The Office of Youth Ministry - OYM News

Liz Buncher to move on from OYM

Sr. M. Consolata Crews FSGM — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:44:18 -0500

Come by the OYM at the Cardinal Rigali Center (3rd floor) on July 30th from 1-3pm to say good-bye to Liz!

After more than three years as the Coordinator of Youth Ministry, Liz Buncher will be leaving the OYM to be the Campus Minister and to teach sacraments at Notre Dame High School this fall. Liz has brought much joy, creativity, experience and care for youth ministers and young people. Her love for youth and those who serve them as been an asset to the OYM and parishes in the Archdiocese. Thank you Liz for using your gifts to serve and to bring Christ to the people of St. Louis!

Liz's last day at the OYM will be July 30, 2008. We will miss you Liz! We know the staff and students at Notre Dame will be blessed by you. Know you are in our prayers and we are grateful for all you have given through the OYM! God bless you!

Pillars of Prayer - April 22nd

Sr. M. Consolata Crews FSGM — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:13:48 -0500

Mark your calendar for April 22nd!

St. Joseph is the man! And we are inviting you to join him in intercession for us here at the Catholic Youth Apostolate - Scouts, Sports and Youth Ministry! Will you make a commitment to pray for us, young people, and those who serve them in the Archdiocese? Is that a yes, I hear? Great! Thank you! Our ministry needs to be supported by prayer and that's why we have Pillars of Prayer.

What will this entail? All we simply ask is for you to pray the Litany of St. Joseph daily for the intentions of the office, young people, and those who serve them throughout the Archdiocese.

Come join us for our monthly gathering for adoration and Mass at the Cardinal Rigali Center from 5:30pm to 6:30pm every 4th Tuesday of the month.

Questions? Contact Liz Buncher at 314.633.2503, lizbuncher@archstl.org or via the contact form (select 'Pillars of Prayer') to submit a prayer or request a free prayer card. We appreciate your joining the PILLARS OF PRAYER!

Advent Greetings!

Sr. M. Dolorosa — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 10:40:35 -0500

Advent Greetings!

Here's our Advent edition of the Eman. We hope it provides you with some great resources that will put your mind at ease during this Advent season. During this time of Advent we are called to prepare our hearts for the coming of our Lord by spending some time each day listening to the Lord.

EWTN has provided some great reflections for each day of Advent. May they be a source of inspiration and peace for you! If there's anything you would like to see included in the next volume, please send your ideas, comments and true-life stories to eman@stlyouth.org.
-E-man

What's Cooking Good Looking?

stlyouth — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 12:36:29 -0500

And the Winner is … . . .

We would like to thank everyone who turned out the the 1st Annual OYM Chili Cookoff. It was a wonderful evening of chili, desserts and wonderful music. The karaoke went almost non stop and sampling seemed to go all evening too!!!

And the winner is Fr. John Borcic. We congratulate him on a very tasty chili.

We look forward to next year and hope to see you there.

OYM Chili Cook-off

stlyouth — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 01:51:32 -0500

Are your taste buds ready for the excitement that will come their way this January??? The OYM is inviting all of our friends (that means you!!!) to a chili cook-off. We want to find out which staff member can make the most smokin’ pot of chili the youth ministry world has ever tasted. (It’s a good thing some of us can cook; it’s also good that some of us have spouses and mothers that can teach us the ways of the croc-pot before the big day). January 12, 2007 at 6:30pm at the Cardinal Rigali Center: come, eat, vote. Bring a favorite side dish or dessert to share for this night of food, games, prizes, and fun. Please let us know if you WILL be coming. E-mail or call Liz at lizbuncher@archstl.org or 314-633-2503. See you there!

OYM Bowling Bash

stlyouth — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 11:11:58 -0500

Youth ministers and their volunteers work very hard for the youth of our diocese. To show our appreciation for all that you do we invite you to join us for a laid back night of fun! The OYM will be hosting its first annual Youth Minister’s Bowling Bash on Saturday, October 21st at the Epiphany Parish bowling lanes. There will be food, prizes, music, tons of fun for all. Please RSVP ASAP to danthraen@archstl.org. Hope to see you there!!!

A Day with Scott and Kimberly Hahn

stlyouth — Fri, 06 Oct 2006 09:09:02 -0500

Event sold out!

Thank you to those who have registered to attend this event! Please remember to send in your form and payment within 10 days of registering.

