World Youth Day, Australia!

'You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;

and you will be my witnesses.' - Acts 1:8

"And now, as the living presence of the Risen Christ in our midst nourishes our faith and hope, I am pleased to announce that the next World Youth Day will take place in Sydney, Australia, in 2008. We entrust to the maternal guidance of Mary most holy, the future course of the young people of the whole world."

- His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, 21 August 2005

Please visit our website for World Youth Day 2008, Sydney, Australia at http://sitekreator.com/wydaustralia/index.html

St Julie parish Community builds community in San Enrique parish, Tijuana

The teens from St Julie parish who were part of the group who came to San Enrique parish to build a house, finish a concrete flooring and grow in community with the members of San Enrique parish. This group spent three days together putting in concrete flooring in the chapel. It was grueling work hauling concrete up the hill to where the chapel is being built. They worked independently the morning of the first day but then realized that if they worked together in a chain gang, then the work would go much faster and they would expend less energy. They shared their new understanding of teamwork with us at the day's reflection time. It is an understanding born of process and experience--the truest teacher. These young people came to Tijuana as acquaintenances or strangers, and left as close friends.

These...

....children

live........

......here.

Tijuana in the morning

For more info about this particular Immersion Experience click here

A group of our youths from St. Julie's look out over the landscape. It is dismal, dirty and dusty. The people live in makeshift shacks without safe electrical resources or appropriate plumbing. Showers consist of hoses that are brought into the bathrooms through windows. There is no garbage disposal company so the garbage is burned daily in large metal containers. Sewage backs up continually and flows out into the streets. It is not safe to step in puddles or to touch any cats or dogs.

In order to live in decent housing, families need to save $5000 to buy a parcel of land. Only after they have bought this parcel, are they able to secure a mortgage to build on the site. The houses are tiny--about 2 rooms each measuring 10 X 10. The mortgage on these are $35,000 for 30 years.

There was nothing out here in this part of Tijuana 10 years ago. Now it is a growing ramshackle collection of shacks that have grown up as people have moved away from their homes seeking work near the factories, or an opportunity "to cross". Many farmers in the central part of Mexico have had to leave their farms because they cannot grow food to sell at prices that can compete with food imported from the United States.
These people are not a threat to jobs in the United States. The reason for their need to migrate north away from their homeland is for the sake of their children, to feed, house, clothe and to provide a more secure life for them.

For more info about this particular Immersion Experience click here

She loves chocolate.!

God's children

...I have found joy here, in the despair...purity in the midst of dirt and dust... beauty in the eyes of the children...

Tijuana by nite...

...and by day

Prayer of the faithful

Catechesis during homily

The children receive communion or a blessing at Mass

Fr Jon gives us a blessing as we depart for San Enrique Parish in Tijuana

Packing for the trip to San Enrique Parish in Tijuana

Immersion Trips To New Orleans, TJ, San Francisco, Fort Apache

The month of June is the Tahoe retreat month. July is fast becoming the Immersion Trip month.
The week after Tahoe, St Mary Gilroy youths traveled to TJ to build homes for a poverty stricken community;
The San Jose Chinese Catholic Community has been traveling to help build homes in TJ for several years.
Last week Val Liberty of St. Simon Parish took a group of youth to New Orleans to help with clean up, painting, plumbing and all kinds of very hard work to help the people still without homes in the area. Val's story is awe-inspiring!
This week Deacon Steve Herrera will be taking of group o high school youth to San Francisco's Tenderloin to work at St. Anthony's kitchen all week. Joan Schenck from St. Francis Cabrini will be bringing a group from their parish.
The week of July 24, Deacon Herrera will be traveling on his 3rd Immersion Trip since June to TJ with a group of Young Adults and Teens to build homes with Los Ninos ministries.
In a few hours I will be leaving with one of my sons, Paul, to join St. Julie parishioners traveling to TJ to build a home for a poor homeless family.
Tomorrow and July 24 our Youth Council will be traveling to the YouthLeader retreat as in preparation for their roles on the Bishop's Youth Council this year.

All of these experiences and the stories that emerge from them will be available for you for discussion, dialogue and information on Sept 16--the 3rd Annual Youth and Young Adult day--Bridging the Gap. It wil be a great day of celebration!!!! (Next planning meeting for the Y and YA day Committee is on July 18, 7 pm at St. Julie parish. If you would like o serve on this committee, please email Claudid Gallaher at Clgall0312@yahoo.com

DSJOYYAM Update---July 7, 2006

Diocese of San Jose Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries
Update July 7 2006


Hello Colleagues in Christ!


