Friday August 31

ASSESSING OUR ASSUMPTIONS IN AUGUST
The following has occurred on the Catholic Youth Ministry blog during the month of August:
> First Up, a new feature utilizing SlideShare, went for a test drive tour of the web site (8/01) before opening tomorrow. Death by PowerPoint (8/17) and Shift Happens (8/28) were also noted.
> Inside the Youth Ministers Studio, a weekly pod-cast, featured Tom East (8/01), Tonita López (8/08), Tammy Amosson (8/15), and Mark Hart (8/29).
> We continued  visiting the States of Youth Ministry picking up with Massachusetts and working our way all around the country only to end up in neighboring Rhode Island.
> YouTube entries included a poolside kiss from The Sandlot (8/10), a Charlie Brown Hey Ya (8/19), and You Gotta Move, a self-produced promo video for the Institute. (8/29)
> The blog has been in operation for three years! Whoddathunk? We celebrated by looking back at postings from the past year. (8/10-20). August was an historic month beyond just the blogiversary! WOW!!!  This month was the densest in memory used for postings, while it also broke records for visits and page views. Very Cool! Thanks for your support! All this during a month where we actually took eight days off!!!  [blogging]
TOOK A LOUISVILLE SLUGGER TO BOTH HEADLIGHTS
Tammy Amosson, recent guest in the studio, sends greetings and word that her web site www.tammyamosson.com is up and running.  Now, normally I might not do this, but the woman does kick-box and, frankly, that kinda scares me. . . a lot. [studio]
STATE OF YOUTH MINISTRY: RHODE ISLAND
**  Providence has a listing of parish outreach trainings available.  [state]

Thursday August 30

BELOIT MINDSET LIST
   Beloit College, a small school in Wisconsin, annually makes the national news when they release their "Mindset List," an  effort is to identify a worldview of 18 year-olds entering college in the fall of 2007. Yes, there is generalizations, but it serves as a reminder to their faculty (and all of us) not to teach with the same assumptions year-after-year-after-decade. See it right here. And, yes, your one-stop power point provider will have something up soon with this.  [culture]
TAKE MY BLOG, PLEASE
On MSNBC.com today, there was some worth-while advice for wanna-be bloggers.  If you’re thinking about starting up… (and jump on in, the water’s fine!), it’s worth a look. And, while we are on the subject, Mike St. Pierre has called my attention to Who’s There? by Seth Godin [blogging]
STATE OF YOUTH MINISTRY:
PENNSYLVANIA (STEELERS LAND)
** Altoona-Johnstown offers up their calendar of regularly scheduled event.
** Chris Padgett and Steve Angrisano team up for this year’s middle school youth rally youth rally over in Erie.
** Greensburg has links to NCYC and WYD, not only on the youth ministry page, but on the diocesan front page as well.
** Pittsburgh, the land of the "Three Rivers," hosts an annual cruise to celebrate World Youth Day.  Unfortunately, they likely must pass Heinz Field, home of the team for which we fans of the Ravens purple and black have a particular dislike.  [state]

Wednesday August 29

MARK HART AKA THE BIBLE GEEK
IS "INSIDE THE YOUTH MINISTERS’ STUDIO"
<<Enter the studio here.>>  Life Teen’s Mark Hart would appreciate that today’s feast is well described in today’s Gospel as John is not the first or last to lose his head due to a young woman’s dancing. With discussions swirling around doctrine and skills and discipleship, Mark offers a clarion call for the Scriptures. The Word should be a part of our daily practices as well as that which we communicate in word and witness. Give a listen!  [studio]
KATRINA: TWO YEARS AFTER THE STORM
Mike Patin has posted a Katrina update and reflection from Denise Theriot.  In part, she reports that:
   "The past two years have blessed us with invaluable lessons.  God willing, we can share those lessons so that you do not have to learn, as we did, the hard way. We have learned that we are incredibly strong, individually and especially collectively. . .  We have learned that God gives us the grace to withstand what our heads and hearts can barely grasp. . . We have learned that young people are DYING to make a difference.

   The invitation to come and see for yourself the love and spirit of New Orleanians still stands.  Come.  Come to visit, to work, to pray and play with us.  Just come.  Then you will understand why we are working so hard to rebuild our HOME, our city." [culture]
YOU GOTTA MOVE

I’ve begun a new career: as a YouTube content producer.  A parish youth minister did all the technical work, I just attempted to be a cameraman and designer of a weak story board.  Anyway, here an promotion for an event which conveys an anticipation for a keynote much more than a paper brochure might.  (And, yes, that is Jesse Manibusan and Sarah Hart serving as back-up
singers!) [work day]
STATE OF YOUTH MINISTRY:
PENNSYLVANIA (EAGLES LAND)
** Allentown offers e-mail addresses and links.
** Harrisburg has a great office logo and a colorful mission statement up front on their site.
** Did you know that the OYYA staff in Philadelphia prays every day at 3pm?  Why at 3pm? Answer here.
** Scranton identifies their goals and services. [state]