If you were hoping to see Scott and Kimberly Hahn, and would like to be placed on the waiting list, please call us at (314) 633-2504. Ticket availability will be first come, first serve, and become available only if current registrations are dropped.

—-original article—-

Come for a day with Dr. Scott and Kimberly Hahn!

Sponsored by the OYM, Kenrick-Glennon Seminary and the Office of Family and Laity Life

Start the day with mass with Archbishop Raymond L. Burke at the St. Vincent de Paul Chapel in the Cardinal Rigali Center.

Listen to Scott and Kimberly speak on various topics - from marriage to scripture to Mary and more!

Mark your calendars now for October 14, 2006 from 8am-3:30pm

Cost - $15 including lunch

Registration will be online since space will be limited.

Questions - call 314.633.2500 or check out www.stlyouth.org for more information coming soon.

You've all been wondering...

stlyouth — Wed, 31 May 2006 14:47:57 -0500

Some of you may have been wondering about some positions here at the OYM. You’ve noticed some job listings on our homepage for a Coordinator of Youth Ministry and a Web Developer. Maybe some questions have run through your head. Are they new positions or are Liz and Joel leaving?

Here is our news:

Joel Stein has been serving here at the OYM since November of 2003. He has certainly been a gift to our office as he has developed, built, and managed the OYM and REAP web sites. Due to a personal decision, Joel’s last day here at the OYM will be June 16, 2006. He will be working full-time for the Regnum Christi lay apostolic movement as the web developer for several of their apostolates’ websites. We thank you Joel for all you have done here and will be praying for you during your time of transition. May you be blessed!

Please join me in welcoming two new people to the OYM staff. Ray Buehler will begin on June 12, 2006 as the new web developer. He has already volunteered some time with the REAP Team and comes to us from St. Louis.

We welcome Dan Thraen as a new Coordinator of Youth Ministry. (Liz is not leaving.) He will begin July 3, 2006, just in time for the Steubenville Conferences! He comes to us from Pennsylvania but hails originally from Iowa.

We look forward to welcoming these new people to the OYM and Archdiocese of St. Louis and for you to get to know them as well. Please keep us in your prayers during these next weeks! God bless you!

OYM Garage Sale

stlyouth — Tue, 23 May 2006 09:36:34 -0500

Start: May 31 2006 - 7:00am

End: May 31 2006 - 2:00pm

It’s been said that “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure.” See for yourself at the OYM garage sale! Our much needed storage space is getting filled up with old computers, printers, vases, clothes, Papal visit posters, banners, sign holders, and other miscellaneous trinkets that we’ve collected over the years. All items must go! They will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

Location

Blessed John XXIII Center

8300 Morganford

Saint Louis, MO, 63123

See map: Google Maps, Yahoo! Maps, MapQuest

Matt Maher's CD Overflow

stlyouth — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 11:45:50 -0500

TWO in ONE!

1. Buy the new Matt Maher CD Overflow

AND

2. Support the OYM!

It’s that simple! This is just one more way you can help support the OYM and listen to some incredible music at the same time. OCP has agreed to directly donate some of the proceeds from the CD sales to us. Check out your options on how to order as many CDs as you would like and tell a friend! Thank you for your support!

Matt Maher’s newest CD truly delivers with a musical testament to God’s overflowing blessings. Its 12 new songs with 2 bonus tracks speak powerfully of what it means to be a Christian in the third millennium.

We've Moved!

stlyouth — Thu, 10 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0500

Did you know that the OYM has moved locations? If not, now you do! We are located now at the Cardianl Rigali Center, 20 Archbishop May Dr. We would love to see you, so come by and say hi! We are on the third floor! Get off the elevator and turn right, then turn right before the double doors, and just keep walking ‘till you find us! See you soon!

Reflection Series Going Strong

stlyouth — Mon, 03 Oct 2005 23:00:00 -0500

We just completed week 4 of our Eucharistic Love series here at the OYM. It has been a blessing for many youth ministers and young adults to come together for some faith sharing and adoration! We have talked about such topics as what it means to await the Lord in the Eucharist, suffering and authentic love. We have encountered the Lord personally through adoration.

There are 5 more weeks in the series and you are all invited to come! That is, if you are a young adult, a youth minister, volunteer, campus minister, or core member! Come let yourself be nourished by the Eucharist as we close out this Year of the Eucharist.

