January Youth Ministry Updates
Diocese of Ogdensburg
Youth Rally Registration
The day will include the engaging keynote speaker, Bob Perron, workshops facilitated by excellent presenters, interactive games & activities, a variety of prayer opportunities, and a closing Mass celebrated by Bishop LaValley.
Don't miss out --encourage youth to attend, and sign up your group soon!
The cost is $25 and includes a guaranteed t-shirt for those who register by March 15. After March 15, the cost is $30 and t-shirts are only available while supplies last.
Register your chaperones and youth participants at www.rcdony.org/youthrally/rally.
Lenten Retreat Day Registration
The retreat is free! Participants do need to pre-register and bring a bagged lunch.
Camp Guggenheim Registration
All paperwork other than the Physician's Form will be completed online.
Weeks 1-5 are open to 12-15 year-olds, and Week 6 is specially designed for 16-18 year-olds.
Encourage teens to register soon to guarantee a spot at this life-changing week!! Partial scholarships through the Diocese are available.
Register online at www.rcdony.org/camp
Catholic Heart Work Camp
Email Jocelyn & Samantha at chwc.ogdensburg@gmail.com for more information or to register!
Successful March for Life
It was an incredible pilgrimage! Thanks to John & Colleen Miner from the Respect Life Office for organizing it!
Camp Guggenheim T-Shirt Contest!
The deadline is coming up, so encourage interested teens to submit designs/descriptions of their ideas soon!
Camp Guggenheim Weekly Slideshows
Week 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=So_Cn-lex0U
Week 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaSeRQtC40U
Week 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNJyUuoeFlw
Week 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AS3fiY43p9Q
Webinars from NFCYM
In addition to checking out upcoming webinars, you can access dozens of pre-recorded webinars: https://www.gotostage.com/channel/3137548062961020934
One recent webinar that I'd like to highlight because it touched on an issue that many youth ministry leaders in the diocese have discussed with me was Robert Feduccia's presentation on Science as a Teenager's Path to God.
Random Tips: Focus on Lent
Lent is relatively early this year, and many of you are probably already planning Lenten activities/ways to prepare your youth for Lent. Here are a few ideas, but feel free to get in touch if you're looking for more!
This website gives an overview of a unique way to guide youths' individual goals for prayer, fasting, and almsgiving where kids draw a slip of paper each day in each of the three areas. A few of the actions are geared more towards elementary-age children, but it could easily be modified to work for teens (and adults!).
Lent is a time of increased prayer, which makes it a natural time to focus on discipleship. Teens might lead the parish community in Stations of the Cross or another Lenten prayer. You can also guide the teens in making a Lenten goal of inviting more friends to and/or increasing their social media posts about youth events/Mass/parish activities.
Service:
Most parishes have a lot going on during Lent, and teens can easily do service in many of these programs. Some ideas include helping out at a fish fry or soup supper, helping to set up/clean up for a parish mission, and decorating the church/parish center for Lent. Furthermore, you can emphasize the almsgiving aspect of Lent by guiding teens in making a donation (maybe to Operation Rice Bowl) from their own funds and/or through a youth-initiated fundraising event.
Knowledge:
Five separate plans that include prayer, an activity, and reflection questions. This correlates with Catholic Relief Services' Operation Rice Bowl,but could also be used without an emphasis on Operation Rice Bowl. In addition to the Youth Ministry resources, there are also tabs for educational resources for grades 1-12: http://www.crsricebowl.org/schools
Some "True/False" questions about Lent that can be used in a simple game, prayer materials, and discussion questions (The PowerPoint for the fourth activity doesn't work, but 1-3 have some helpful ideas): http://www.rethinkingyouthministry.com/2008/02/ideas-for-lent-3-youth-bible-study.html
Online Catechist Certification Program
A parish/school can purchase as many licenses as needed form the Diocese and will be billed ($15 per license). The license is good for as many modules as the catechist can complete within one year of activating it (interested catechists should commit to completing at least two during the year).
Get more information/purchase a license by contacting:
Western Region - Cathy Russell, crussell@rcdony.org
Eastern Region - Pam Ballantine, pballantine@rcdony.org
Upcoming Events
February 2: Hearts on Fire. Praise & Worship Holy Hour at Notre Dame in Malone. 7:00-8:00 every first Friday. Get more information from office@standres.org.
February 25: Lifeteen at St. Peter's in Plattsburgh, 6:00-8:00. Email plattsburghlifeteen@gmail.com
March 2: Hearts on Fire. Praise & Worship Holy Hour at Notre Dame in Malone. 7:00-8:00 every first Friday. Get more information from office@standres.org.
March 10: Lenten Retreat in Lowville, 10:00-5:00 (grades 6-12). Register at www.rcdony.org/lentenretreat
March 11: Lenten Retreat in Saranac Lake, 10:00-5:00 (grades 6-12). Register at www.rcdony.org/lentenretreat
March 25: Lifeteen at St. Peter's in Plattsburgh, 6:00-8:00. Email plattsburghlifeteen@gmail.com
April 28: Youth Rally in Canton (grades 6-12). Youth leaders/chaperones: Register your group at www.rcdony.org/youthrally
Feel free to get in touch!
If you are working on any youth ministry programming and would like help/resources, feel free to email Kelly at kdonnelly@rcdony.org. The Youth Department is here to help you with whatever you most need!
Prayer for Youth
We offer to you, Loving God, the gifts and needs of youth.
Bless them with your guiding grace as they face the challenges and opportunities in their lives.
Touch their hearts with the gentleness of your love, that they may know they are valued and valuable beings.
Send your spirit of hope to their lives, that they may believe in themselves and know they are needed in this world.
Grace them with the gift of joy that they may celebrate life through laughter and tears alike.
Guide us, as we continue to grow in appreciation of the many gifts of young people, in the ministry opportunities we offer to them, in the journey of faith we walk with them, in our shared mission as a community called to discipleship in the world.
From: https://holyspiritcatholic.com/prayer-for-youth