Tuesday August 28

RELIGIOUS AND HAPPIER 
As reported in this Associated Press article, an extensive survey by the AP and MTV found that people aged 13 to 24 who describe themselves as very spiritual or religious tend to be happier than those who don’t. Forty-four percent say religion and spirituality is at least very important to them, 21 percent responded it is somewhat important, with 20 percent say it plays a small part in their lives. [youth ministry]
DID YOU KNOW? 
Another SlideShare moment.  Shift is happening. . . are we ready for it? Who is the richest in the world,  has the largest military, is the center of world business and finance, with the strongest education system, serves as the world center on innovation and invention, with a currency as the world standard of values, and has the highest standard of living? USA!  USA! USA! but, it was England in the 1900’s and might it eventually become India and/or China later in the 2000’s? Shift is happening. [slideshare]
A GOOD EVALUATION 
Evaluations are in from Saturday’s evangelization workshop.  I got kind and generous reviews.  My favorite (and, yes, I am just plain showing off:) "Miller was an excellent speaker, enticing all the senses to keep his audiences attention.  Points were clear and concise.  Creative!  Just what Y.M. needs.  100% effort in this presentation." [work day]
STATE OF YOUTH MINISTRY: OREGON
** Baker offers information on how to become a Youth Representative.
** Portland, OR recently offered orientations for new coordinators of youth ministry.  [state]

Monday August 27

AND WE’RE BACK
There are no great accomplishments or insights to report from the self-imposed Blogiversary sabbatical, yet it really felt right and significant. Spent some time prepping stuff for the studio and the next FirstUp, but more than anything else, I just concentrated my energies elsewhere. [blogging]
FAITH, DOUBT, AND A SAINT
"Jesus has a very special love for you. As for me, the silence and the emptiness is so great that I look and do not see, listen and do not hear." The book is coming, but this Time article has already generated considerable buzz about Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, her faith, and her long dark night. Ten years ago, after the deaths of Teresa and Princess Diana, I wrote a guest editorial in the Catholic Review entitled Don’t let your daughters become princesses. It’s fascinating now, a decade later, that, of course, Teresa has had the longer world-wide impact that England’s Rose, Diana [church]
EVANGELIZATION AND DOUGHNUTS
  On Saturday, the diocese offered and evangelization conference with 200 in attendance. It was a good day.  I offered a workshop on Evangelization and Young People entitled Let’s Dance.  Mid-point through the workshop I showed this YouTube moment on corporate evangelization that highlighted the "word of mouth" for Krispy Kreme doughnuts.  The surprise for the workshop attendees came when I pulled out Krispy Kremes for all in the workshop.  [work day]
FUTURE HUSBAND
  My fifteen year old daughter was slightly confounded when I had informed her that Harry Potter’s Rupert Grint had recently turned 19. She was saddened to become aware that her old man knew more about her future husband than she did.  [friends & family]
STATE OF YOUTH MINISTRY: OKLAHOMA
** Oklahoma City  offers Certification in Adolescent Faith Formation.
** Tulsa connects you up with a local experience of XLT [state]

Monday August 20

BLOGIVERSARY
This web site is now three years old.  It started like this:

     Greetings to the World.  My name is D. Scott Miller and I am starting a bulletin board log (BLOG) of information that might be shared with the Catholic Youth Ministry community. 

     This is just a starting point.  I’m not sure where it is going to go.  I hope it will be personal.  I hope it will be per-fess-ion-ale (despite occasional grammar errors and mis-spellings) I hope it will be a resource for friends in the field.
     And so, we begin.

   And so, we continue on. [blogging]
RUNNING THE NUMBERS
  The web-site is now three years old. It has included, thus far:
  > Five podcasts which preceded the eventual thirty-two podcasted visitors Inside the Youth Ministers Studio; (over five hours of downloadable magic!)
  > the posting of forty-nine published articles.
  > the posting of seventy-nine power point presentations utilized in trainings which will soon become partnered with the distribution of much more than the already two posted SlideShare presentations
  > Visits to One Hundred Twenty-Nine diocesan web-sites as part of the States tour; and
  > One Thousand Six Hundred Forty-Two distinct blog entries covering stuff from "my corner of the Catholic Youth Ministry field."
  > and, most of all, one Lord whom we hoped is praised by this effort and continues to bless this ministry. [blogging]
TAKING A BREAK
As promised, yesterday, here’s an announcement of something that we have not intentionally done on this web site for quite a while!
  We are celebrating the blogiversary by taking a self-imposed sabbatical.  The site is closed down until Monday, August 27.  I’m going to divert blog energies elsewhere this week!
  For your daily blog fix- consider checking in on Rocco’s whispers; Greg’s bench; Dave’s report,  Amy’s third effort; Mike’s Saint; Marko’s place; or Mark’s e-votional. (See, I will not leave you orphaned.)
  BUT, please come back and join us again next Monday. We have greatly appreciated all the many visitors that we have had over these quieter summer months.   We start back up with a report on a site visit to the home of this year’s NCYC, we continue the States’ tour in Oklahoma, have some real churchy celebrities lined-up for the Studio, the Pope goes hanging out with kids (and is, therefore, quotable) in Loretto; and we attempt to put a refocus on Catholic Youth Ministry as we hit FirstUp in September. [blogging]