I hope you are all getting a chance to rest up this summer.



Tahoe Update

We all made it back safe and sound from our Tahoe Trip. It was awesome and a great success.

This retreat has been building, growing, evolving for eleven years. As with all things of value—it is time to evaluate this experience with an eye to its longevity and as a model of best practice for youth ministry. This evaluation is to support this experience for the long term.

I am putting together a task force of YMC’s, priests who have been involved in Tahoe over the years, and YA’s who have worked on this retreat and experienced it as teens, to evaluate this experience in light of the Pastoral Plan and the vision of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries.

This is the plan:

Ø To bring it closer to home so that our parish leaders, pastors, parents, can see what this experience is about for the youth who participate, and the young adults who are coordinating and directing it;

Ø To address the issue of justice: Is it ok to spend $10,000 alone on transportation?

Ø To ensure that leadership development is an objective by incorporating leadership workshops into the workshop schedule, so that the issue of leadership is clearly addressed;

Ø To keep it intact and to continue with the format as it has been evolving by the directors and committees who work so hard each year to make it happen.



I hope that you will support this undertaking—the Spirit will be present wherever we gather. I am convinced that this retreat can be a catalyst in igniting youth, youth ministry, and parishes together in service to the Young Church

I hope to have the work of this task force completed by September so that we can begin the work for 2007.



National Conference for Catholic Youth Ministry Leaders---

From Andi Grandy:

Hi All,

I'm hoping that you've heard of the National conference. Think LA Congress completely focused on Youth Ministry.

This year is in Las Vegas. The dates are Nov 30-Dec 3.

Here is the link for more information.

http://www.nfcym.org/nccym/2006/index.htm Registration is $210.

I found a great deal from Expedia for flights from San Jose to Vegas (& back) plus 3 nights at a hotel 1/2 a mile away from the hotel for a total of $396. We'd leave at 1:30 on the 30th & return home at 9pm on the 3rd.

Are you interested? Val Liberty, Nancy Pointier & I are going to try to book next week. If you'd like to get on board with us please let me know by Monday, July 10th.

Thanks,

Andi

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I hope many of you have an opportunity to attend—it will be great for all YMC’s and a lotta fun!!!! ss

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Summer Teen Series

Andi Grandy, Val Liberty and Rob Manfrey from Deanery 2 are offering a great workshop for July regarding sexual abuse through the rape crisis center. I have attached the flyer for this.

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National Catholic Young Adult Ministry Association

The National Conference for Young Adult Ministry is happening right here in San Francisco, August 4-6 at the University of San Francisco-“TAKE ME AS I AM”

There will be:

Ø Liturgy with Bishops

Ø Young Adult Leadership Track

Ø Dinner and Dance

Ø National Speakers

The purpose of the conference is “connecting with Jesus, the Catholic Church, the Mission of the Church and a peer community”.

Info: www.SFYAM.ORG 415-614-5595

I hope many of you can attend!!!!!! Please pass the word to the YA’s in your community.

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New Interim Director for SJSU Catholic Campus Ministry

Kay Polintan who has been the YA Youth ministry person for five years is now the interim director for SJSU Catholic Campus Ministry. The community at SJS has been developing small Christian communities through Renew international which is closely linked with the TOT-RI Young Adult Ministry. Kay is excited that the ministry at SJS has grown this past year! Kay also serves on the YA Leadership Group and YM Advisory Board. She has been a wonderful teacher to me about campus ministry and has been a great asset to our boards.

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Theology on Tap and Renew International


We have contracted with TOT-RI to begin this ministry here in the DSJ

We have hired a young adult, Darlene Tenes, to coordinate market and publicize this to YA’s and parishes in the DSJ community. She is a marketing specialist and will be a great asset in igniting this ministry. We will be holding meetings with the People from TOT-RI for all those interested –soon! They will be conducting informational meetings for pastors, parishes and young adults who wish to host this event in their communities. More info coming soon!

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We have a DSJ YA Leadership Group

This group came together for the first time in May and will be meeting again on July 20 to set some visioning and planning for YAM 2006-2007. One of the agenda items is communication via a website with forum capabilities, identifying and networking YAM communites in the DSJ, structure of if the DSJ YA leadership group itself, meeting with Darlene Tenes--communication coordinator for the TOT-RI process.