Our Holy Father just began the Synod on the Eucharist in Rome on October 2, 2005. You can support the pope, cardinals, bishops, and priests with your prayers by joining them in praying the Prayer for the Synod.

Come join us next week, October 10, 2005 for prayer and faith sharing on the topic of “Mary’s Intercession in the Eucharist”! It is held at Blessed John XXIII Center from 7-8:30pm. Don’t take our word for it, but listen to some of the experiences of those who are coming:

“Common life can be messy and the Eucharistic series has satisfied two aspects of my intention to continue searching for Christ this autumn. I enjoy the communion of reality with theYouth Ministry community and this encounter with them teaches me about that intimate place inside each of us that is struggling, creative, ecstatic, deeply engaged and there I find God through what is proclaimed, shared, and prayed. Secondly, to pray with those who have humbly shared themselves before Jesus present in the Eucharist helps to overcome the twists and turns of daily life and ministry. Thank you OYM for this opportunity to pray together for His Church, His Teens, and ourselves.”

Check out the Eucharistic Love page of our web site for more information.

OYM and CYC to merge

stlyouth — Mon, 03 Oct 2005 23:00:00 -0500

In keeping with the re-alignment of the Archdiocesan Curia, the Office of Youth Ministry and Catholic Youth Council will merge to form the Office of Catholic Youth Ministry. The merger, currently in process, should be completed no later than June 30, 2005.

Presently the two staffs are preparing to consolidate their offices at one site. After examining space at the current locations of the Blessed John XXIII Center and the Cardinal Rigali Center, as well as other locations in the immediate area, it was decided that the place that offered the greater space with the better amenities for both staffs would be the Cardinal Rigali Center. The move will mean a consolidation of all youth ministry work into one office. All the final pieces are still being worked out but, if all falls into place, the physical move could come as early as October 27th or 28th.

The move and approaching merger should not impede the services that are currently being offered by either agency. In the long run, with a combined staff and a combined budget, we are confident that we can improve upon some of those services as well as respond to additional needs for all youth groups, athletic teams, boy scout and girl scout troops, youth ministers, scout leaders and coaches.

We will keep you up to date as the merger continues.

Fr. John Borcic
Executive Director - OCYM

Who, What and Why?

stlyouth — Thu, 08 Sep 2005 23:00:00 -0500

by Father John Borcic

Who, What and Why? Interrogative pronouns all, and I would like to use them with regards to myself.

Who am I? My name is Father John Borcic and a few months ago Archbishop Burke asked me to become the Executive Director of the Office of Catholic Youth Ministry. His appointment came as a bit of a surprise since I seemed to be well entrenched in my quiet little parish in Dutzow, Missouri, where I was pastor for the past four years. Some of you may have heard of Dutzow, or even been there, since the Catholic Camp of America is in St. Vincent’s backyard.

I have to admit, though, that while it saddened me to have to leave St. Vincent’s, I did welcome the Archbishop’s appointment. It is exciting for me to come to work with two great staffs (the Office of Youth Ministry and the Catholic Youth Council) and to be in a position to help them prepare for a strong future – which leads me to the What question.

What is it that I am supposed to do? My understanding, in speaking to the Archbishop and to Bishop Hermann, is that my principal role is to conduct the merger of the Office of Youth Ministry and the Catholic Youth Council into one agency called the Office of Catholic Youth Ministry. I also understand that this doesn’t mean a reduction in services by either of the two programs. In fact, with a larger staff, and a combined budget, the stage will be set for some growth, even in the immediate future.

Why are we doing this? The merger is coming about as a result of the Strategic Pastoral Plan of 1999-2002 and the resulting reorganization of the Archdiocesan Curia. It is part of a larger pastoral plan that will help the Church in St. Louis realize its goals of conversion, evangelization, Catholic education, serving those in need, and exercising responsible stewardship. Should these not also be the goals of all Catholic organizations and agencies including OYM/CYC?

I will meet with the combined staffs of the two agencies on Thursday, September 8th and from there we will begin our journey to merge CYC and the Office of Youth Ministry. Please pray for us so that we will have a smooth merger and a grand and glorious future.

I hope to meet everyone who serves in youth ministry in any capacity. Please invite me to any special events or programs you may be having throughout the year. If my calendar permits, I will do my best to attend as many of these as I can. Thank you for all you do.

