Here are the most popular blog posts from the month of January 2011:

Also, of note, we live-blogged the annual membership meeting of the National Federation of Catholic Youth Ministry between January 26-29.

St. John Bosco,whose feast we celebrate today, does have something to add about Church formation with younger generations.

Don Bosco would explain that the experience of God’s love ‘comes before’ the experience of the individual. We should always, therefore, be inclined not to transplant God into the next generations. Faith is not something to be poured into kids from the font of our own knowledge, ecclesiology, faith,and experiences.

Rather, we are to recognize their own dignity as God’s creation, and seek to discern the grace of God-encounters within our time with them.  This generation that might claim to be “spiritual, but not religious” already has “God-stuff” well within their psyches. God is already present within them!

And, yet, the experiences of St. John Bosco’s early ministry are not dissimilar to what is occurring presently in many youth ministry efforts throughout the Church.

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It is Sunday and so we offer a prayer based on the readings of the weekend, but it is also a annual day of personal celebration.  Lord, hear our prayers, hear my prayers.

Lord, I’ve given consideration regarding my calling, my life choices, and really…? It’s not been very much, has it? I didn’t turn out to be a doctor or lawyer or Indian Chief. I’ve tried to do no wrong and avoid speaking with a deceitful tongue; but what has that gotten me – sight? being lifted up? love? protection?

Turns out, it’s not about me, never has been, never will be. I claim my life for You, Lord… for then, for what will be. Sustain me, O Lord. Sustain me, a weak fool. Bless me.

Let’s give it another rotation around the sun.  Allow my next year to rotate around the Son.

It’s the last session at the Annual Membership Meeting.  Starts at 3pm mountain.

Ansel- Somebody done stole my stuff… They stole my heritage…  (quoting Sr. Thea Bowman)

Catholic Youth Ministry does work. The Black Catholic Youth Ministry Vitality project is working on identifying what Black Catholic Youth Ministry is….  We do not want our name forgotten.

We are Black and proud.  We are Catholic and proud. And, we are members of the NFCYM, and proud

Session starts at 9am.

“The Onion” has always been a great source of fake news.  Someone recently started Catholic Onion blog, of which one Catholic itinerant minister commented “I wish them luck… on-going satire is difficult”

Nonetheless, their third posting took on the “news” about youth ministers: 93% of Youth Ministers Can Bilocate, New Study Finds.  The fake news – - -

"We actually learned that 93% of youth ministers have multi-tasked to such an extent that they have actually exceeded the speed of light barrier and managed to actually be two places at once," said Bob Richards of the Edith Stein Institute for Independent Research.

Bilocation, the ability to be in two places at once, has reported occurrences in the lives of saints such as Padre Pio, St. Anthony of Padua, and St. Ambrose of Milan.  It is considered an extremely rare gift of the spirit granted only to the most longsuffering and charismatic souls.

"Well, the old saints never had to deal with a room full of 100 high schoolers, another room full of 200 parents, Confirmation classes, and a retreat planning committee all scheduled in the same hour," said one youth minister, who declined to be named.

You are encouraged to read this full article while attending a meeting (even in Albuquerque), playing Ultimate Frisbee with junior high kids, and attending your pastor’s birthday celebration. <image source>

We kick off again at 1pm eastern time.

Session starts at 8:45 am Mountain Time.

On Thursday evening- we are live blogging again… check us out on the site.  If you want to comment, do so in the coveritlive box. Thanks.