1...2...3...DODGEBALL!!!

Hey Everyone,

We had a great time playing dodgeball last night. About 15 teens showed up and got a decent workout. Some got bored and ended up trying to get locked into the freezer (see picture below).

Be sure to join us for our next Youth Group gathering on Tuesday, April 24th. We'll be putting on our "poker" faces for an evening of "Texas Hold 'Em".

Here are some pictures from last night:

DODGEBALL!

Join us on Tuesday, March 27th for DODGEBALL! We'll play starting at 6pm in the Selinger Centre Gym (212 Broadway in Jeff). Pizza and drinks will be provided and we'll be done at around 8pm. Be sure to bring your friends. Contact Shannon if you have any questions.

2007 National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC)

Join us over the dates of November 8-11, 2007 for this exciting event for Catholic teens!

Matt Maher Live at CCHS - Just Like You

Come see Matt Maher at the Newman Center in Columbia on Friday, January 26th at 7:30pm! Tickets are $10 at the door. See Shannon for details.

Chris Padgett and Jesse Manibusan dance off

This video comes from the National Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry, held in Las Vegas, Nevada November 30-December 3rd of this year. Chris Padgett and Jesse Manibusan are both Spirit and Song artists, have keynoted many youth rallies and conferences, and are among the most popular Catholic performers in the country. The singer is Joia Farmer, performing "Live 4 You" from her latest CD, Before and Afterlife. Enjoy!

The Loss of a Friend

When I was in high school, the youth ministry programming for the Belleville Diocese (where I lived) was organized asthe Catholic Youth Organization or C.Y.O. Our diocese did a great job of offering faith-building opportunities for high school students.

One of the things that made our diocese great was that each deanery had it's own youth ministry organizational structure as well. It's like a state and it's counties. These deaneries provided additional youth ministry events to help us get closer to God and connect with the life of the Church.

The lay person in charge of our diocese was Mary Hirl. Mary was a lively woman who cared deeply for the teens and their faith. She worked very hard and is partly responsible for my entry into the world of youth ministry.

Mary Hirl passed away today. I don't have more details than that, but the news makes me very sad. Please keep Mary and her family in your prayers this week.

-Shannon

Make a Difference

In the Gospels, Jesus calls us to look after the poor and marginalized members of our society. The problems in our world, however, can be so overwhelming, that we can often feel like there isn't anything we can do. Using the gifts God gave us, though, is how we are called to serve God and the Church. Teenagers can help to create a better world simply by saying yes to God's call. Click here for stories of teens making a difference in their communities. The link and the stories come to us courtesy of Disciples Now.com.

Preparing for Mass?!?!

Hey Everyone!

Did you know that there's a rhyme and reason to what readings you hear at Mass?

The First Reading always come from the Old Testament. The exception to that is during the Easter Season when those readings always come from the Acts of the Apostles.

The Responsorial Psalm is always done in response to the First Reading. For instance: If the First Reading is about how God saved the Israelites from some sort of peril, the Responsorial Psalm will probably be a song of praise and thanks to God for getting them out of trouble.

The Second Reading always comes from the Epistles (letters).

The Gospel Reading always comes from one of the Four Gospels (thanks Captain Obvious!) It will often reference the First Reading. For instance: Let's say the First Reading comes from Isaiah 61: 1-2:

The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
because the LORD has anointed me;
He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly,
to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners,
To announce a year of favor from the LORD and a day of vindication by our God,
to comfort all who mourn;

If that's the case, you're likely to hear Luke 4: 17-21:

He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up,

and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day.

He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.

He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind,

to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord."

Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down,

and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.
He said to them, "Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing."

There is a beauty and an interconnectedness to the readings at Mass and, as Catholics, we believe that Jesus is present in The Word. Truly, Jesus IS the Word.

If you would like the readings for an upcoming Mass, you can find them on the U.S Bishop's website. All you need to do is bookmark:

http://www.usccb.org/nab/index.shtml

Doing this will help you to be more prepared to participate in the most important thing we do as Catholics, the Mass!

The Great High Street SCAVENGER HUNT!

Join us on Wednesday, November 15th for a fun evening filled with great detective work, cool prizes, food, music, and prayer. The Great High Street Scavenger Hunt will commence at 6pm at the St. Peter Parish Life Center. The hunt will take us up and down High Street looking for clues, competing against other teams of youth, and collecting great prizes.

Once we're finished, we'll head back to the Parish Life Center for food, music, and prayer.

Although this event is being planned as the once-a-month Youth Group activity for St. Peter Parish teens, any and all high school students are welcome to join us.

For more information, contact KellyBezler at 584-6701 or kbezler@stpeterjc.org You can also contact Shannon Cerneka at 636-7002 or scerneka@stpeterjc.org

Unrealistic Lifestyle or Sainthood

St. Dominic Savio...lived in Italy...followed the teachings of Christ and the Church with unbelievable dedication...died at at 15 from tuberculosis...15 YEARS OLD!!

Click here to read more...could this be you?