Sunday August 19

HOLY SATURDAY
It was a day the Psalmist might wax poetic about: Give to the LORD, you heavenly beings, give to the LORD glory and might; Give to the LORD the glory due God’s name. Bow down before the LORD’S holy splendor! (29:1-2)  The morning started cool, clean, and crisp- rare for the standard steambath that is August. Windows open, a gentle breeze blowing, had to find a long sleeved shirt from the back of the closet.
   Spent part of the morning writing notes on a brief YouTube video commercial that I’m producing for a local event.
   Meghan is in town briefly, so the rest of the day was with the kids.  Down to the Harbor Amphitheater to watch a PG-13 street performer work blue in front of a 2pm audience. Then, we toured Baltimore by riding the Ducks.   We were then off to dinner at Meghan’s favorite place.
   Finished the day with an exceptional act of seeing a movie a second time.  No, I’ve seen movies twice… I have, however, seen less than a handful of movies twice in the theater.  Never before have I ever seen a film twice in a theater in the same week, until last night. The film: Stardust. (See Wednesday the 15th’s posting.) Summer Movie Count: 14*  [friends & family]     * repeats count, thus claims the Barry Bonds of summer movie watching!
HEY YA CHARLIE BROWN STYLE

Ahhh, the  miracle of YouTube continues.  For those of us not fully "’hep" on the lingo…  This is what is called a "mash up" which, of course, is a web application that combines data from more than one source into an integrated experience. Really, all you got to know is that you can enjoy it.  Stick with it, while there is some repetition, there are still moments of joy at the end! [culture]
BLOGIVERSARY
Tomorrow, we celebrate our third anniversary (and announce something that we have not intentionally done on this web site for quite a while!).  Here’s a moment from the past year:

THE STATES OF YOUTH MINISTRY
(July 8, 2007) For the next seven-plus weeks, we will be touring the United States, visiting each and every diocese, and hopefully, their diocesan offices of youth ministry. Of course, youth ministry is not about the programs but about the relationships.  Programs, however, is what shows up, sometimes, on diocesan web sites.  With youth and younger youth ministers being more tech/web-friendly, we should be better about utilizing the web as a venue for communication.  Let’s see how well we are doing…  [blogging]

STATE OF YOUTH MINISTRY: OHIO
** Too many choices on a well laid-out Cleveland site to pick one to highlight.  (Note: The young adult conference has the cool logo prize thus far!)
** Toledo gives out its annual youth and adults awards at their summer conference.
** Youngstown offers numerous links on their page, including to their newsletter.
** Cincinnati counts amongst its numerous services strategic planning for parish youth ministry.
** Just in case you didn’t know, Columbus will be sponsoring a rather large national conference in a few months. I’m traveling there for a site visit tomorrow.
** In Steubenville, youth ministry is part of the Office of Christian Formation.  [state]

Friday August 17

POWER POINT BASICS
  And this is why SlideShare.net is rocking my world right now.  The ability to freely share information, provide training, and posit a latest theory in a non-gathered venue is revolutionary. SlideShare also allows audio to be attached as well. Surely, the .ppt file attached here may very well have been a 45 minute presentation.  You can get all the info you need from it in a five minute review.   Slide to note: (16) How presentations work ? Significance creates passion  Passion attract attention ? Attention leads to action   [slideshare]

SPIDERPIG, SPIDERPIG
Got out of the office early enough to catch the matinee of The Simpsons.  It was all right, the laughs did keep coming and that was the purpose of the afternoon movie run. Summer Movie Count: 13, d’oh! [culture]
BLOGIVERSARY
In just three days, we celebrate our third anniversary.  Here’s a moment from the past year:

THE CONFIRMATION RESOURCES WEB PAGE
(May 18, 2007) Two weeks of blogging . . .  The resources of the ArchBalt Bishops’ Summit on Confirmation web page have been added in as well. . .  It has been a worthy ride.  Hoping to get some video up next week and then I might send out a broadcast e-mail sharing the love. Meanwhile, let’s gather up all of it in one place.  [blogging]

STATE OF YOUTH MINISTRY: NORTH CAROLINA

** Charlotte recounts their history of diocesan youth ministry here.
** Raleigh has a new initiative with a clever name: Increasing Our Prophets: Middle School Youth Ministry.  [state]

Thursday August 16

HAVE GREAT FAITH IN THEM
  From a press conference in Nashville with the Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone:
   Q: As a Salesian priest [you have a] strong connection to young people; what is your message to the Knights of Columbus and other young people as they try to bring more young people into the fold?
  Bertone: It appears that many of the great organizations like yours, or Catholic Action in Europe, are suffering from the lack of young people. We have to think about for example of Pope John Paul II and how many people responded to his invitations to come together, for example, to the World Youth Days.
  I look over the panorama of World Youth Days and I consider how so many thousands of young people came together and rediscovered their faith through the Papal invitation to World Youth Day. We have to take the approach of St John Bosco. His approach was to reach out to young people and to have great faith in them, a great confidence in them. Pope John Paul II believed in young people. [pope]
FAITH IN MY BAND OF INTERNS
I have been working from home the last few days playing catch up on deadlines for the project that shall not be named.  For the next 48 hour period, I am even with my deadline schedule- thanks primarily to the contributions of Clark and Meghan.  When my kids were younger, they were always helpful for envelope stuffing, mailings, etc.  Now, they make great research interns and culture consultants. God bless them.  Whenever the check comes in for this project that I have been working on, they are all going out for a steak dinner! [friends & family]
BLOGIVERSARY
In a few days, we celebrate our third anniversary.  Here’s a moment from the past year:

the end of a sad day
(April 17, 2006)   For those of us who serve and love young people, yesterday’s tragedy at Virginia Tech is most discouraging.  The loss of 33 lives and the injury of many more overshadow the horror of the Pennsylvania Amish in Nickel Mines or even Columbine.
   Here is a compilation of web-based resources for you to consider using in the upcoming days:
> NFYCM
> Saint Mary’s Press
> Youth Specialties
> Talking with Young People:
    *  American Psychological Assc.- Talking to your children about the recent spate of school shootings
    * Children and Parents: Talking with Kids about Violence here
    * Tragic Times, Healing Words here
    * Talking with Kids about News  here
   * Can School Shootings be prevented? here
   * Ten tips regarding talking to your Child about School shootings here [blogging]

