The Office of Youth Ministry - Did You Know?

Screwtape On Screen

Dan Thraen — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 12:08:30 -0500

Yes, its true C.S. Lewis fans, The Screwtape Letters will head to the big screen after Walden Media purchased the rights to the novel. Walden also owns the rights to Lewis' "The Chronicles of Narnia" books.

Much of the appeal The Screwtape Letters derives from is C.S. Lewis's startlingly original reversal of telling a story about Christian faith, not from a Christian point-of-view, but from the perspective of a devil, trying to secure the damnation of one's man's soul.

Walden Media is banking that Screwtape will be as big of hit as the Narnia movie, which grossed $744 million world wide. Screwtape will open nationwide in early 2008 and the film will be shot as a live-action movie.

Ministry to Non-Christians

stlyouth — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 18:07:02 -0500

As youth ministers, sometimes it is easy for us to get trapped into the mindset of only catering our ministry to Catholic or Christian teens - people who already have a foundation or understanding from which we hope to grow their faith. How then do we respond to an encounter with a person who is not Christian, and in fact may be turned off to Christ.

A recent article on CPYU.org, speaks on most non-Christians' stance on Christianity. Three points are discussed:

Most non-Christians do not have a central truth. They are deeply spiritual, but have formed their own religion by "mixing their own unique combination of religious elements"
They are turned off to Christianity. Why? Because they frequently encounter Christians acting in an un-Christian manner.
They may be interested in Christ, but are turned off to the Church because they percieve the Church to be turned off to them.

If interested in reading more, check out the article titled, "Looking for bus #119."

The Archbishop's iPod!

stlyouth — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 09:36:29 -0500

In case you didn't know, the Catholic Youth Apostolate gave Archbishop Burke an iPod for Christmas. Check out the article in the St. Louis Review .

We loaded the Arcbishop's iPod with REAP Team podcasts and music from awesome Catholic musicians including Adam Bitter, Karl Zimmermann, Nathanael's Creed, Praz, The Priestie Boyz, Matthew Baute, Same Day Kings, and Exodus Two-Zero. Since the Archbishop of St. Louis listens to such quality music and podcasts, don't you think that you should do the same?

OCS, CYA, CYC, CSBSA, CCSGS, NCCS, NFCYM

ann lederman — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 16:04:01 -0500

What does this all mean????
To go where no man has gone before…
Find out more!

Acronym Soup

ann lederman — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 16:00:06 -0500

OCS, CYC, CSBSA, CCSGS, NCCS, NFCYM…
What does this all mean????

What does OCS stand for?
We would like to introduce you to the OCS! Office of Catholic Scouting

What do we do here?
We promote, direct and support Catholic programs for youth involved in Boy Scout and Girl scout programs from Second grade thru the age of 21.

We facilitate eight Catholic Emblem Programs as well as many National Catholic emblem programs for youth.

We hold a week long catholic camp, weekend, day retreats and emblem program celebrations.

We train adult moderators and counselors to facilitate Catholic emblem programs.

We also recognize and award Troops, Packs, Crews and adults with awards for their Catholic units and those adults working with youth as mentors and making a difference in the live of the youth.

Did we just crawl out from under a rock?
No, The Catholic Youth Council (CYC) formed the Catholic Committees back in the 1950 to oversee the development of a spiritual presence in the Scouting programs.

The Catholic Committee on Girls Scouts (CCGS) is a local committee under the OCS and works in cooperation with the Girl Scout Council of Greater St. Louis. Our National Office is the National Federation of Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM) located in Washington DC.

The Catholic Committee on BSA (CCSBSA) is a local committee under the OCS and works in cooperation with the Greater St. Louis Area Council Boy Scouts of America. Our National office is the National Catholic Committee on Scouting (NCCS) located in Irving Texas.

