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  Wednesday, May 31, 2006 
Grups
This is an obituary for the generation gap. It is a story about 40-year-old men and women who look, talk, act, and dress like people who are 22 years old. It’s not about a fad but about a phenomenon that looks to be permanent. Read more here. [culture]
pod-cast four
A pod-cast from the road: Originally recorded at the National Catholic Education Association annual convention in Atlanta, Georgia on April 19th.  It has been edited down with audience participation (which you couldn’t hear them anyway) deleted.  (Beside, the audience should get its own pod-cast!!!) Anyway, if you can listen to a pod-cast and view a power point (and chew gum???) at the same time, click on the Carpe Manana: Charting the Future of Adolescent Catechesis power point and follow along. Enjoy!  [blogging]

  Tuesday, May 30, 2006 
departure
Amongst the many other things I did this weekend, when I was not writing as I should have been, I attended a graduation party and a Memorial Day event.  At both parties was a dear family in the parish who are about to move out-of-state. If feels as if they are about to take the glue out of our community and apply their personal brand of Christianity stickiness elsewhere. [parish]

  Monday, May 29, 2006 
desire for a house
My friends, in the heart of every man there is the desire for a house. Even more so in the young person’s heart there is a great longing for a proper house, a stable house, one to which he can not only return with joy, but where every guest who arrives can be joyfully welcomed. There is a yearning for a house where the daily bread is love, pardon and understanding. It is a place where the truth is the source out of which flows peace of heart. There is a longing for a house you can be proud of, where you need not be ashamed and where you never fear its loss. Read more of the Pope’s address to young people in Krakow here. [pope]
Where Has the weekend Gone?
Laundry, naps, Hurricane Nichole recovery, very slow going editing, breaking an anti-blog promise, naps, graduation party, farmer’s market shopping, naps.  [blogging]
Heroic aScent?
Apparently the teachings of Luke 10:25-37 are lost when you have your own summit experience before you. See the video here. [culture]
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
Mahatma Gandhi, as you know, walked barefoot most of the time, which produced an impressive set of calluses on his feet. He also ate very little, which made him rather frail and with his odd diet, he suffered from bad breath. This made him (oh, man, this is so bad, it’s good)…A super-calloused fragile mystic hexed by halitosis. [funny business]

  Friday, May 26, 2006 
Where Did June Go???
Just tried to schedule a meeting in June.  Turns out I only have two and one-half days available for it.  What happened???  This turned ugly real quick.   To my few occasional readers, I’m heading off for an in-home vacation.  I hope it brings me to the end of draft four.  I hope to go off-line (read as off-blog as well) a bit to hone in on the writing tasks before me. Hope to post up another e-newsletter, hope to put up another power point, and hope to edit a pod-cast before I hope to return to these pages. Hope, hope, hope. . . If you get a moment, pray for positive and penultimate Pentecost-al pinnacle possibilities for me!!! Countdown to Pentecost: 9 days. [blogging]

  Thursday, May 25, 2006 
hurricane season started early
Somebody please call FEMA, I think it’s safe to call my place a disaster area. Hurricane Clark has blown in and blown out of the apartment.  (See moving in, moving out below.) Now comes the clean up effort.  [family and friends]
the tradition continues
Pope goes to visit a foreign land.  Pope visits national leaders. Pope visits shrines.  Etc., etc. oh, yea- Pope visits with young people. John Paul’s unique mission with young people continues as Benedict hangs out with kids Saturday night at Blonie Park in Krakow. Read more here. [pope]