STATE OF YOUTH MINISTRY: NEW YORK (UPSTATE)
** At the end of this month, Buffalo    will sponsor the Bagley Open, a golf tournament honoring Rev. Gary Bagley, previous diocesan director.
** Ogdensburg has links to their Camp Guggenheim
** Rochester has all the notes from their FutureNow sessions (offering training for adults in youth ministry) available on-line.
** Syracuse Youth Fest ‘07 is just ten days away and will feature Martin Dorman. [state]

Wednesday August 15
TAMMY AMOSS0N IS
"INSIDE THE YOUTH MINISTERS’ STUDIO"
<<Enter the studio here.>>  Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of Mary. (Here’s a good homily from the Deacon’s Bench.) We believe that, at the end of her earthly life, the mother of our Savior was assumed into heaven, sparing her body the corruption of death.
   Yet, here we are (here I am) allowing bodily corruption by inactivity, bad diet, overwork and stress.  Tammy has a message for me (and maybe you, as well)  It’s worth a listen.   [studio]
STARDUST
After all the other movies of the summer, this might be the most memorable.  And not a lot of folks have seen it, so let me add to the word of mouth about Stardust. It’s a great convergence of multiple plots - an adult fairy tale.  Kind of like "24" in the land of the Princess Bride’s make-believe without the gun play.  We’ve got a guy pursuing true love, a flashback of a magical tryst, a star fallen from the sky, three witches seeking eternal life, and a fraternal dis-order of princes who become a band of ghostly brothers which forms the chorus of the second half of the movie.  Awesome.  Don’t miss it. Summer Movie Count: 12 (A Little Italy outdoor viewing of the DaVinci Code and the The Bourne Ultimatum went unreported.) [culture]
BLOGIVERSARY
In a few days, we celebrate our third anniversary.  Here’s a moment from the past year:

THE PRIORITY OF OUR PASTORAL WORK
(February 24, 2007) Last Thursday, on the feast of the Chair of St. Peter, Pope Benedict XVI conducted an audience with the Roman clergy in the Hall of Blessings.  Responding to a question on youth, the Pope said that "young people must truly be the priority of our pastoral work, as they live in a world removed from God." He noted that "To find room in our cultural context for the encounter with Christ, with Christian life and with the life of faith is very difficult. Then the Holy Father added that young people are in great need of support "to really be able to find this path."  [blogging]

STATE OF YOUTH MINISTRY:
NEW YORK (BIG APPLE)
** Albany posted an informative power-point regarding NCYC.  (I love these folks!)
** Brooklyn has an on-line manual for youth ministry.
** Best I could find for New York was their CYO page
** Rockville Centre’s youth site is under construction. [state]

Tuesday August 14

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO
PART DEUX
If you have not already do this, please consider it - - -  Would you be so kind as to send out an e-mail to five youth ministry contacts encouraging them to take a look at www.catholicYMblog.com and www.insideYMstudio.com?  This site continues to grow and expand and your support would be encouraging.
    Meanwhile, I conducted this review two weeks ago (July 28) and the international play on this web-site continues to be humbling and invigorating!
     Here’s the international places from where this site had visitors this past weekend:
** In Europe: United Kingdom (somewhere undefined); Norway (Aalesund, More og Romsdal and Trondheim, Sor-Trondelag); Portugal (Corroios, Setubal) Italy (Rome- ciao to the Vatican??); and possibly a repeat visitor from Estonia (Tallinn in Harjumaa)
** In Asia and Oceania: Australia (Bankstown, New South Wales and Meeandah, Queensland); India (New Delhi); New Zealand (Auckland); Philippines (Posadas Village, Rizal); Singapore  (Singapore); South Korea (Seoul)
** In Africa: Kenya (Nairobi)
** In the Americas: Brazil (Distrito Federal and Jaboato, Pernambuco; Canada (Edmonton, Alberta and Kingston, Ontario); and Puerto Rico (San Juan).
   Meanwhile, if you are an international (or even a national) lurker on the site and want to just say hi, e-mails are always accepted at scott@dscottmiller.com [blogging]
"PRANK"ED BY THE NEW MEDIA
  Never underestimate the reach of the internet:
  So, there I was sitting at my desk minding my own business (I know, that does seem a tad unusual!) Then my screen in-box dings with the arrival of the NFCYM’s e-newsletter Connections!  I take a quick scan and trip across Pat Finan’s What I’m Reading article.  There, he encourages the reader to "check out online resources from the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s recent Confirmation Summit (with) videos of presentations, scripts, and handout can be checked out." He urges the reader to "See Region 4 report for link" (or this blog’s readers know to also find it here.) Pat’s final comment was that, having watched the videos, one could "then see Scott Miller compare himself to David Hasselhoff."
  Well, that’s all fine and good.  I whisk off an e-mail to Pat thanking him for the mention.  I also semi-snickered at the Hasselhoff mention which was an intentional self-parody when I delivered it at the Summit.
  The next day, I hop off a plane in Colorado Springs to speak at the Fishers Discipleship Conference.  I’m greeted by Kathy Bull from the diocese who looks at me skeptically and wonders out loud "… David Hasselhoff?" [funny stuff]
BLOGIVERSARY
In a few days, we celebrate our third anniversary.  Here’s a moment from the past year:

