CRS Donation

Thanks everyone for coming to Rally last weekend! I also wanted to send out a note to thank everyone for giving at the collection during Mass. The money we have collected will be going to Catholic Relief Services as a help to thier relief efforts in Haiti.

On behalf of Catholic Relief Services and its partners in Haiti, we are very grateful for the fantastic response at the Junior High Rally last Saturday, contributing $883.51 to Catholic Relief Services’ relief and long-term recovery work in Haiti.

“The commitment – to walk with the poor from their moments of desperation in emergencies to the full restoration of their dignity – builds a bridge of solidarity and justice between Americans and the poor overseas. We join with you in bringing emergency supplies to disaster victims and providing long-term development programs to alleviate the suffering of those most in need. We are grateful to you for making it possible for us to help our less fortunate neighbors.” - Ken Hackett, president of CRS

Thank you all for showing directly that the poorest of the poor are indeed brothers and sisters to us all!

In God’s Peace,

J.L. Drouhard
Missions Office
Seattle Archdiocesan director for CRS

Please spread the word about this amazing donation to the people of Haiti!

Meet Rally's MC!

You're probably asking yourself... 'Who is this Casey Ross? And How did he get so good looking?' It's a more common question than you might think... While his good looks come from his mother, Casey says his waist line is courtesy of McDonald's dollar menu. Casey began his life in youth ministry Ellensburg, Washington when he got caught scamming free food from funeral receptions while he was in college. What started out as 'creative penance' turned into a calling. 12 years later Casey has worked in parishes and ministries in the Pacific Northwest and in the Archdiocese of Chicago and continues to inspire faith in young people. Believe it or not, Casey has used his good looks and charm to glorify God and inspire tens of thousands of young people in dioceses across the nation. Casey was invited to present at a concurrent session at the National Catholic Youth Conference at the Astro Dome in Houston. Currently Casey still occasionally scams free foot at funerals in Everett where he works as the director of youth ministry at Immaculate Conception & Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parishes. He is happily married to his smokin' hot wife, Lisa, and has two children, Lucy and Oliver.

Casey Ross has been working in youth ministry for over 12 years both in the Pacific Northwest and in the Archdiocese of Chicago. Working at parishes and with Cultivation Ministries in Illinois he has worked to inspire faith in the young Church , speaking to tens of thousands of young people in dozens of dioceses, parishes and schools across the nation as well as having presented at the National Catholic Youth Conference in Houston, TX in 2003. Casey is the director of youth ministry at Immaculate Conception & Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parishes in Everett where he lives with his wife Lisa, and two children, Lucy and Oliver.

Jr High Rally 2010: Dive Deep - Volunteer!

We are so excited to have you all at this year's Junior High Rally on March 6th, but what kind of a Rally would it be without our inspirational youth speakers, prayer teams and volunteers?

That's why we need you! You can be involved with our General Sessions through a variety of ways. Here are some options:

Prayer
Prayer groups will meet, plan and rehearse as a Parish/Faith Community or region. These groups will work in cooperation with the Liturgy and General Session committees to develop and present the prayer segments during Rally. The young people involved play a critical role in setting the spiritual tone for the event. We will need at least two groups (maximum of 15 people per group).

Liturgy
The Liturgy group will meet, plan and rehearse as a Parish/Faith Community or region. This group will work in cooperation with the Liturgy Coordinator and take part in the liturgy at the Rally. We will need one group (maximum of 15 people).

Drama
The Drama team will provide a "dramatic presentation" that helps to develop the theme of Rally. We will need two groups (maximum of 15 people per group).

General Volunteers
During the Rally, we need several groups, as well as many individuals, to keep things running smoothly. These tasks range from furniture and equipment set-up and take down to registration center staffing.

Adult Eucharistic Ministers
During the closing Liturgy of Rally, we will need to have Eucharistic Ministers who are already active and trained in that capacity at their parishes and who are whilling to extend their ministry to this Archdiocesan setting.

Rally would be nothing without all of our wonderful volunteers! Please open your hearts to God's call for an active community and volunteer. Email britta.folden@seattlearch.org if you are interested in any of these roles by February 12th!

Jr High Rally 2010: Dive Deep!

On Saturday, March 6th we invite you to DIVE DEEP with Junior High Students from around the Seattle Archdiocese.