  Wednesday, May 24, 2006
BALTiversary
And a year ago, fifteen days after the interview, I accepted the position at ArchBalt. I honored the day yesterday by filing and creating a two-page "to-do" list.  I’m well underway on all the original projects envisioned but am better paced on them for the collaborative efforts with the field.  There are entire other projects that have been well engaged as well.  It’s been a good eleven months.  [work day]
moving in, moving out
A sleepy Clark invaded the joint last night. Found him asleep embracing the laptop this morning.  He’s completing papers for school, doing laundry, paying car insurance (ok, I’m paying that), moving out of the dorms, cleaning dorm, moving into the apartment, packing bags, and moving to Denver for the Totus Tuus program – all before 6am Thursday. Ahhh, the miracle of drinking Red Bull and delaying sleep until the long airplane ride.   [family and friends]

  Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Costello calls to a buy a computer from Abbott. . .
ABBOTT: Abbott’s computer store. Can I help you?
COSTELLO: Thanks. I’m setting up an office in my den and I’m thinking about buying a computer.
ABBOTT: Mac?
COSTELLO: No, the name’s Lou.
ABBOTT: Your computer?
COSTELLO: I don’t own a computer. I want to buy one.
ABBOTT: Mac?
COSTELLO: I told you, my name’s Lou.
ABBOTT: What about Windows?
COSTELLO: Why?? Will it get stuffy in here?
ABBOTT: Do you want a computer with Windows?
COSTELLO: I don’t know. What will I see when I look at the windows?
ABBOTT: Wallpaper.
COSTELLO: Never mind the windows. I need a computer and software.
ABBOTT: Software for Windows?
COSTELLO: No. On the computer! I need something I can use to write proposals, track expenses and run my business. What do you have
ABBOTT: Office.
COSTELLO: Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend anything?
ABBOTT: I just did.
COSTELLO: You just did what?
ABBOTT: Recommend something.
COSTELLO: You recommended something?
ABBOTT: Yes.
COSTELLO: For my office?
ABBOTT: Yes.
COSTELLO: OK, what did you recommend for my office?
ABBOTT: Office.
COSTELLO: Yes, for my office!
ABBOTT: I recommend Office with Windows.
COSTELLO: I already have an office with windows! OK, let’s just say I’m sitting at my computer and I want to type a proposal. What do I need?
ABBOTT: Word.
COSTELLO: What word?
ABBOTT: Word in Office.
COSTELLO: The only word in office is office.
ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows.
COSTELLO: Which word in office for windows?
ABBOTT: The Word you get when you click the blue "W".
COSTELLO: I’m going to click your blue "w" if you don’t start with some straight answers. OK, forget that. Can I watch movies on the Internet?
ABBOTT: Yes, you want Real One.
COSTELLO: Maybe a real one, maybe a cartoon. What I watch is none of your business. Just tell me what I need!
ABBOTT: Real One.
COSTELLO: If it’s a long movie, I also want to watch reels 2, 3 and 4. Can I watch them?
ABBOTT: Of course.
COSTELLO: Great! With what?
ABBOTT: Real One.
COSTELLO: OK, I’m at my computer and I want to watch a movie. What do I do?
ABBOTT: You click the blue "1".
COSTELLO: I click the blue one what?
ABBOTT: The blue "1".
COSTELLO: Is that different from the blue w?
ABBOTT: The blue "1" is Real One and the blue "W" is Word.
COSTELLO: What word?
ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows.|
COSTELLO: But there are three words in "office for windows"!
ABBOTT: No, just one. But it’s the most popular Word in the world.
COSTELLO: It is?
ABBOTT: Yes, but to be fair, there aren’t many other Words left. It pretty much wiped out all the other Words out there.
COSTELLO: And that word is real one?
ABBOTT: Real One has nothing to do with Word. Real One isn’t even part of Office.
COSTELLO: STOP! Don’t start that again. What about financial bookkeeping? You have anything I can track my money with?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: That’s right. What do you have?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: I need money to track my money?
ABBOTT: It comes bundled with your computer.
COSTELLO: What’s bundled with my computer?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: Money comes with my computer?
ABBOTT: Yes. No extra charge.
COSTELLO: I get a bundle of money with my computer? How much?
ABBOTT: One copy.
COSTELLO: Isn’t it illegal to copy money?
ABBOTT: Microsoft gave us a license to copy Money.
COSTELLO: They can give you a license to copy money?
ABBOTT: Why not? THEY OWN IT!