What is our Mission?
The Mission is to proclaim Jesus Christ in word and action by serving the needs of every boy and girl, regardless of ability, religious affiliation or ethnic background, to develop discipline and skills necessary to obtain and sustain individual achievements, build character and to develop valued relationships and teamwork, to develop within participants an understanding of God's continuing love for them and their value as an individual, cultivate a spirit of trust and concern for others, inspire a sense of respect for the rights and responsibilities of others as individuals and groups, impart spiritual and moral values, instill ethical standards of conduct, encourage cooperation and team spirit, empower youth and young adults to become active in the Church and community, By providing these healthy, character building activities and programs, we hope to enable youth and young adults to realize their destiny as followers of Jesus Christ.

How do you get more information?
I don’t want to tell you where to go, but for more info on the OCS programs and services visit our website at www.cycstl.net and click on the words Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts.

Or contact ME…Ann Lederman at 314-792-7608 or annlederman@archstl.org
I would be happy fill you in on all our fun, faith filled events!

Go Global – Really Global!

stlyouth — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 10:44:28 -0500

The Mission Office of the Archdiocese of Saint Louis is excited to announce their new website! Check out www.stlmissions.org and learn about the global missionary work of the Church, national and local mission aid programs, mission tools and resources, news, blogs, and upcoming events. Find out how you can be involved in mission and bring more missionary awareness and education into your life!

Maybe you’re interested in joining other high school students, college students, young adults, and adults in offering prayer, sacrifice, and financial support to help missionaries around the world – if so, then the Society for the Propagation of the Faith is for you! Or, maybe you work with grade school kids and you’d rather teach them about “children helping children” and spreading the Good News of Jesus to kids around the world – in that case, the Holy Childhood Association is your best bet! Want to know where and how other people from right here in Saint Louis are serving? Find out through the Latin America Apostolate and Pan y Amor. Maybe you just want to kick back, relax, and surf the net…then be sure to check out the Mission Blog and Resources Page!

Call 314-792-7655 or email info@stlmissions.org for more information on these and all of the exciting Mission Office programs!

Hahn Frequently Asked Questions

stlyouth — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 09:14:20 -0500

You've got questions? We've got answers! Below is a list of frequently asked questions about A Day With Scott and Kimberly Hahn, and their answers. Please click 'Read More…' to see all questions.

If you have any additional questions, please contact us at (314) 633-2504.

I want to see the Hahns, but have not registered. How can I do so?
Due to space limitations, the event at the Cardinal Rigali Center is now sold out. However, on October 22nd, we will have all of the talks available on our website for download in mp3 format.

I registered a while ago. How come I never received a ticket?
There are no tickets. All you will need to do is show up the day of the event, where we will have a name tag printed for you. The name tag will act as your access pass and meal ticket.

What do I need to bring?
Please bring your bible, catechism (if you have one), notebook, pen, and an open heart!!

Will I need to bring food or a lunch to the event?
Coffee, juice and pastries will be available as a light snack after Mass in the morning. A sack lunch and beverage will be provided for you during the day. Please respect an hour of fasting before receipt of the Holy Eucharist.

Dr. Scott and/or Kimberly Hahn is my hero! Will I be able to get an autograph/signed book?
We request that people please reserve all book signing/autograph requests until the end of the day during the time we have designated.

Where is the event being held?
All aspects of the event are being held at the Cardinal Rigali Center , located at:
20 Archbishop May Dr.
St. Louis, MO 63119

What is the order of events? When should I show up?
As there will be over 500 people in attendance, it is highly recommended that you arrive as close to 8:00 AM as possible to allow for sufficient time to be seated. Registration will continue on through Mass, so don't worry if you are unable to make it on time.

