Youth Ministry

So most of us know the Pope's name, Benedict XVI (that's sixteen!) ... but do you know his name before that? Do you know where he was born? Did you know he is a genius?! It amazes me how sometimes we can say we know someone without really knowing them... kind of like friends on facebook.

I think Facebook says I have 500 or so friends... but honestly, I probably talk to about maybe, MAYBE 40 of them in one month. And if we narrow that down to face to face conversations over a meal or an outing, it gets even smaller. Now, I don't necessarily think that is a bad thing, but I think it is a real thing. I don't think then that the other 450 on Facebook aren't worth my time, or are there just to cushion my feelings of being popular and connected. I'm sure I can share a story about every single one of them.

But the reality is we can't be close to everyone, all the time. I like to say there are circles of friends, and we don't plot each other into them. It isn't like I meet Jim let's say, and say to myself "BFF for life". No... friendships develop over time, and they change. My best friend from grade 1 or grade 5 isn't my best friend today - but they're still dear friends of mine. My wife was a complete stranger to me four years ago! Four years ago I didn't even know she existed! So it should be obvious people come and go between these circles of friends. Family, Dear Friends, Peers, Associates, and the World... there are many different levels we could place our various relationships.

If we say we know someone as a true friend, shouldn't we be able to tell someone their name, where they are from, and something interesting about them... where we met, etc. My love for my wife only grew with getting to know her. It is in our becoming open to each other and sharing our stories that we come to a greater intimacy, a greater understanding and appreciation of one another. 

This also can call us to examine our relationships. Do the people in our minds we value the most, our "inner circle", reflect the reality of our circle of friends. How well do you know your parents, grandparents, life long friend, teacher, pastor, hollywood star. Do we find it awkward we sometimes don't know our siblings birthday, or where our parents/grandparents were born or their middle names? Yet we probably know how many goals Alex Ovechkin scored this year or the date for international talk like a pirate day? (September 19 if you're wondering) Do we know more about the life of the people on the TV show Hills then the life of Jesus? It just makes sense that we should know more about the people we say we care about. I don't think it is wrong to like tv shows, or follow hockey passionately (go HABS!). But we need to be careful we don't fool ourselves when the reality might be maybe I do value hockey over quality time with family and friends. Maybe I value my tv addiction a bit more than my faith. They are questions to think about.

So back to the pope to wrap this up...

So as Catholics we all know about the pope, we know he's our leader, whom Christ has blessed to guide us and nurture us as a faith community. He has many great thoughts and suggestions to help us on our journey of faith. I used to think of the pope as kind of a boss. But when I went to World Youth Day I saw a man, Pope John Paul II, who simply wanted to love me. It might seem odd to you, but it is true. I finally got the idea that he just wanted me to experience God's love and share it as much as possible just like he was doing. He wasn't a watch dog, or a judge.

I now look at Pope Benedict and really look to him as a wise old grandfather. Because he cares for me - I cannot help but care for him; I want to know him. This is the root of our faith; to love and be loved. So when you have some free time, google the pope, get to know an old friend a bit better.

Check out this AWESOME video about B16! 

-Colm

The Journey to WYD 2011 in Madrid!

I've gone to World Youth Day since 2002 in Toronto. I must say every time my life has been changed. Not always in profound, obvious ways like a sudden conversion like St. Paul, but in the every day moments. Looking back I can see who I am days, weeks, years after and who I was before each pilgrimage is quite drastic. Sometimes it is the relationships built from them that strike me the most. The lifelong friends, memories shared, and growth in one's vocation and relationship with God.

Toronto in 2002 taught me to be proud of my faith, Cologne in 2005 made me love the rosary and silence, and just recently Sydney in 2008 exicted me about my vocation to married life. I thought maybe my run had ended, but was surprised and excited to learn of the opportunity to help lead a Diocesan Group from Saskatoon to Madrid in 2011. I'm really excited to uncover the wisdom the Lord wishes to give to all 32 pilgrims from across the Diocese of Saskatoon coming on this trip.

Now for most of the group, this might be their first time to Europe! So we've extended our pilgrimage (not a vacation!) to enhance the once in a lifetime experience that is WYD. We're beginning our pilgrimage in Rome for two days, visiting many holy places such as the tomb of Pope John Paul II whose vision brought about World Youth Day. Next we will visit Assisi and reflect on the lives of St. Francis and St. Claire before continuing our journey in Santiago de Compostela. It is there that we will be for Days in the Diocese and share our lives with the local faithful hosting us. There we will be at the end of the famous "Camino" pilgrim route and visit the Basilica of St. James. Finally a week in Madrid, with visits to Toledo, Segovia and Avila. It is in Madrid that we will have an encounter with Pope Benedict and millions of other young people excited about their faith. Please pray and support our pilgrims as they journey in their faith now and on our trip. We go as pilgrims on behalf of the entire Diocese. So much more important that your financial support they may ask for, we ask for your prayers that the trip may be blessed. Moreover, feel free to email/write us with prayer requests you wish for us to carry in our hearts during this Journey.

The most important thing about a pilgrimage to me is; it starts now. It starts the moment you discern going. The church has created a great tool to help us prepare and remember our experiences of World Youth Day called iActive8 on www.xt3.com Here you can follow along news leading up to Madrid 2011 and read articles, watch videos, listen to podcasts of all sorts of things related to WYD and your faith! It is a great resource for people who've gone in the past, people wanting to stay connected to family/friends gone on pilgrimage, and for people looking for info about going! So If you're looking to organize a trip for yourself or a group to go to WYD this is the place to check out! If you have any other questions, feel free to contact me at youthmin@saskatoonrcdiocese.com

Keep it Real. God bless and Peace!

-Colm

You got "Pope" mail

So I had an email from Pope Benedict XVI the other day. Pope Benedict with words of encouragement wrote that "empowered by the Spirit and courageous like Mary, your pilgrimage of faith fills the Church with life!". What I most enjoyed was realizing the pilgrimage of faith he spoke of was not many long hours on planes and buses, but the daily walk of my life.

Often I can come back from retreats, mission trips and even World Youth Days and loose that spark or enthusiasm after awhile. We cannot duplicate the lack of sleep, close quarters, and half a million people; but it is possible to remember the lessons learned! Now is the time for myself, and all young adults, to passionately live our lives for Christ! If we do, we shall bring a great abundance of life into the church.

New Frontier

Pope John Paul II called us to bring forth a new evangelization. To engage the youth and young adults in this mission new methods and approaches are needed from the Diocesan office down to the way we are hospitable in our parishes. Take the launching of the catholic alternative to Facebook, www.xt3.com , the method by which Pope Benedict emailed me. Online one can connect freely to thousands of people, ask priests tough moral questions, listen to recordings of catechesis sessions from WYD, and even share prayer requests!

Don't Stop! ... Believing!

We need to make sure we keep the spirit flowing in our lives and those of the youth we serve. If we allow our spiritual wells to dry up we will have nothing to share to others. I find when I re read messages of the Pope, or re listen to those talks I heard, I'm reminded of all those inspirations and tidbits of wisdom I've already let slip away. Let us take advantage of the resources and opportunities we have to recollect and share our experience with others. It is in the sharing that growth and sustained change will happen. The change we wish to see in the youth we serve and the world needs to start within our own lives. So take time to reflect before the busyness of life takes over.

Let us Pray...

May the words of the Pope from Australia ring true that World Youth Day and any conversion experience, "be experienced as a new Upper Room, from which all of us, burning with the fire and love of the Holy Spirit, go forth to proclaim the Rise n Christ and to draw every heart to him! Amen."