(A few days later…)
ABBOTT: Abbott’s computer store. Can I help you?
COSTELLO: How do I turn my computer off?
ABBOTT: Click on "START."  (All courtesy of www.mikeysFunnies.com) [funny business]

  Monday, May 22, 2006
adventures in missing the point
Saw the DaVinci Code last night.  It wasn’t as slow as much as the reviewers indicate, unless you were comparing it to Mission Impossible III. It was faster paced than the dreadful Sentinel, which failed my caused me to nap test.
There was, however, some stereotyping, mischaracterization, and demonizing of Catholic stuff that even Kevin Smith in Dogma didn’t screw up.  We may be a human church that deals with some characters overwhelmed by pride or greed, but we still operate under a code of our own.  In the end (in life and in cinema), we are a faithful church ready to be a community of support for one another. [culture]
Further adventures in missing the point
"In Brown’s scheme, the Gnostics are also the suppressed source of the true account of Jesus’ marriage to Mary Magdalene. In reality, the Gnostics’ negativity about the body includes a dim view of procreation and the sexual activity that went with it. Usually in their writings Jesus is the ideal ascetic who models for his followers a disdain for bodily appetites. So, the marriage of Jesus and Mary Magdalene isn’t just antithetical to Orthodox accounts. It goes against the Gnostic grain, too — if anything more so." Read more here. [church]

  Sunday, May 21, 2006
The pope’s organist
That’s one heck of a job description.  So, why fake it? Read more here. [church]

  Saturday, May 20, 2006
alumni of the week
Cindy Sheehan is the founder of Gold Star Families for Peace and the grieving war-protester-mom who was stalking Bush’s Texas compound during his last summer vacation. She spoke at a recent conference and this is what we have learned.  She is a former Catholic Youth Minister and she "left the Roman Catholic Church permanently after the 2004 elections when many Roman Catholic Bishops and priests encouraged their flocks to vote for George W. Bush because he is "pro-life."  Sigh. . . always hate to hear this kind of muddled thinking.  Clearly, she missed the bishops and pope’s "pro-life" response regarding Bush and Iraq. [culture]

  Friday, May 19, 2006
The confirmation retreat coda
Been asking retreat participants lately to "evaluate" their confirmation retreat experience by completing one of these handles: I now know. . ., I now feel. . ., or I now believe. . . I finish up the process by saying:
*  I believe in a God that created you in the divine image and likeness and sees you as the masterpiece of all creation.
*  I believe in Jesus Christ who calls us to follow him so that we might live life in abundance.
*  I believe that God has sent us the Spirit so that we might lead heroic lives.
*  I believe that the Church, while sometimes confusing and frustrating (it is human just like us), is still our very best bet to work together in following the mission of Christ.  AND
*  I truly believe in you (young people)  God and the Church and I all need you to make a difference in this world now, not after confirmation or when you get older, but NOW!  May God be with you in all that you do. [church]

