LRM in DC 2007

In 2005, a group of youth ministers and campus ministers got together and decided to pool their talents and resources in an effort to develop a quality program that supplements the experience of the March for Life in DC. The result was Life Really Matters (LRM). Many of the same leaders, combined with fresh talent and enthusiasm, are prayerfully coming together again for the 2007 pilgrimage to grow a youth experience that will be the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. As the planning is only in the preliminary phase, we can only estimate that the details of the trip will look very similar to last year.

Depart STL- Friday, January 19- there will be a send off program at a Catholic Parish- details coming soon. Arrive DC- Saturday, January 20- free time for touring and rest until Saturday evening programming. Tour day- Sunday, January 21- LRM will provide a “tourism coordinator” to help group leaders make decisions about transportation/directions, suggestions for the best places to eat and help them decide what they have time/money to visit. Guest speaker- I can’t tell you who it will be, but if you went last year, then you are on the right track. This evening, sure to make the highlight reel, will begin Sunday night at 7pm and it will include a dynamic youth oriented Liturgy. March- Monday, January 22 and bus departure around 6pm from Union Station near the end of the march. Cost- @ $220- depending upon the cost of fuel at booking.

All of these details will firm up as the event draws closer and our volunteer core team finalizes everything. Our team will gather for the first time in about two weeks and we will be meeting about once every three weeks, so please pray for us. Please feel free to contact me if you are interested in helping in any way. The duties will be divided into: Friday night check in/luggage management, technical/sound, programming, music ministry, Friday night send off/clean up crew- a group not attending the event, hotel/reservations, transportation/bus company accountability/bus captains, registration/welcoming committee and facilities director, hotel security and floor patrol, hotline/phone chain/emergency correspondent, and tourism consultant. It is possible to help with some of these responsibilities without attending any meetings.

If you would like to join us, group registration and liability forms are available at Ed’s email address below, but again we have not even finalized the cost yet. Please honor all deadlines. Just like last year, we plan to handle all liability forms and compliance issues with chaperones at the parish level as LRM is not a diocesan sponsored event. LRM will provide a template, but this is a grass roots parish/school sponsored event. We will have one main emergency contact number for LRM, but I suggest giving your parents a group leader’s cell phone number.

We are asking groups to make a total commitment to all or none of the LRM program. We will have a group leaders/chaperones meeting in January (TBA) that most groups will find very helpful. In addition to affording all the participating groups the opportunity to meet the core team and bus captains, this will also allow the core team to share all of the finalized details with the group leaders, such as where to take your luggage on Friday night, where to check in when you arrive at the hotel, etc… Once you get on the email list (contact Ed below), your group will receive all future trip updates. Until then, we join you in prayer for an end to abortion and all depravation that compromises human dignity.

In Christ, Greg Robeson LRM Programming and Team Recruitment 1lifeteen@sbcglobal.net

Ed Hamer LRM Registration and Bookkeeper hamere@cbchs.org