Waiting for Patience

I have a confession to make: When I first started as the Middle School Youth Minister at St. Mark, I didn't know what the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit were or how many fruits there were ... and I was the Confirmation Coordinator. I didn't learn those things until about 30 minutes before my first Confirmation Parent/Candidate Sessions a year and half into the job either. And I did not actually learn all twelve fruits until about 3 years ago. These are just two of the things I make my students memorize and learn now. Yesterday, my 8th class of Confirmation Candidates were just confirmed. My team has changed. My level of responsibility has changed. My parish has changed. My job has changed. And my understanding of the Sacrament of Confirmation has changed. This year's group was prepared by some adults, some teens, a nun, and me. Quite the group! I cannot believe that I've seen almost 600 students confirmed. Through it all each class has gotten better and bette...

A couple of months ago a friend of mine was telling me that her youth minister (she's the DRE) organized the most terrible Holy Hour.  Now, I know - Jesus was there, fully present so it was at least a partial success.  However, the purpose of a Holy Hour is to draw teens closer to Christ through silence, music, reflections, etc...  When Pandora commercials come up in the music, I think we can say it was kind of a terrible hour!  I mean, Pandora ? seriously - you can sing accapella better than commercials in a Holy Hour!!! So, I decided I would provide some tips on this - not that I'm an expert in any way, but I have done this before.  Hopefully others will provide their insights as well so there can be a better 'google search' for this than what I just found .  A lot of ways to attract teens to a Holy Hour, some info on music to pick, but no real tool...so I hope to provide at least one (that probably won't come up in a google search anyway, but I digres...

In honor of today's first reading: Reading 1  Gal 5:18-25 Brothers and sisters: If you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions, occasions of envy, drinking bouts, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God. In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit. I present you one of my favorite videos! got the fruits of the spirit stuck in your head? you are welcome!!!

Couldn't have written it better myself - SO I'm just copying (with credit) what Mark Hart wrote over at lifeteen.com today!!! TO PROTECT AND SERVE: THE TRUTH ABOUT GUARDIAN ANGELS By  Mark Hart   |  OCTOBER 2, 2011 I had a conversation recently with a teenager who told me that they believe in angels but not in “guardian angels.” I was intrigued by the distinction. She said it was because she believed that God used angels to carry out His work, but that she didn’t think God would “waste an angel on her.” It was a sad beginning to a conversation that ended very joyfully. Sometimes it’s hard to believe God could be that active or that loving in our life. Truth is – He is. God is awesome like that. We need to remind ourselves of just what an  awesome  gift from God our guardian angel is – a gift that, too often, goes untapped. Yes, guardian angels really do exist! In fact, every year on October 2nd the Church celebrates a Feast Day in honor of G...