8:00 AM Registration
8:30 AM Mass with Archbishop Raymond L. Burke
9:45 AM Dr. Scott Hahn: The Lamb's Supper
11:15 AM Kimberly Hahn: Life-Giving Love: Embracing God's Beautiful Design for Marriage
12:30 PM Lunch
1:15 PM Option #1: Dr. Scott Hahn: Why Scripture Matters
1:15 PM Option #2: Kimberly Hahn: Mary, Full of Grace
2:30 PM Dr. Scott and Kimberly Hahn: Q&A - If time permits
3:00 PM Book Signings - If time permits
3:30 PM End of day

Upcoming Events

stlyouth — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 14:41:41 -0500

Sept 7: Celebrate LIFE in the City

Sept 29 - Oct 1: CrossRoads

Oct 10: Resource and Renewal

Oct 14: A Day with Scott and Kimberly Hahn

Oct 21: Youth Minister Bowling

Oct 22: Respect Life Convention

Dec 9: REAP Benefit Concert

Jan 22: Pro-Life March

Feb 16: Youth Minister's Winter Retreat

Myth about Abortion

Christina Heddell — Thu, 09 Feb 2006 12:14:03 -0500

Myth: Abortion is only legal in the first three months of pregnancy.
Fact: Abortion is legal throughout all 9 months of pregnancy.

In Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court ruled that abortion may not be restricted at all in the first trimester. According to Roe, in the second trimester abortion may be regulated only for the mother’s “health”. Roe’s companion case, Doe v. Bolton, defined maternal “health” as: “all factors - physical, emotional, psychological, familial, and the woman’s age—relevant to the well-being of the patient.” Thus, abortion is legal and cannot be prohibited by law in any month of pregnancy—even up to the day before a woman would give birth—if any of these reasons are invoked.

Adapted from Roe Reality Check, published by the USCCB.

Defenders of Archbishop Burke

Christina Heddell — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500

Have you heard the attacks? “The Archbishop is a jerk,”Burke is the anti-christ,” “Burke is a tyrant”, and so on? Media outlets in St. Louis have been filled with invective attacking the Archbishop of St. Louis, Raymond Burke, for the past several weeks. In response to these uninformed and vicious attacks against Archbishop Burke, a local lay Catholic is rallying support from other Catholics in very practical ways. To learn more about Defenders of Archbishop Burke, download and read this pdf.

Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Christina Heddell — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0500

Did you know that there is an organization in Missouri that is trying to pass a state constitutional amendment that will legalize cloning and the killing of cloned embryos? This initiative is a direct attack on the Culture of Life because it is trying to legalize experimentation and destruction of a human embryo as long as it is not implanted in a uterus. In effect, the goal of the organization is to harvest the stem cells of the cloned embryo for use in research, thus killing the embryo. The Catholic Church is against cloning and embryonic stem cell research because of an unwavering stance that human life is sacred at every moment of existence and innocent human life should not be destroyed for any reason.

Dr. Robert George, Princeton moral and political philosopher, put things in perspective when he said, “The being that is now you or me is the same being that was once an adolescent, and before that a toddler, and before that an infant, and before that a fetus, and before that an embryo. To have destroyed the being that is you or me at any of these stages would have been to destroy you or me.”

You may have heard a homily about the Church’s stance on embryonic stem cell research and cloning last weekend, the first Sunday of Advent. Look for updates in your parish bulletin to learn more about this attack on the dignity and sacredness of human life. To do some research on the internet, you can visit the Missouri Catholic Conference website or the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website.

Please feel free to contact the Respect Life Apostolate at 314-792-7555 or prolife@archstl.org if you have any questions or would like to get more involved in the pro-life movement.

Pro-Life Masses

Christina Heddell — Thu, 10 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0500

Did you know that every month, on the third Saturday, people from all over the archdiocese gather together to pray for an end to abortion in St. Louis? The prayer vigil includes 8 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral Basilica, a rosary prayer procession to Planned Parenthood’s abortion clinic, and Benediction upon return to the Cathedral Basilica.

8,000 babies are aborted in Missouri every year, the majority of which occur in St. Louis. 8 o’clock in the morning might seem early on a Saturday, but getting up and bringing your friends down to the Cathedral is a great way to show the world that you are willing to work for an end to abortion in our city. It is also a great way to prepare for the annual March for Life in Washington, DC! The next 3rd Saturday mass is on November 19.

For more information, visit http://www.stlprolife.org/ or contact the Respect Life Apostolate at 314-792-7555 or prolife@archstl.org.