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For Perspective & Purpose
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God has created me to do some definite service. God committed some work to me which has not been committed to another. I have my mission - I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next.
I am a link in a chain, a bond or connection between persons. God has not created me for naught. I shall do good, I shall do the Lord's work. I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own time and place while not intending it - if I do but keep the Lord's commands.
Whatever, wherever I am, I can never be thrown away. I am in sickness, my sickness may serve the Lord; in perplexity, my perplexity may serve. If I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve. God does nothing in vain. Therefore I will trust my God, The Lord may take away my friends. God may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide my future from me. Still, God knows every plan and purpose.
God be with you!
Blessed John Henry Newman
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| Prayer | | |
Let nothing disturb thee
Let nothing frighten thee
Everything is changing
God alone is changeless
Patience attains the goal
One who has God lacks nothing
God alone fills our needs.
St. Teresa of Avila
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| To Ponder | | |
The Risen Christ is with us this day,
And He continues to need each one of you.
Jesus needs your strength to continue to work.
He needs your voice to continue to preach.
He needs your hands to continue to bless.
He needs your heart to continue to love.
And Jesus needs your whole being to continue to build up his body, the Church.
As we believe, so let us live!
Cardinal Joseph Bernadin
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Relevant Links
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Relevant Links
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Youth, Young Adult & Campus Ministries
The Office of Lifelong Faith Formation
April 2012 |
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Greetings!
Easter Greetings! "Peace be with you." Springtime and Easter are such exciting times. In our communities we celebrate special milestones like the sacraments and graduations. (Not to say that sacraments are graduation!) Our ministry with youth and young adults is and should be a great blessing as well as a challenge in a rapidly changing culture. The world of technology continues to transform the way we communicate with one another. The members of the young church are generally on the cusp of new innovations and transformations. How does the person of Jesus continue to offer peace and openness to teens and young adults? It is with great anticipation and excitement that I offer a reflection on our ministry. Hope - My hope is in you, O Lord. Together we offer the message of Jesus Christ to a culture that sees our message and work as alien. As identified in recent publications by Dr. Christian Smith (Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers in 2005 and Souls in Transition: The Religious & Spiritual Lives of Emerging Adults in 2009), we minister with teens and young adults who tend to live with moralistic therapeutic deism. The tenets of moralistic therapeutic deism are: - A God exists who created and watches over the world
- This God wants people to be good and fair
- Goal of life - to be happy and feel good
- Call on God when there is a problem
- Good people go to heaven
Unlike moralistic therapeutic deism, our belief in a Triune God challenges these ideas. My hope is that our ministry invites our people to a relationship with Jesus that changes and challenges them. How is our ministry bringing about community? How do we harness people's desire for service and justice? How do we teach people how to pray? Our hope and ministry relies on the Lord. Peace - Jesus brought peace to the disciples after the Resurrection. How do we bring peace to our ministry? Stand firm that our work is essential! The work of being a disciple never ends, and we too play a role within the larger family of faith. Remember that Catholic identity is always found within community! How does our ministry bring about the hallmark of healthy community? Can we teach those in our care how to be silent or how to pray both personally and together? Can we model for them the proper use of technology and communication skills in life-giving ways? Peace and all good things to you and yours! The More - What's next? God is always asking something greater. Are we open to listening to God's prompting? How is our ministry going? What can we improve or change? It's exciting to ponder more. Praise God for all that has been, but also praise God for all that will be! Look for new ways to engage youth and young adults with leadership, service-learning and community-building opportunities that support parish life. Please know that you are in my prayers. If there is something that I can do to help you or your ministry, know that I am here for you. Contact me at anytime! In the Risen Lord, Greg gregory.coogan@camdendiocese.org 856-583-6122 |
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Diocesan Youth Congress - Light for the World
On Sunday, April 1, 2012, over 240 youth and youth ministry leaders from 32 parishes and schools attended this day-long event at Holy Family Parish in Sewell. Carrie Ford, our keynote presenter led the day with a powerful message. It was a great day for faith and community. Every parish was remembered in prayer and receieved (or will receive) a candle. Click here for a copy of the Light for the World Prayer Service. |
 NJ Catholic Youth Rally @ Great Adventure
Early-bird special to end on May 1, 2012. Buy 10 tickets and receive one free!
You may purchase or pick up tickets at Our Lady of Peace Parish in Williamstown (32 Carroll Avenue - St. Joseph Meeting Room) on Monday, April 30, from 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. Or at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish (St. Lawrence Campus, 135 N White Horse Pike, Lindenwold, NJ 08021) in the parish office directly behind the church on Thursday, May 3, from 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
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Service & Justice with Teens
A new & exciting workshop experience is being offered on Saturday, June 2, 2012, in collaboration with The Center for FaithJustice. Time: 9:30 - 5:30 pm Where: The Romero Center, 2907 Federal StreetCamden, NJ 08105
Experience service, reflection and practical, hands-on ways to engage teens.
Cost: $15.00 (lunch included)
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Best Practices with Social Media with Teens
As ministers, we should refrain from placing a "tag" on a young person's name in our ministry photos. Our guidelines also suggest that we do not allow the tag option. |
Theology on Tap @ Wildwood
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Dare to something more....handing on a deeper meaning to teens.
The Catholic community has so much to offer. Please find a link to a relevant article from the Fuller Youth Institue exploring spiritual disciplines. How can we teach faith skills such as personal & communal prayer, how to forgive and other behaviors of disciples of Jesus? This article will give you some suggestions on how to do it.
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