HAPPY NEW YEAR, HAPPY NEW FORMAT
  (January 1, 2007) God bless ‘em all- the talented design team at www.dscottmiller.com has been hard at work throughout the holiday Christmas break. Extensive consultation, focus groups, and many late night runs to Starbucks have led to the extreme makeover that you now see before you… yeah, right! (Click on the cartoon on the left for perspective.)
  Here’s what happening or happened…  The blog page has been transitioned to main page.  (If you’ve listed the blog page previously as part of the My Favorites section of your internet explorer, it’s time to readjust that. If, God bless you, you hyper-linked to the blog from your web-site, please update that link as well.  Thanks, you’re the best!)
  Also, the links and the features of what was previously on the front page have been transitioned to the column you see on your right.  A new weekly feature Inside the Youth Ministers’ Studio kicks in on Wednesday. Learn more about that below. The achieves are being adjusted.  If your looking for a posting that’s more than six months old, it will be in the calendar page only and not in the category page.  Everyone caught up to speed?  Great!
  Hopefully, this will help to better serve you which is a big part of what this site is about…  I’m just trying to share the stuff related to church, youth ministry, and life that catch my attention and hopefully yours as well.  The whole design team would appreciate any comments that you might have, so please forward them along to scott@dscottmiller.com [blogging]

STATE  OF YOUTH MINISTRY: NEW MEXICO
** Gallup shares the results of a recent questionnaire.
** Las Cruces has posted pictures from their 2007 youth rally.
** Santa Fe just a few days ago had an event where Archbishop Michael Sheehan invited all Youth and Young Adults who have been confirmed in the past two years for a family day of Food, Music, Prayer and Sacrament of Reconciliation.  [state]

Monday August 13

CONFOUNDING HEADLINES
  Pick the most confusing one… A) Pope and Wife Quit Church; B) Pope Resigns as Bishop- Seeks to Become Priest; C) Cardinal Accepts Pope as a Catholic.  All are true. All are part of the same story! Read more here, [funny stuff]
BLOGIVERSARY
In one week, we celebrate our third anniversary.  Here’s a moment from the past year:

A MANDATORY RANT
(December 10, 2006) Today is another meeting of our Confirmations task group who are planning our Bishops’ Summit on the Sacrament of Confirmation. One of the anticipated results of our May gathering is that we curb the use of the word "mandatory" in anything that we do with the sacrament of Confirmation.  You know. . . the mandatory parent meeting, the mandatory retreat, the mandatory group service project.   When we do that, we are setting up that young people and their families conform to our agenda and our program rather that treating confirmation as another moment in our continuing evangelization of them.  Relying on the power of "mandatory" is lazy ministry and not within the style of the One who washed the feet of his disciples.  Confirmation in almost all parishes is one of the largest programs that we have - - - we should give it our fullest and best efforts to make it so significant that young people do not "graduate" from our efforts but "commence" their own living, explicit, and fruitful confession of faith. (And my youngest daughter Meghan would say) End rant! [blogging]

STATE OF YOUTH MINISTRY: NEW JERSEY
**  Camden offers a listing of parish youth masses.
** Metuchen has a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page that answers the likes of "What’s the deal with fingerprinting volunteers?"
**  Newark will be sponsoring their Second annual Reel Youth Film Festival.
**  Paterson’s YouthLeader week was recently in the news.
**  Did you know that Trenton is the home of Real Faith TV?  [state]

Sunday August 12

the gospel speaks
profoundly to the young 
  The Pope, while at the "summer Vatican" at Castel Gandolfo, recently greeted a massive contingent (5,000) of Spaniards on a "youth mission." Quote to note: I appreciated the intensity with which you’ve lived the missionary state and the color brought to certain facets of your life when you decided to proclaim Christ: the enthusiasm of going out to discover and finding with surprise that, contrary to what many think, the Gospel speaks profoundly to the young; the discovery in all its abundance the ecclesial feeling of the Christian life; the refinement and beauty of a living love and family before the eyes of God, or the discovery of an unexpected call to serve it with your whole being, consecrating yourself in priestly ministry. Full text is here. [pope]
CONFIRMATION IN DUBUQUE
The Confirmation page continues to grow as Mike from Waukon has forwarded along Dubuque’s contribution to the mix. Thanks, Mike! [Confirmation]
BLOGIVERSARY
In a few days, we celebrate our third anniversary.  Here’s a moment from the past year:

  Baltimore- -  the Premier See
(November 16, 2006) Why Baltimore?  Here’s a response from Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio in the United States, given to the USCCB’s opening session on Monday morning.
  There is a “grace of office” (of Bishop) and there is also a “grace of the place.” As we all gather here in Baltimore, the senior metropolitan See in the United States, we can feel this “grace of the place.”
  In this city, some 200 years ago, the first Bishop of the United States, Bishop John Carroll – surrounded by enormous difficulties from both within the Church and beyond, laid the cornerstone of this Cathedral of the Assumption on July 7th, 1806, with great solemnity. At 71, an age considered particularly “old” at that time, the Bishop must have certainly considered that his eyes would never look upon the completed Cathedral and, in fact, that was the case. The first American Bishop would not be conditioned by age or difficulties: the Glory of God, fidelity to the mission entrusted to him by Jesus Christ, his service to the present and future of the Church, were all at the core of his great faith, tremendous courage and creative apostolic passion. These remarkable virtues have remained solid and firm, like the stones of this Cathedral which now has been restored by His Eminence Cardinal Keeler, and they continue to speak to the American Catholics of this day.
  Cardinal James Gibbons wrote: "What the Temple of Jerusalem is to the Israelites, what Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome is to the Faithful of the Church Universal, this Cathedral is to the American Catholic."
  The name – “Baltimore” brings to mind the four General Chapters of the Clergy, the first Synod of Baltimore (1791), the meeting of the American Bishops in 1810, the seven Provincial Councils and the three Plenary Councils. These dates and events pass before your eyes with images of your predecessors, who were instruments of God for the rooting, expansion and consolidation of the Catholic Church in the United States.
  We cannot forget the Baltimore Catechism – which for decades, formed the religious, moral and civil conscience of American Catholics.
. . . I pray that the “grace of the place,” the grace of Baltimore will bring you the faith, the courage and the vision of your predecessors.  [blogging]

STATE OF YOUTH MINISTRY:
NEW HAMPSHIRE
** in Manchester, there is an upcoming orientation for new catechetical leaders and youth ministers. [state]

Saturday August 11

SUMMER HEAT
  Has finally gotten to me. Here’s to more carefree times and a littlie story of Squints and the lifeguard Wendy Peppercorn from The Sandlot. This scene takes me back to five years of working at summer camps.  Enjoy! (Warning- one swear word- sorry)  FYI: according to the movie’s epilogue- Squints and Wendy end up married! Ahhhh- true love! [funny stuff]
BLOGIVERSARY
In a few days, we celebrate our third anniversary.  Here’s a moment from the past year:

Episcopal Use of THAT word again!!!
(September 28, 2006) Cardinal Pell of Sydney, as the next host of World Youth Day, is about to become quoted often and repeatedly about young people.  Here is a recent quote: "Worse than the low numbers identifying Catholicism as the one true faith, and ‘particularly disturbing’ for Catholic educators, is that 75 per cent of young Catholics believe it is acceptable to ‘pick and choose beliefs’. Cardinal Pell says this indicates ‘a malaise and confusion in the general approach to life rather than just a few isolated points of heresy or unbelief’. Malaise, OY! Read more here. [blogging]

STATE OF YOUTH MINISTRY: NEVADA
** Las Vegas has a flash-back to the 2007 youth rally and a flash-forward to WYD 2008.
** Reno will have Curtis Stephen at their Youth Rally.  [state]

Friday August 10
CARPE DIGITAL
I often read Mark Batterson blog. He’s a young adult Christian pastor down in DC and I think I like his sensibilities. Recently he was discussing transmitting the gospel via new media. "Podcasting is circuit riding at the speed of light. Blogging is digital discipleship. Video technology turns screens into postmodern stained glass. Websites are virtual front doors. Email is word of mouse."  [culture]
BLOGIVERSARY
In ten days, we celebrate our third anniversary.  Here’s a moment from the past year:

God is . . .  Say Whaaat? 
(August 28, 2006) You’ve got to view the following quote in light of the Whole "God is Love" reclaiming eros things, but wow! "You called, you shouted, and you broke through my deafness. You flashed, you shone, and you dispelled my blindness. You breathed your fragrance on me; I drew in breath and now I pant for you. I have tasted you, now I hunger and thirst for more." - St. Augustine     [blogging]

STATE OF YOUTH MINISTRY: NEBRASKA
** Grand Island already is announcing that Jesse Mannibusen and Bill Lage are lined up for their uniquely named Going Bananas for Jesus event for 2009.
**   The Diocese of Lincoln has developed the Frassati Prayer Guild to answer a need for prayer and stronger youth ministry programs in the diocese. The Guild has two arms of support: prayer and stewardship. Members of the Guild, are asked to participate in all or some of the following. * Promise at least five minutes of daily prayer; * Volunteer time and/or talent to youth programs, and *Give yearly free-will donations to the Guild.
**   The Archdiocese of Omaha has a pretty cool looking Youth Village on their site. [state]

Thursday August 09

STICKING WITH IT
"Unless religious leaders take younger adults more seriously, the future of American religion is in doubt" USA Today recently ran a report as to why (in this case, Protestant) young people leave the church after high school.  The quote to note here is: There’s no life transformation taking place, People are looking for a faith that can change them and to be a part of changing the world. Read the whole article here. [youth ministry]
STATE OF YOUTH MINISTRY: MONTANA
** Great Falls - Billings as do others, includes many links, including one to the Virtus site.
** Helena is wrapping up a summer’s worth of camping at Legendary Lodge [state]