  Wednesday, May 17, 2006
The Best response to the Da Vinci Code
A bad review. Start the word of mouth!
* “The Da Vinci Code drew lukewarm praise, shrugs of indifference, some jeering laughter and a few derisive jabs Tuesday from arguably the world’s toughest movie crowd: critics at the Cannes Film Festival" . . . Read more here.
* "A pulpy page-turner in its original incarnation as a huge international bestseller has become a stodgy, grim thing in the exceedingly literal-minded film version of The Da Vinci Code." . . . Read more here.
* "The Hollywood Reporter headlined its review, ‘Da Vinci Code an unwieldy, bloated puzzle.’" . . . Read more here. [culture]
church moveS II
Mike Patin responded with a Monk-e-mail. Watch it here. I responded in kind. Watch it here. [funny business]
inherit the Wuerl-Wind
An e-mail came in: So what do you think about Wuerl’s new appointment? My response: There is a line delivered by Spock in one of the Star Trek movies… "There is an old Vulcan saying. . . only Nixon can go to China."
Wuerl has the better pulpit now. He’ll have the red hat soon enough. He just got a ten-year term after building a campaign as "the education" bishop.
I’ll be fascinated to see what he does with it. Benedict campaigned on relativism and then his first teaching was on love. I hope Donald was watching. Maybe he can go from malaise and deficiency regarding the nature of the Eucharist to (dare I suggest?) discipleship. Maybe he can go from a bias for schools to school of faith. Maybe he can go from lost generation to a generation that we need to find within our community. We’ll see. [church]
countdown
And now we address draft four – Countdown to Pentecost: 18 days. Tomorrow begins the fourth weekend of retreat(s) in five weekends.  It has been a long few weeks, months, years. Therefore, I’ve declared a week (adds up to nine full days) of vacation. That starts in 8 days. Bring it on. [blogging]

  Tuesday, May 16, 2006
church moves
Many will look around today and see the move of Donald Weurl to Archbishop of DC as news today.  But there was another news item that caused my own mental news release:
The Pope also named Bishop J. Peter Sartain of Little Rock to the diocese of Joliet, succeeding Bishop Joseph Imesch. A sacramentalist trained at the Benedictine Academy at Sant’Anselmo in Rome, Bishop Sartain, 54, has served as head of Arkansas’ lone diocese since 2000.
Mental News Item:  In a political strategy often used in communist China, Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee has named Mike Patin as new bishop of Little Rock.  A veteran of Arkansas’ ambassadorial fraternity, Patin brings years months days of on-ground experience in Arkansas.  In an official statement released after the announcement from an undisclosed Wal-Mart where Patin often seeks privacy, Patin said, “Soooooooiiiee, I’m so plum proud to be Bene’s boy to these here Razorbacks. . .  Oh, and big props to the J.C.!”
In other news, Patin has named D. Scott Miller as Vicar of Vacuous Venting.  This move has reunited the Wonderboys and offers great much little hope to the Church in Arkansas. [funny business]
Mario live
This is a most brilliant skit done at a college talent show. It is the dramatic and touching tale of level one of Super Mario Bros. See it all here. [funny business]

  Monday, May 15, 2006
MaÑana
West Wing: Last Episode, Last scene: "What are you thinking about?” Abbie Bartlet asked her husband as they flew back home to New Hampshire after the marvelous adventure of eight years in the fictional “West Wing.” “Tomorrow,” he replied. [culture]
How hillary lost the youth vote
Young people today "think work is a four-letter word." She said young people have a sense of entitlement after growing up in a "culture that has a premium on instant gratification." Read more here. [culture]

  Sunday, May 14, 2006 [Mother's Day]
top ten sayings of biblical mothers
10. Samson! Get your hand out of that lion. You don’t know where it’s been! (Judges 14:5-8)
9. David! I told you not to play in the house with that sling! Go practice your harp. We pay good money for those lessons!
8. Abraham! Stop wandering around the countryside and get home for supper!
7. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego! Leave those clothes outside, you smell like a dirty ol’ furnace!
6. Cain! Get off your brother! You’re going to kill him some day!
5. Noah! No, you can’t keep them! I told you, don’t bring home any more strays!
4. Gideon! Have you been hiding in that wine press again? Look at your clothes! (Judges 6:11)
3. James and John! No more burping contests at the dinner table, please. People are going to call you the sons of thunder! (Mark 3:17)
2. Judas! Have you been in my purse again?!
1. Jesus! What do you think, you were born in a barn? [funny business]
More on Moms
Tony Campolo tells a favorite mom stories. When he was a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, his wife was a stay-at-home mom. At faculty functions she’d invariably get asked what she did and she’d say she was a full-time mom. The reaction was always the same. She felt patronized by the intelligentsia so she redefined her role. The next time she was asked she said, "I am socializing two homo sapiens in the dominant values of the Judeo-Christian tradition in order that they might be instruments for the transformation of the social order into the teleologically prescribed utopia inherent in the eschaton." Then she paused a moment and asked, "And what is it that you do?"  [funny business]

