and Maryland's Eastern Shore. To help, donate blood and fill out a hero card giving CDOW credit for your donation. The more points we collect, the more lives we save! If you don't want to (or can't) donate, how about participating in the 5k run/walk on July 24th? Email Shay Robb at the Blood Bank for more information. 

4. Does your parish have a Youth Ministry Team? It should!

5. Do you have an idea to share that will help create Effective Youth Ministry in your parish. See other ideas online too!

6. Looking for some educational opportunities this summer? LaSalle University will host a weeklong intensive training in youth ministry, complete with the latest trends, great program ideas, and an overview of the Millennial Generation. Graduate credit available and the class runs from July 19-23. For more info, call 215-957-1335 or email Fr. Frank Berna, OFM, Ph.D.

7. Have you signed up for the Silver Summer Seminar on June 16-17 at Padua Academy. This is a wonderful opportunity for all ministers to Renew, Refresh, and Revitalize. Keynote presenter will be internationally renowned author Tom Zanzig and his theme is Discipleship. For more information or to register see your parish DRE/CRE.

8. Do you have an announcement to share? Ladders Online is the official online newsletter for Catholic Youth Ministry. If you have news to share, visit the Ladders Online homepage and find out how to get the word out!

9. Do you know youth in need of service hours? Br. Michael Ascione is in the process of planning several work/service project days and would like to include local young people who are interested in helping on the more than 14 acres of grounds. Contact Brother Michael at 302-798-1454.

10. Anyone who is a new Coordinator/Director of Youth Ministry, a new DRE/CRE or a new AAP should make plans to attend an orientation and overview of For the Sake of God's Children on August 19, 2004. For more information, contact Sr. Suzanne Donovan, SC.

Quotable: "The purpose of life is not to be happy - but to matter, to be productive, to be useful, to have it make some difference that you have lived at all." ~Leo Rosten