Wednesday August 08
TONITA LÓPEZ IS "INSIDE THE YOUTH MINISTERS’ STUDIO"
<<Enter the studio here.>>  It’s another face-to-face interview which is so much more fun! Tonita is a parish youth minister with a wealth of experience.  Give a listen! [studio]
STATE OF YOUTH MINISTRY: MISSOURI
** Last year, Jefferson City has links to the director’s blog.
** Kansas City - Saint Joseph sets you right up into listening to a Franciscan Youth Podcasts.
** Springfield - Cape Girardeau, like many dioceses, has stated a goal to become "paperless," meaning that  traditional newsletters and mailings will come electronically via emails.
** Saint Louis gives identity to the above goal by establishing E-man, the personification of our succinct, useful, e-newsletter delivered directly to you monthly from the Archdiocese of St. Louis Office of Youth Ministry. [state]

Tuesday August 07

BETTER PUBLICITY
   It’s that time again- time to start up with new flyers for the events of the new school year.   YouthMinistry.com has provided a handy, dandy little checklist to assist in the cause! [youth ministry]
O’BRIEN TO HIT THE ROAD
   It seems as if the early plan is for the new boss to conduct a listening tour around the Archdiocese. Read more here. [church]
STATE OF YOUTH MINISTRY: MISSISSIPPI
** You can register for Biloxi Youth Celebration on-line.
** Jackson has their youth calendar posted. [state]

Monday August 06

Transfiguration of the Lord

OFF THE ROAD
  There are some great kids out in Colorado Springs!  We had some deep discussion about faith and "Our Place in This World" at the Fishers Discipleship Conference this weekend. And their youth ministers were warm, sweet, and funny. All this and I was in the shadow of Pike’s Peak.  Whew! It may have been "just a training gig," but I’ve come home with tired body but uplifted spirits! [blogging]
STATE OF YOUTH MINISTRY: MINNESOTA
** The mission in Crookston is "serving the servants of young people."
** This week, Duluth is conducting their Junior H-high week, Camp Thrive
** New Ulm is affiliated with Riverbend T.E.C. (Together Encountering Christ.)
** On the Saint Cloud site, the old NCYC logo morphs into the new NCYC logo- - cool effect!
** Saint Paul - Minneapolis conducts monthly meetings of the youth ministers network
** Winona  has a Directory of all their youth ministry contacts. [state]

Friday August 03

ON THE ROAD
  Off to Colorado Springs this weekend.  Here comes my standard Internet caveat:  Who know what wireless will be available!!! If I find it without looking to hard, the postings will go uninterrupted.  If not, we’ll see you back here on Monday morning.
  Keep me and the CS participants in you prayers this weekend.  Thanks!  [blogging]
HELP WANTED
  <— Want to come play in a cool sandbox??? Want to share sweat with some of the best in the field?? Consider the ad. (Click on ad to read.) Apply here. [work day]
ENCOURAGEMENT
Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted. - Martin Luther King, Jr. [blogging]
TRENDS AND TUDES
  The Harris Poll recently conducted a survey of 1400+ middle school students (grades 7 and 8, in their survey).  You can download a pdf of the summary report in Harris’ “trends and tudes” newsletter here. [youth ministry]
STATE OF YOUTH MINISTRY:
MICHIGAN (UPSTATE AND UPPER PENINSULA)
** Last year, the Faith Development office of Gaylord was restructured and included youth ministry.
** Grand Rapids makes available a Catechetical Session on Peacemaking.
** Marquette has their P2K youth rally coming up (P2K = Priest, Prophet, King)
** Saginaw lists the staff contact.  [state]

Thursday August 02

WORLD YOUTH DAY ‘08 MESSAGE: CONVERSION
Rocco provides his own synopsis of the WYD letter (We got quotes below on July 25-29.) as well as a heart-felt memorial to John Paul’s role as WYD’s founder. He relays a tale that away from the event that became the triennial centerpiece and greatest joy of his pontificate, John Paul II could be overheard saying that, while some thought "the purpose of World Youth Day is the salvation of the youth," in his mind, "è per la conversione dei Vescovi"… that is, it was meant even more "for the conversion of the bishops."  [pope]
ON-GOING CONVERSION - - - D’OH 
  Bart Simpson once asked his father about the family’s religious identity. Homer classically replied, "You know, the one with all the well-meaning rules that don’t work in real life. Uh, Christianity."  Here is a top-ten listing of faith-themed Simpson episodes, including The Father, and the Son, and the Holy Guest Star. [culture]
STATE OF YOUTH MINISTRY:
MICHIGAN (DOWNSTATE)
Michigan is the Miller family ancestral home. Both my parents graduated from St. Mary’s High School in Lansing which eventually morphed into Lansing Catholic High.
** Detroit has a good looking site as well as a ministry to Youth in Detention.
** Youth Ministry in Kalamazoo is a part of the Evangelization, Catechesis, and Initiation office.
** Lansing has their nuts and bolts conference coming up.    [state]