  Saturday, May 13, 2006
the t-shirt quote
We were looking for a quote for the back of the Justice Action Week t-shirts. Found it here: "A Christian knows when it is time to speak of God and when it is better to say nothing and to let love alone speak." -Pope Benedict XVI, Deus Caritas Est (God is Love)  [pope]
next door
The mega-church adjacent to my home parish seemingly continues to do well.  Perhaps, it is the coffee. Watch more here. [parish]

  Friday, May 12, 2006
woot woot
Ever since I attended Youth Specialties CORE training, I’ve had the conviction that I should be pursuing more video clips within my powerpoints.  Now, my friends at Woot have hooked me up with the technology on the cheap side.  It’s a brave new world.  [blogging]

  Thursday, May 11, 2006
Here comes one diocesan director
E-mails exchanged with one Un-named Diocesan Director (UDD) and me (DSM)
UDD: Greetings from . . .!! Real quick, I had a note from the membership meeting about a power-point presentation of "Images of Christ" and your name next to the note…does this ring a bell?
DSM: Look at http://www.dscottmiller.com/train.htm for November 10, 2005
UDD: WOW!! What an incredible resource…may I grab some other ppt’s?
DSM: They are there for the stealing. Every now and then, help a brother out, and speak kindly of the website. Also, think about bringing me in to your fair diocese to share the magic. Otherwise, enjoy!
UDD: Will do…thanks  [work day]
Here GOES ANOTHER diocesan director
Meanwhile, I also received this very, very classy e-mail from another diocesan director (whose name will also be protected):
Hello,
I was told today at 2:00 PM that the Diocese of . . . was "changing direction" in youth ministry and that my services would no longer be needed.  I have spent the past 2 hours clearing my office.  This is my last official e-mail as a Diocesan Director.  As John Lennon said "I’d like to thank you all for a wonderful time and I hope I passed the audition."  You all did!! With much love, . . . PS: Don’t fret, I won’t be down long!! [friends & family]
spiritual leukemia
Amy Welborn links up to a Chicago area pastor who has concern with a trend to foreign-born vocations. "Archdiocesan parishes are hotbeds of discipleship and prayer. But how many young people who grew up in Chicagoland are active in their faith? My sense of the thousand young people attending Mass at St. Alphonsus each week gives me the impression that too many who grew up in Archdiocesan parishes are not practicing Catholic adults." Read more here. [church]

  Wednesday, May 10, 2006
stewardship and teenagers
When the US bishops gather in June in California, they will be discussing many things: one of which is the a request by the Stewardship Committee to begin drafting a document entitled Stewardship and Teenagers. Here’s hoping it has an emphasis on how young people might share their gifts and not just focus in on the habit of passing over money. Read more here. <<thanks, John!>> [church]
taking it for the team
Yesterday I was chided for agreeing to a speaking booking that was "off message" for me. I accepted it to work for a friend, support another friend, and add to my resume- but not because I have any significant passion for the topic or anticipate that a crowd of any sort will gather for the spectacle of this presentation. SIGH! Last night, I spoke at a parish under the same premise – - doing my decade-old relationships talk for a far-away group of nine kids and four adults that was introduced by a bad preachy and long prayer which decimated any potential for environment. These are the days. . .  [work day]

