January 5, 2006
-Ministries Weekend Registration
-National Study of Youth and Religion
-Coaches Training
-Youth Ministry Access: Free Trial
-Immigration Presentation
-Quotable
-March for Life Information
-A Rose and a Prayer
-Via Cruces Casting Call
-Wanted: Your Opinion
-Reel Talk
-Quick Quiz

Death and Life are in the Power of the Tongue

I'm sorry...I didn't mean it. I take it back. Strike it from the record.

What is as irreversible as murder, violates its victims more than theft, is as deadly as an epidemic? And is a lot closer to you than you want to think?

Gossip, slander, and thoughtless speech. Gossip is a million dollar industry in our country today. We tend to think of it as a sport, harmless and fun. After all, it's only words.

As Christians, we are called to see it differently. Which it worse, we must ask, to steal from someone or to speak ill of someone? To defraud a person or to humiliate him? Answer: Property can be restored, but the damage done to another can never be undone. In fact, our Jewish ancestors compared slander and humiliation with murder: the destruction is irreparable and enduring.

You can't take it back. What we say about each other is terribly powerful: words have a long, long half-life, and they can destroy in unseen, unhealable ways.

Our words are a footprint we leave for the world. What will they reveal about the way we treat our children, our parents, our friends, students, co-workers, employees? How we treat ourselves?

It's a new year. Perhaps none of us will find a cure for cancer, of feed the world's homeless, or bring about world peace. But nearly every day we find ourselves with someone's reputation or sense of worth in our hands.

We can improve our world in a powerful, pervasive way; we can act as though our words had the power of life and death. They do.

 

 

Ministries Weekend: Register Now!
Ministries Weekend, now in its second year, is an opportunity for leaders and volunteers in several ministries to come together to learn, share their faith journeys, and spend time together reflecting on our shared call to serve. Those who serve our parishes and schools as catechists, youth ministry volunteers, family life committee members, liturgical leaders, and parish social ministers are especially invited to share in this weekend experience. For complete details and registration information, click here. Hurry, the deadline for reduced registration rates is ending January 13th.

 

NSYR In-service Scheduled

As you might have read in a recent issue of The Dialog (read article), the NSYR provides youth ministry volunteers, coaches, parents, and all those who work with young people valuable information about how young people see themselves, their faith, their parents, and more. Don't miss a chance to unpack the survey with the experts on Friday, March 24, 2006 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Bear, DE. Registration is now open. For more information on the in-service, click here.

 

Youth Ministry Access Free 30 Day Trial
The Center for Ministry Development's (CMD) Youth Ministry Access program offers timely, relevant, and easy-to-implement programs for parish youth ministry and high school campus ministry programs.  The content of the material is catechetically sound and is practical and flexible in all respects.  CMD is now pleased to offer a FREE 30 day trial of this outstanding service.  If you would like to take advantage of this offer, e-mail program coordinator Cheryl Tholke with the following info: Your Name/Parish or School/Diocese/Address Info (including Phone and Fax numbers)/Month during which you would like your FREE subscription to begin.

CYM Coaches Training for 2006

The fall sessions of the coaches training received rave reviews.  If you didn't attend one of those sessions, please mark your calendar for the next training, scheduled for Monday, February 6th.  Keynote presenter is Jack Holloway, a legend in the Delaware sports community. Please note: this training is required once every three years. All CYM coaches must attend a training session during the 2005-2006 program year. To download a flyer for the spring sessions, click here.

The Line in the Sand

The Line in the Sand: Stories from the U.S. / Mexico Border:  This program is sponsored by CRS and is presented in partnership with the Villanova University.  The students involved have conducted interviews with migrants, ranchers, Mexican and U.S. government officials, and others. Following the presentation, the audience will be invited to provide feedback and to discuss the issues involved in immigration today.  Presented locally by Parish Social Ministry Office (PSM), in conjunction with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) on Monday, January 30, 2006 at 7:00PM at Padua Academy in Wilmington.  Admission is free.  For more information contact Andy Zampini.

Quotable

If we could all hear one another's prayers, God might be relieved of some of his burdens. ~Ashleigh Brilliant

March for Life Info

This year's Rally for Life/Youth Mass and March for Life will be held on Monday, January 24th in Washington, DC.  CYM is pleased to provide a variety of information for your use and distribution. Last year hundreds of young people from the Diocese of Wilmington attended this hope-filled event. Click here for links to everything you'll need to plan your trip.  A special note on transportation: if your parish/school/group is reserving a bus to travel to Washington and anticipate that you may have room available to accommodate other participants (or if you need spaces) please make sure you fill out the Contact form as soon as possible. Also this year, if your parish or school would like 'official' Diocese of Wilmington headbands to wear for the March, please send your request via the appropriate form.

A Rose and A Prayer Campaign

All are encouraged to support the A Rose and a Prayer campaign to block passage of SB 80 in the Delaware General Assembly. This proposed legislation, if passed, would legalize the destruction of human embryos and allow human cloning for medical research. You may help by signing up for one hour of prayer on 1/9/2006-a day reserved particularly for prayerful support of this effort by young adults in the diocese. To sign up for an hour of prayer contact Francisco Gonzalez.

Via Crucis Casting Call

The annual Lenten tradition of the Via Crucis continues in 2006.  The narrated pantomime presentation of the Lord's Passion includes a cast of more than 130 student from area high schools.  This traditional passion play is presented on Ash Wednesday and on Fridays during Lent at 7:30pm in St. Anthony of Padua Church in Wilmington.  Sign-ups for the 2006 cast will take place on Sunday 1/8 and 1/15 at 2:00pm at St. Anthony’s Church (9th and DuPont Streets).  For more information contact Maria Finamore.

Wanted: Your Opinion

With this issue, we're adding a new item to Ladders Online. We'll ask a question and you tell your opinion. There are no prizes, except that you get to help shape ministry to our young Church!

This issue: What do you feel is important to learn about ministry to and with our Hispanic brothers and sisters? Email CYM with your response.

 

Reel Talk

Looking for a movie the whole family can enjoy? How about a movie filled with scenes that can spark discussion, laughter, and maybe even some tears? Try Saint Ralph, available now on VHS and DVD. If you have a movie to suggest, email CYM.

 

Quick Quiz
Congratulations to Judy Krajewski, JV basketball coach at St. John the Beloved for correctly answering Pope Julius the 1st as the person who officially designated December 25th as Christmas Day.

 

This week: How many young people (approximately) participate in CYM sports? A)1,500 B)3,000 C)5,000 or D)8,000 Email your answer to CYM today!

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