Wednesday August 01

TOM EAST IS "INSIDE THE YOUTH MINISTERS’ STUDIO"
<<Enter the studio here.>>The studio is back after a one-week hiatus. When I started this project seven months ago, I had a "get" list.  Summer has made contact for the studio challenging (to say the least), so its a thrill to be able to have one of the original "get" listers agree to the interview.  Take a few moments and loiter with intent with Tom East.  [studio]
FIRST UP
  Next month, we will start a new feature here on the site.  A power point with audio on a catholic youth ministry topic that was prepared exclusively for the web site. In the meantime, here’s the prototype of what we plan to achieve. You have a quickie power point tour of the web site accompanied by an even less intentional .mp3 audio.  On September 1, this new feature will be first-up for the month and we’ll really give this thing a real work-out then.  (Of course, to use this, hit the play button at the lower part of the screen!) Next month: Refocusing Youth Ministry. [first up]
STATE OF YOUTH MINISTRY: MASSACHUSETTS
**  Boston has a prayer corner link right up front.
** Fall River  was hyping up WYD and CLI.
** Springfield, MA has a Diocesan Initiative on Adolescent Catechesis
** Martin Dorman will be a presenter at the Worcester youth rally. [state]

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

(taped by phone 08/09/07)

BIO: Affectionately known as the “Bible Geek ®,” Mark passionately echoes the Good News to all he meets. He reaches tens of thousands of people weekly in his “Spread the Word” e-mails as he breaks open the Scriptures with humor and relevance, showing how they still apply to our modern lives. Mark is a former teen, CORE member, and youth minister, and now proudly serves as Vice President of LIFE TEEN, overseeing Evangelization & Media.

QUOTE TO NOTE: Disciple is “one who sits at the feet of.” I think, often times, we fall into traps that it becomes “the what” instead of “the who.” It becomes about laundry lists of doctrine that we want to impart to other people catechetically but often times we are trying to get to formation with trying to first ensure that they have had that transformational experience.

OBSCURE FACTOID: As an aside, I asked about the German kids who he reported had attended the LifeTeen summer camp.  Were they US military kids?  The answer was no!  12 German young people came with Father Roland who had previously attended a training convention.  The Church in Europe continues to face its challenges and he wanted to see if LifeTeen could make a difference.  Father Roland served as a translator during the sessions. Attending the same camp were young people of Haitian decent, so at one point Mass included English, Spanish, German, and Creole (for the Haitians).  Truly, a “catholic” experience!

BEHIND THE SCENES: More and more, I’m interviewing folks that I have not met face-to-face, but admire greatly.  The phone call started with us mutually trashing Gene Monterastelli who had recommended that I call Mark for the interview.

BLOG REFLECTION: can be read here for August 29th.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

(taped 08/07/07 on the phone)

BIO: Tammy has a B.S. in Family Sciences, a minor in Addictive Disorders and a certificate in Youth Ministry Studies. She presents workshops, seminars and retreats across the nation with a message of hope and inspiration during all of life’s circumstances. Amosson is the founder of Seize the Day, a support group for families who have children with seizure disorders, and Mission Possible, a community outreach program. Learn more about Tammy  at www.tammyamosson.com

QUOTE TO NOTE: By making prayer time and time to nurture yourself, it allows you to be able to really focus on others.  If you don’t first get your primary spiritual needs met and physical needs met, then it is that much more difficult to reach out to others.

OBSCURE FACTOID: One of my happiest memories of leading conferences was watching Tammy lead morning aerobics at the Denver NCCYM with Jesse Manibusen joining along.  The memory brings a warm smile to my face everytime - - so much love!

BEHIND THE SCENES: Mid interview (around 7:20), the mic plug slipped out.  I caught it and we started recording again.  Tammy graciously put up with my silliness about this.

BLOG REFLECTION: can be read here for August 15th.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

(taped in Colorado Springs 08/04/07)

BIO: Tonita is the director of youth ministry at St. Mary’s Catholic Cathedral in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  She has served there for over a decade.

QUOTE TO NOTE: (regarding empowering young people) It was (growing to) maturity on my part and the adults.  We had to let go of that. . . (That process) was really gradual and it (involved) myself letting go but also training the volunteers to walk beside them  and partner with them.

OBSCURE FACTOID: Tonita refers to an ecumenical group in town known as 242.  This is likely based in Acts 2:42- - - They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers

BEHIND THE SCENES: Tonita agreed to do the podcast and she was so very ‘chill’ about it. She has a very mellow nature about her and I’m sure that that is calming and reassuring for her young people.

BLOG REFLECTION: can be read here for August 8th.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

(taped by phone 07/27/07)

BIO: Tom is the Director of the Center for Ministry Development, Project Coordinator for Youth Ministry Services, and Coordinator of the Certificate in Youth Ministry Studies Program which is held in North America and. . . Ireland. Tom holds a Master of Arts degree in Religious Studies from Mount St. Mary’s College in Los Angeles. Tom served as editor and author for many books, including Effective Practices for Dynamic Youth Ministry

QUOTE TO NOTE: When we say that we are empowering young people to live as disciples, I think our job is, in some ways, to be without an agenda, to offer a mentoring ministry.  When I was first working in campus ministry on a college setting, part of our goal was to “loiter with intent” We are a non-anxious presence that young people can come to.

OBSCURE FACTOID: Center for Ministry Development does not have all their staff living in the same neighborhood.  They really do have a national staff operating from many corners of the country.

BEHIND THE SCENES: Tom agreed to schedule the call after we were both scheduled to attend a phone conference call. We started off the call discussing the Fashion Me a People conference.  AND, we have new bumper music.

BLOG REFLECTION: can be read here for August 1st.