  Tuesday, May 9, 2006
BALTiversary
If I am reading my own coded blog correctly, I interviewed for the job I am now in just one year ago today.  By all accounts, I came in with church documents guns a-blazing and declared myself the new adolescent catechesis sheriff in town. What a difference a year has made.  What a ride it has been! [work day]
歓迎
I’ve only been using my site tracker for about a month.  It’s interesting to occasionally check in to see who is checking in.  I do not get many details, so I can only guess who some of my readers might be.  What I go know is that the 785th visitor to this site (since I started to keep count) was from Japan. 歓迎 (Welcome!) [blogging]
The End of 7th Heaven
What did we learn last night:  The Camdens ended up with 7 grandchildren by the end of the episode.  Too cute.  Jessica Biel is a fool for signing to come back on with the lame and insulting script that she was given.  Here’s hoping she cost the producers the economy of a small nation.  Finally, Happy the dog was a female, and yet they avoided using the word bitch over these many seasons. Here’s to looking forward to many lame reunion shows! Read more here. [culture]
church of England can’t find the spirituality of young people
The "Making Sense of Generation Y" research suggests young people are happy with life as it is, that they have felt no need for a transcendent something else and regard the Church as boring and irrelevant. Read more here. [youth ministry]

  Monday, May 8, 2006
corporate love
It was a stock-up day at BJ’s warehouse.  Basic food supplies bought in bulk to last mid-way through summer, some summer shorts, sunglasses, a pair of sandals, socks, and a new shirt. I wasn’t keeping track on the expenditure.  I walked to the counter promising myself I start to return stuff after a certain price. The final bill was $80 under that. I love this place! [friends & family]
returning a favor
Almost once a day, I check out the following web sites:
Brother Blue – Gene Monterastelli’s (of APeX) thoughtful site
Daily Dish – Andrew Sullivan, one of the most popular bloggers and provocative social and political commentators today; works for TIME magazine; and is Catholic, conservative, and HIV positive.
Whispers in the Loggia – Rocco Palmo’s American Catholic news and gossip
Woot – An online store and community that focuses on selling cool stuff cheap.
ysmarko – Mark Oestreicher’s (of Youth Specialties) look into primarily protestant youth ministry. [blogging]

  Sunday, May 7, 2006
OHHHH, So, it’s all about discipleship??? Whodathunk!
"The most important thing to the Catholic Church as far as youth ministry goes is that we would want to help them to live in the world as disciples," Monique Jacobs, director of youth ministry for the Diocese of Reno, said. "The only way you can be a disciple is that you have a relationship with God and the church and you would be willing to do something about that."  Read more here. [youth ministry]
Wireless Weekend III 
Third weekend in a row for the same church, different confirmation candidates with some repeat adults. There were elements that I threw in the keep it fresh for all (mostly me) but it was the third weekend in a row with the same stuff.  Eight guys were sent home this morning for misbehavior– Thank God I was sparred of the overnight shenanigans that was involved – - This morning was tough enough with a good night sleep! [blogging]

  Friday, May 5, 2006
’cause i do most of my sinnin’ on Friday nights! 
Parishes schedule the sacrament of penance most frequently on Saturdays, according to the results of a survey sent to parishes in the Austin Diocese this spring. Bishop Gregory Aymond of Austin released a letter on the sacrament of reconciliation on Wednesday. Read more here. [church]

  Thursday, May 4, 2006
In Spirit and In Truth
I preparing a brochure to announce a new program for next year.  It will be held April 20-22, 2007 at O’Dwyer. In Spirit and In Truth is a weekend experience designed for parish or school worship teams. The weekend reflects on the invitation to assemble and worship offered by the Messiah, our efforts to do so in Spirit and truth, and the possibility of serving as “living stones” and leading others to do the same. FORMAT: The program focuses on our communal prayer and liturgical experiences with workshops available regarding specific ministries available within our Eucharistic liturgy. WHO’S INVITED: In Spirit and In Truth is open parish/ school teams of one adult with young people who are involved with worship activities.  This may also include teams seriously planning to develop programming that incorporates greater involvement of young people in local worship ministries. [work day]