The day long event give the youth an opportunity to learn more about their Catholic faith and grow in community with thier Catholic peers and the Catholic Church! Students (Grade 6 through 9) are welcome to attend with their Parish or School groups. Registration information will be available very soon!

If you have any questions or would like to guarantee that your name is on our mailing list, please email britta.folden@seattlearch.org.

Catholic Youth Convention 2009 - General Overview of Event

In the translation of technology, we seem to have misplaced one of the pages for the pdf version of the Catholic Youth Convention 2009 brochure. Here is the information. We will update the online pdf next week but here is the information that is not there. Thanks to the CYM who pointed it out for us!

FRIDAY
Optional Pre-FUNc Parties

Pre-FUNc’s
Get a jump on your Convention Experience! Join together with other
parishes for a night of fun, new friends, and music in anticipation of
Youth Convention.

AT THE PRE-FUNC YOU’LL:
• Meet new people from all over the Archdiocese
• Mix-n-mingle
• Play games
• Learn & sing Convention songs, including this year’s theme song
• Pick up your T-shirts and registration information early
Ask your youth leader how you can join in for the Pre-FUNc!
A Note to Group Leaders: Please see your Leader’s Packet for more
information on the Pre-FUNc. Pre-registration is required. Please indicate
on the registration form if you plan to attend the Pre-FUNc.

SATURDAY
8:00 Registration
9:00 – 10:30 General Session 1
10:45 – 11:45 Workshop 1
11:45 – 1:30 Lunch
1:30 – 3:00 General Session 2
3:15 – 4:15 Workshop 2
4:30 – 6:00 Liturgy
6:00 – 8:00 Dinner
8:00 – 9:00 General Session 3
9:00 – 10:30 Saturday Nite Entertainment including Coffee House
(see Leaders Packet for information on how to participate)

SATURDAY NITE!
There will be an opportunity for youth to present and share their gifts in
a “coffee house.” Preconvention act submission is required; please see
the Leader’s Packet for details.
Also available:
• Inflatable games
• Game / Movie / X-Box Room
• Sacrament of Reconciliation and Prayer Chapel
• Pre-Functions

SUNDAY
8:30 Doors Open
9:00 – 10:00 General Session 4
10:15 – 11:15 Workshop 3
11:15 – 12:15 Lunch
12:15 – 1:00 Prayer Experiences
1:15 – 2:30 General Session 5 / Commissioning

CHAPERONES LOUNGE
A room will be open for Chaperones and Youth Ministers
during each of the workshop sessions. Come join us for a
cup of coffee and an opportunity to meet others who work
in Youth Ministry.

CONVENTION AWARDS
The following awards will be presented at Convention, nomination
forms and instructions for these awards were sent to each parish in the
Leader’s Packet.

FOR GOD AND YOUTH
Recognizing adults who contribute their talents in outstanding ministry
“For God and Youth” consistently over a period of six or more years.

DIAKONIA (IN THE LORD’S SERVICE)
Presented to parishes and high schools whose youth have contributed an
outstanding service in response to the Gospel message within their parish
and community.

EAGLE OF THE CROSS
Recognizes youth who exemplify Christian service, Catholic leadership
and good moral values. In addition to the Eagle of the Cross Award, the
judges will select one outstanding young woman and one outstanding
young man from this group

Catholic Youth Convention 2009 - hardcopy brochures available Tuesday, October 6

While the Catholic Youth Convention 2009 brochure pdf will continue to be available on the OYYAM blog site under the events section, the hardcopy brochures will be delivered to the OYYAM offices on or before Tuesday, October 6.

Make sure you have communicated how many you want sent to your parish and they will go out on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. Tauno has replied to the requests that we have received as of Friday.

Some of you have indicated a desire to pick up your brochures, please confirm with us at tauno.latvala@seattlearch.org that you will be doing so and we will set them aside for you. Thanks for your patience! Remember to live your faith, "Louder than Before!" and we look forward to seeing you at Catholic Youth Convention 2009...

Catholic Youth Convention 2009! Brochure Information Available and Downloadable

Please find the all information from the Catholic Youth "Louder Than Before" Convention 2009 Brochure available and downloadable for your use. Hard copies of the brochure will be mailed out or available for pick up next week!

Complete YC Brochure