Upcoming Events

PRO-LIFE MONTH is right around the corner...see the links on the side for an updated calendar of events, permission slips for the March for Life and info about our Pro-Life Concert with Chris Padgett on Jan. 21st.

Get involved!

Mount 2000 registration is due Jan. 1st--don't miss the deadline--forms are in the "links" section.

Looking ahead...

This advent is packed with things to do and time to give...check out the new links to our calendar of events, and the permission slips and fliers added.  What to look forward to:




Service Hour Opportunities (call or email Kelly immediately if you are interested):
Friday, Dec. 4th 5:00 -7:00 PM "Parents Night Out" help with craft and dinner service
Saturday, Dec. 5th 1:00-6:00 PM Set-up for International Day, Claridge Room
Sunday, Dec. 6th 10:00 AM-5:00 PM Help with International Day, Claridge Room
Sunday, Dec. 13th 11:00 AM-3:00 PM Help direct traffic for Our Lady of Guadalupe Procession

Christmas Ice Skate Benefit for the whole family--see flier ---->

Friday Night Advent Reflections, come unwind at youth group: 7:00-9:00 PM in the Russell Room.

Mount 2010: Spaces fill up quickly, please download forms and turn them in NO later than Jan. 1st to Kelly.  Cost is $65, includes bus.  Do not miss this awesome retreat!

Congratulations on Rosary Challenge!

You did it!  We reached our goal of praying 2,000 decades of the Rosary last month--that's 2,000 mysteries meditated on and one step closer to growing closer to our Lord.  We will have a pizza party this Friday, Nov. 6th to celebrate.

Remember, November is the Month of All Souls--this past Friday, Nov. 30th we adopted a soul and designed a prayer card to remind us to pray for that one soul during the month of November--start off by attending 40 Hours of Eucharistic Adoration today (Monday) or tomorrow (Tuesday), closing with Mass at 7:00pm.

The soul you adopted is counting on you to pray for them this month--your prayers and sacrifices will help them be one step closer to eternal joy in heaven!  And, if the soul you are already praying for is already in heaven, God won't let those prayers go to waste, He'll make sure they go to a soul in need.

Suck it up, pray the Rosary!

Take the Rosary Challenge--the YG (parents included) is trying to pray 2,000 decades of the Rosary during the month of October!  We will be keeping tally each week at youth group and if we reach our goal, there will be a pizza party on Friday, Oct. 30th.  SOOO....grab your rosary and get praying!  If we each pray at least 3 decades each day, we will reach our goal!

Feel free to comment here to add to the tally.  Every decade helps!

October is Month of the Rosary

Pope Pius V started the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary in 1573 in thanksgiving to Our Lady for protecting Christianity from the Turks.  Since then, generations of Catholics have come to love the Rosary!  October 7th marks the actual feast day, but the entire month of October has been dedicated to the Rosary.

In honor of the Rosary, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is hosting a special art exhibit of the mysteries of the Rosary in art.  More info on the Art Exhibit here, it is open through Nov. 2nd.  Take a family trip!

Child-like vs. child-ish

Steve Montforo might win the "Dad of the Year" award for his reaction to his daughter's return of the foul ball he caught at the Phillies game the other day.


What a great reminder of how much our heavenly Father loves us--unconditionally!  No matter how many gifts we don't accept, He is waiting for us with open arms to return to His embrace.

But what a great lesson we can learn from little Emily, too.  Jesus reminds us that we are to be child-like in order to gain the Kingdom.  "...for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. ... whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it." (Mark 10:14-15)  This, of course, is not to be confused with being child-ish--ie. wanting others to do things for us, complaining or not using the intelligence God gave us.  Emily turns to her dad after realizing that perhaps throwing the ball over the balcony wasn't the right thing to do and runs into his embrace.  She throws all of her trust into her father who will protect her.

St. Therese of Lisieux taught us how to work at perfection in the little things.  At the young age of 15, after a emotionally difficult childhood (her mother died when she was four), she entered the Carmelites (a religious community).  She offered up her small annoyances for the salvation of sinners, priests and missionaries.  St. Therese knew that obtaining holiness was something huge, but that God loved her so much that it had to be obtainable, even for a young girl.  So, she she set out to plot a new path.  She describes her path as being very straight, very short and a new way, one of making everyday sacrifices for the sake of a soul.

How can we imitate this "little way"?  There is a story, that St. Therese grew very annoyed at the clacking of the rosary beads one Sister wore.  Each time she grew frustrated by this sound, she offered the annoyance up (meaning she didn't complain to others about it or send darting looks at the Sister) to Christ for a soul in need of conversion.  What little way could you pave toward heaven this week?  How can you be more child-like this week?

Cafe Catolica a success!

Last night we held our first "regular" Cafe Catolica--a coffee house on holiness!  A big thank you to all those who came out, especially from St. Martin of Tours and St. Elizabeth's youth groups.  Fr. Rob Walsh, associate director for vocations for the Archdiocese of Washington, reminded us that our ultimate goal in this life is happiness--that is eternal happiness.  Fr. Pawel, associate pastor, and Sr. M. Consolata, vocations director of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Marytr of St. Geogre, shared with us their journey to happiness in the priesthood and religious life.  Fr. Pawel shared with us his struggle to fill his emptiness while he was in high school and college and then ultimately his surrender to the will of God.  Sr. Consolata shared the joy she has found in her family of religious sisters and the great fun they had in an ultimate football game they played in on Labor Day weekend.  It was a great evening to meet new people, ask questions about the faith and hang out at DeJaBel Cafe.  We'll definitely be doing this again!  Let me know topics you'd like to hear--on living holiness...comment below with topic suggestions

Father Daughter Dinner

All high school girls and their dads are invited to join us for our Father Daughter Dinner on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009 from 5:30-7:30pm in the Claridge Room.  The night will be filled with dance lessons, dinner and a talk.  Girls, come spend a fun night with dad!  Registration is required and due Sept. 28th.  Please see flier for registration form.  Cost is $25/father daughter pair (and $10/each additional daughter).  This is a night you won't forget!

Fall Kick-Off BBQ

Yay!  Friday Nights are B-A-C-K!!  Join us Friday, Sept. 11 from 7:00-9:30pm at the Russell Room for free food, games, prizes and an inside look into what goes on at youth group!  We hope u can make it!