  Wednesday, May 3, 2006
youth specialties sells out
Zondervan is the new owner. But, check out the video to learn that Grand Rapids, Michigan has become the new center of youth culture. Read more here. [youth ministry]
immorality in Ghana
When we are talking sin in Ghana, seemingly, it includes e bullying, cheating, corruption, pre-marital sex, child trafficking and black mailing of others for their personal gains. Read more here. [youth ministry]
refocusing catholic youth ministry
Excerpt from Chapter Nine: Companions on the Journey – Our model for a disciple-making culture is found within the traits of the Master, within the pedagogy of Jesus in “receiving others, especially the poor, the little ones and sinners, as persons loved and sought out by God; the undiluted proclamation of the Kingdom of God as the good news of the truth and the consolation of the Father, a kind of delicate and strong love which liberates from evil and promotes life, a pressing invitation to a manner of living sustained by faith on God, by hope in the Kingdom and by charity to one’s neighbor, the use of interpersonal communication, such as word, silence, metaphor, image, example, and many diverse signs as was the case with the biblical prophets.” (GDC 140)
That is enough to make one pause, is it not?  In the passage from the GDC, we find an evaluation tool or an examination of conscious that I can use to guide the middle school program that I coordinate as a parish volunteer.  Found here is the mirror that reflects either the accomplishments or the shortcomings for my son’s formation as he completes his senior year at a Catholic high school. Here is the standard for my own relationships within Christian community.  Read Chapter Nine Countdown to Pentecost: 32 days. [book]
The Process of refocusing catholic youth ministry
Chapters have been dropping off the site and will continue to do so.  My son is concern about me retaining possession of my own creative property. The book has now achieved completion of its third draft.
Coming next will be draft four.  Some pretty tough eyes are looking at it and I still have the anticipation of completing that draft by the end of my Countdown to Pentecost: 32 days. [book]

  Tuesday, May 2, 2006
viva las vegas
As a former NFCYM staff member, I had a hand in the selection of Las Vegas as a site for the 2006 National Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry. Since then, there has been a minor bit of grief regarding the appropriateness of placing the convention in "Sin City."  One wonders, however, if the American hierarchy will be receiving any similar complaints regarding the placement of their 2007 American Cardinals’ Dinner. Read more here. ‘Nuff said, please!!!  [church]

  Monday, May 1, 2006
Wireless Weekend II
Back up at O’Dwyer again this weekend.  Same retreat format- different kids.  It was pretty good last weekend, I really hit the rhythm this weekend!  I shudder at the possibilities for disappointment next weekend.  Most interesting event, however, was a bombastic fart in the chapel late Saturday night.  I had to soldier on through the snickers or the entire room would have lost it.  (This is why I am a "professional" youth minister!)  [work day]
immigrant boycott
The Justice for Immigrants Campaign website provides tools and information for diocesan and community-based organizing, education, and advocacy efforts.  [church]
Saint of 9/11
The finished version of the documentary about Mychal Judge, the FDNY chaplain, "Saint of 9/11", was shown last night at the Tribeca Film Festival to a packed house. Read more here. [culture]
refocusing catholic youth ministry
Excerpt from Chapter Eight: Go Make a Difference – Finally, a note about the Sacrament of Confirmation. For far too long, this has been perceived as a sacrament of graduation from religious education programming. What is being missed by the Church, but what young people already understand, is the difference between graduation and commencement.
The closing of one’s high school career is graduation from the present structure of their education. It also, is, however, a commencement or beginning to life after high school whether that is college or work or service in the military. In the world of high school, graduation/commencement is not the indicator of an ending as much as it is a marker along the journey.
In a discipleship mindset, we are engage in inclusion rather than seeking to exclude. As a Church, however, we do exclude sacramentally. We anticipate baptism before the reception of other sacraments. Young and dangerous Christine from the previous chapter was excluded from the parish council unless she had already received the sacrament of Confirmation. Read Chapter Eight Countdown to Pentecost: 34 days. [book]

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Before there was a “studio,” it was me, a mic, and a compter