Habemus Papam!

stlyouth — Tue, 19 Apr 2005 23:00:00 -0500

We have a Pope! Yes, yesterday the 264th successor of St. Peter was chosen. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger will now be known as Pope Benedict XVI! We give thanks to the Lord for another shepherd to guide the worldwide flock. How appropriate that our new Holy Father has been chosen during this week of readings about the Good Shepherd. Now that we know who we have been praying for these past days, let us continue to lift Pope Benedict XVI up in prayer. May the Holy Spirit pour His many gifts upon him as he begins his call to be the “servant of the servants of God.”

OYM to offer Internships

stlyouth — Fri, 07 Jan 2005 00:00:00 -0500

The Office of Youth Ministry is seeking applicants for summer internships. OYM internships are unpaid and offer young people an opportunity to give a period of service to the Church, while gaining valuable experience and formation, and for some possible academic credit.

To apply for an internship with the OYM please complete our online form at www.stlyouth.org/internships/. You may also contact the OYM at 314.633.2500 if you wish to speak with someone or to request information.

Annual Catholic Appeal

stlyouth — Thu, 28 Oct 2004 23:00:00 -0500

Archbishop Raymond Burke has announced a new name and introduced a new logo for the Archdiocesan Development Appeal. It will now be called the Annual Catholic Appeal — Serving Others.

This new name will more clearly identify the nature of the work of the Appeal. The Annual Catholic Appeal is a direct appeal to the Catholic community. It is our opportunity to join in solidarity once a year through our sacrificial gifts and share our bounty in the spirit of true stewardship with those most in need. It is through the apostolates supported by the Appeal that we are serving others.

The Appeal has undergone several name changes since its establishment in 1949. Originally known as the Easter Fund, the Appeal was renamed the Archdiocesan Expansion Fund to raise monies to build new parishes and schools in the 1950s and 1960s. In 1972, in light of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council and the focus on the role of the laity in the Church, the name was changed to the Archdiocesan Development Appeal as new efforts were required to meet the Gospel command to serve others.

Youth Ministry - Who Gives A Hoot?

stlyouth — Mon, 26 Jul 2004 23:00:00 -0500

by Bishop Bob Hermann

I knew that would get your attention! The answer is that Jesus does. So does Archbishop Raymond Burke. So does Sr. M. Consolata whom Archbishop Burke has asked to be the interim Director of the Office of Youth Ministry.

So do you! Over two thousand of you attended Steubenville St. Louis Youth Conference in Springfield, Missouri. Another 120 of you attended You had some bad html here.Project LifeYou had some bad html here., and 135 of you have just come back from the Steubenville Youth Conference in Steubenville. Many of the parishes have signed up for VITAL, a parish support program. Some of you will be welcoming to St. Louis twenty young visitors from Holland during the first two weeks of August, and they, in turn, will return the favor during next year’s World Youth Day. Many of you have already registered for World Youth Day 2005. If you haven’t registered, kindly check out the web page.

These are exciting times, not only for you but for all the youth of the Archdiocese. Pope John Paul II keeps telling our youth: “You belong to Christ and Christ belongs to you!”

We will continue to lead you closer and closer to Jesus Christ, to challenge you with His Gospel, to nurture you with the Holy Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation and to invite you to serve others in need. Jesus, then, will use you to bring others to know Jesus Christ in such a way that their lives will also be changed. This will bring you great joy!

As you know, Father Bob Smoot has taken a leave of absence. Let us keep him in our prayers. He has served you and the Church very well.

However, the Office of Youth Ministry will continue to make exciting programs available to you. Joel Stein will continue to work with Sr. M. Consolata in carrying on the work of youth ministry. So will Paul Masek and Heather Gallagher who do an awesome job with the Reap Team! Rosanne Twellman will continue to work with us as a part time event coordinator.

Please call Sr. M. Consolata or Joel Stein with any questions you might have about the above programs. Don’t forget to register for World Youth Day 05. I hope to see you at Inspiration 04 at Six Flags!

Meanwhile, pray for the Search Committee as it seeks a new Director of the Office of Youth Ministry. It is a joy to work with you!

New OYM Website

stlyouth — Mon, 22 Mar 2004 00:00:00 -0500

The Office of Youth Ministry’s website has changed. Check it out today to get youth and young adult ministry related news, a calendar of events, and detailed information about all our programs.