We interrupt our usual Tuesday clip-service for this public service announcement:

There can be no greater civic news than that our democracy, fragile and flawed though it may be, still works after two centuries. "We the people" can celebrate that. Please vote today . . . and now, back to  the Tuesday headlines:

HAYES, KS — The Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Youth Organization haunted house at The Mall has produced all three with its more than 300 visitors during the recent weekend. Visitors to "Nightmare in New York" take a tour through the New York City harbor, a vacant warehouse, a mafia bar and a back alley before going it alone through a maze in the pitch black of night. "It’s a longtime project of our youth," said Rick Binder, youth ministry coordinator. "Fellowship projects are an opportunity for families to work together and do something constructive while having fun because it does take a lot of work." More here.

TAIPEI, TAIWAN — Taiwan Youth Day (TYD) 2008 inspired its 500 participants to share the Good News with the public, an organizer says. One activity during the recent event was called "evangelization in action." Participants took to the busy streets of Taipei on a Saturday afternoon and talked with passersby about the Catholic faith, then invited them to write a personal prayer or intention on a card. They collected 3,000 such cards within two hours.  More here.

SPENCER, IA — On a blustery day, the wind, or perhaps the Holy Spirit, as Bishop Nickless put it, blew 640 teens into the Clay County Regional Events Center for the annual Diocesan High School Youth Rally. "Your presence is a sign of the vitality and youthful presence of the church," Bishop Nickless said during Mass. "From you comes the future." After lunch, Dan Harms, of Popple, spoke on prayer and the challenge to love.  "Sometimes when you think God’s not talking to you and God’s not working in your life, sometimes he’s coming after you through a different means," he said.  "Sometimes when we’re trying to listen to where God’s calling us, it’s not a booming voice . . . It’s often in very subtle ways over a long period of time."  More here.  

MUNICH, GERMANY — A meeting of DON BOSCO YOUTHNET, an international net work of Salesian  Youth Ministry offices and organisations, was held at Munich from the 23rd to the 26th of October 2008.  It was attended by 21 participants from 11 European Countries. It started with the meeting of the Administrative Body (Belgium, Germany, Malta, Poland and the President Fr. Bob Gardner). This was followed by the presentation of the new website of Don Bosco Youthnet, in order to help the members to discover its full potential and to use it for better communication among them. More here.

WESTON, W.VA. — The author of an inspirational book called "Keys to Happiness” will speak at the 23rd annual West Virginia Catholic Youth Convention next month. More than 150 young people from across the state are expected to gather at Jackson’s Mill Nov. 7-9. Author Anna Scally, president of Cornerstone Media, is the keynote speaker. She has been master of ceremonies at World Youth Day celebrations in Denver, Toronto, Germany and Australia. More here.