It is still Easter season, so we can still reflect upon these resurrection moments… “They found the stone rolled away from the tomb; but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were puzzling over this, behold, two men in dazzling garments appeared to them. They were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground. They said to them, “Why do you seek the living one among the dead?

Now, let’s get this right… I do appreciate celebrating the witness of those holy ones who have called our attention to the Living One who is Jesus.

And this video does not even pretend to acknowledge all the holy ones who have gone before us…, just the ‘known.” Not mentioned are those names who  quietly but effectively ministered two decades ago along side a much youngrt me in Iowa. Not mentioned is Mike Yaconelli of Youth Specialties. Not mentioned is your own early influences. <Name them and pray for them now please.> Where is my late father? Where is John Paul II, one of those with whom we had actually marched who might eventually end up being recognized as a saint?

And none of this conversation acknowledges those living and ministering presently at our side… We celebrated Mark Pacione in the ArchBalt recently. I call Mike Carotta often enough to let him know I appreciate his ministry.  I try to be loving and supportive of the Phenomenal Women on our staff.

In a commitment to avoid vision slippage, let us seek the Living One among the living… What is the Church if not the assembly of all the saints?” The communion of saints is the Church. Since all the faithful form one body, the good of each is communicated to the others….  [CCC 946-947] In this season of New Life, let us intentionally celebrate the living who help us form the living Body of Christ.

A prayer for the Fourth Sunday of Easter:

Lord, there is nothing else that we really want than for You to be our Shepherd.  Actually, that thought sorta scares the hell out of all of us.

We say …that we want you to guides us in right paths …that we recognize your voice and that we will follow you and not some thief or robber who snuck into our pasture  …that we are ready for the courage of acknowledging your rod and your staff to have ourselves saved from this corrupt generation. Yea, yea, we say all that.

If we were to acknowledge our Shepherd as our Lord and Christ, as Jesus who was crucified, well, then, every one of us would repent and be baptized, seeking forgiveness of our sins. In the path of the Shepherd, only goodness and kindness follow us all the days of our lives. With you, Lord, as shepherd and guardian of our souls, we might have life and have it more abundantly. <image source>

People do not criticize Christ.

They criticize Christians because they do not resemble Him.

François Mauriac
French Novelist 1914-1996

Eric Porteous recently posted up on the LifeTeen blog regarding 10 questions to ask about your Youth Ministry.  They are toughies and meant to get you really examining what and why you do what you are doing…

Does your ministry have momentum?
What can you do that’s new?
What do you need to stop doing?
Do you evaluate your ministry?
Do people feel free to openly criticize?
Who is your target audience?
Do you need new personnel? 
Is your ministry too complex? 
What are you doing for training?
Is your ministry built to last?

Check here Eric explains his questions… BUT, seriously, no fair answering all these tucked away in your office.  Ask others…  including just maybe your boss!

The revised Missal translation aligns more closely with the Latin words used for Mass long ago. Because of this, we might find ourselves saying some things that we wouldn’t usually say in English. They also are closer in meaning to the words that Catholics say in other languages like French, Spanish, and German. This reminds us that we are part of a huge, global Church. In this video, teens talk about how they feel about the new words and how they experience unity in the Church.

Liturgical Training Publications and SpiritJuice Productions have put together have out together a series of videos for young people as a resource regarding the New Roman Missal.  We will profile them all over the next Wednesdays.

Consider taking advantage of the change in the mass as an opportunity for greater inclusion of young people in the ministries of the weekend liturgies.

Easter break brought some quiet time for some reading…

I got myself an early copy of Youcat, the Catechism of the Catholic Church aimed at the young. "It is a gift from the Holy Father to the young participants in World Youth Day,” stated Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity. "It is not enough to make young people ‘dream’; it is necessary also to help them grow well-rooted in the rich earth of Christian tradition. … A real education in the faith of the young, therefore, must begin by freely proposing Christ to them. He is the solid rock upon which they may build their lives!"

It is a classic numbered question-and-answer catechism with many well placed quotes,

(more…)

Our prayer for this Third Sunday of Easter

Lord, our hearts are glad and our souls rejoice. Jesus Christ has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon! This is the One commended to us by God with mighty deeds, wonders, and signs.

We abound with joy in the knowledge with the One delivered up by the set plan and foreknowledge of God. Lord, you have shown us the path of life -  living, dying, and being released from the throes of death – it now is as impossible for us with the  sacrifice of the precious blood of Christ as of a spotless unblemished lamb.

Stay with us, Lord, for we remain uncertain in the moment but for the knowledge that you are our allotted portion and our cup. Our hearts are burning within us as we consume all that you have given us. <image source>

It is the first Saturday of the month so it must be time for a “CaptionThis” contest.

This Peter Macdiarmid photo captures a reaction to the first kiss of Britain’s Prince William and his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge on the balcony at Buckingham Palace after the Royal Wedding.

Little bridesmaid Grace van Cutsem, William’s goddaughter, however was not very pleased with all the noise that the “first kiss” evoked.

And we have all seen that face before in young people— in our homes, in our programs… so, go ahead, caption little lady Grace.  Comment below.

Matt Toohill takes the “no prize” with “Princess, my foot, I’ll show her!”