Friday, October 3, 2003

I got a free calendar in the mail last year and it's been hanging on my refrigerator for a little more than 9 months now. Apparently it was poorly edited, since September was given 31 days. I glanced at it every day for a month only to be disappointed the other day when I realized I had to move to October a day early. Tempus fugit indeed!

For this week, we offer you the following:

  1. Time is running out to sign up for Kommotion, our diocesan rally for junior high students. Please send your registration information in via fax or online by October 12th.

  2. Tomorrow, October 4th, is the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. Why not invite young people (and adults) to use this feast day as an opportunity to focus on Christian peacemaking. Consider using this pledge of nonviolence in your ministry.

  3. Don't forget to register for the next class for youth ministry volunteers. Youth Ministry Institute will host "Sharing the Treasure: Introduction to Catechesis with Young People" on October 11th. Registration is open until October 10th.

  4. If you have young people attending NCYC in November, please remind them of the Parents' Meeting on October 20th at Holy Cross in Dover. Also, invite them to visit Disciples Now. Tell them to look in the upper right hand corner...and see the section on Ambassadors...this is a chance for some young people from the diocese to get and give away some free stuff during NCYC

  5. October 26, 2003, has been designated as the national celebration of World Youth Sunday by the U.S. bishops. This month's Pastors Mailing will contain great information promoting parish celebrations. Copies are also being sent to Associate Pastors. If they won't share, contact CYM and ask for your own copy!

  6. The Archdiocese of Baltimore is hosting a training day on Self-Injury. The The keynoter is Dr. Maria Rodowski from the Kennedy-Kreiger Institute. In recent years, 'cutting' has become more prevalent among young people. Attending this session will help you to know how to respond. The session is December 6, 2003 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. Joseph Church in Cockeysville, Maryland. The cost is $30. 

  7. If you're involved in youth ministry and are looking for a weekend away to relax, check out the Chesapeake Bay Conference.

  8. Do you have young people on your team or in your class or just sitting in the pew? Have any of them received their driver's license recently? Did you know that CYM will send you a Key Chain and a prayer card signed by Bishop Saltarelli that you can present to them? Email CYM and give us the names of the young people or stop by and pick up some key chains and cards today!

Quotable: "It is not fitting, when one is in God's service, to have a gloomy face or a chilling look...Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible." St. Francis of Assisi.