YAM is growing here in the DSJ----we have a fairly new core team from Deanery 2---who meet monthly at St. Athanasius, and a growing YA group at St. Julie's.

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Youth and Young Adult Day—Saturday, September 16 noon-midnight---“Bridging the Gap”

Mass with Bishop McGrath at 5 pm.

Artists include:

Exodus, from Mitty High School, Lytehouse, Alex Vo and Megan Gluhan, Jon Mononongo, John Grassadonia,

Special Keynote speaker, food and vendor, an evening DANCE and much more!

The YMC’S expressed that they would like this to serve as a kick-off-- networking opportunity for YM in the DSJ.

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New YMC Orientation-July 24—10- noon St. Joseph’s conference room

If you would like to attend or if you are a pastor and would like to send someone—please RSVP me as soon as you can so that I will have enough supplies on hand.

For new and almost new YMC’s. The purpose of the orientation is to provide the following:

A history and overview of Catholic Youth Ministry in the United States;
Tools for visioning, strategic planning and how to make this manageable;
Understanding of catechesis as the heart of this ministry and how we need to do this in ways that are new, out-of-the-box, and which incorporate the
multi-dimensional lives of our youth;
Resources and experts in the field that are at your fingertips;
Information about what we are doing for YA ministry this year
Information regarding the National Conference for Catholic Youth Ministry Leaders coming up in Nov-30 Dec 2, 2006.
(I hope you will be provided with some financial support to attend this conference which will nourish you in your ministry and connect you to thousands of others who share this work with you);
The Vision of the DSJOYYAM in light of the Pastoral Plan of the DSJ: Renewing the Church;
The building of a network and support among and with yourselves in this ministry so that you always know that you are NOT alone;
Last but never least--your needs, concerns, suggestions, ideas, vision...
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Youth Council-YouthLeader

Nine of our youth council members will be attending YouthLeader Training in Lafayette this coming week. The remaining nine will attend the YouthLeader training the week of July 24. They will be commissioned Sept 16, 5 pm at Mass with Bishop McGrath- St. Julie Parish. Keep them in your prayers.

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I will be out of the office the week of July 10-15, on an Immersion Trip with St. Julie Parishioners to Tijuana. I speak about justice, I write about it and it is a big part of the vision from the DSJOYYAM. This is one way I will DO some justice in community with this group of people who are giving of their Time, Talent, and Treasure (and homey comforts) to work for others who have nothing. I am happy to be taking one of my sons with me. I have been traveling a lot this past year and it is difficult for me-- for all mothers, to be away from their children—even if they are bigger then me!!!!

Keep us in your prayers!

Blessings!

Sandy

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Sandy Velasco Scott

Associate for Youth & Young Adult Ministries

Diocese of San Jose

408-983-0135

Read: The Young Church



Save the Date!

Faith Formation Conference:

Empowering Those in Ministry

"Rooted in Faith, Embracing our Future"

"Arraigados en la Fe, Abrazando Nuestro Futuro"

November 10-11, 2006

Santa Clara Convention Center

Superman Returns-Fr. Mike's Faith and Flicks

Spiritual Rating
1 out of 5 angles

Superman Returns
(PG-13)
This review will talk about some important points in the plot, so if you have not seen the movie, do not read any further.
One thing that I will never compromise on is the way my childhood super heroes are portrayed on the big screen, especially when it comes to morality; morality makes heroes super. The more the expectation of being a hero, the more the expectation the hero has of being morality. Superman, by definition, does not lie, he is for the American way, and when it comes to having kids, he gets married first. So, what happened to that last part? Where is the big Superman-Lois Lane wedding? We have the Superman the father, but we lack Superman the husband. If we are going to give the ultimate expression of how things should be, then this movie has to have some words about how important we keep the marriage relationship. I would have been more pleased with the movie if there was some acknowledgement that what was portrayed in this movie is at least not exactly how it is suppose to be.
I realize Superman’s indiscretions with Lois Lane is not the centerpiece of this movie, however, it is the “Kryptonite” that saps the movie of any moral force.
Yes, I am one of those people who think Christopher Reeves is the only Superman. He showed the world how one dealt with being a quadriplegic especially the fact that being paralyzed does not stop your life, and even what one can do with one’s life. I remember when he gave the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention; that was a super act of a noble person. Now that is a moral force! He was Superman on and off the screen. He was Superman because of his character. But those days are over. Very few super heroes are written both with super power and moral power. I just wish our super heroes could regain the moral high ground faster than a speeding bullet!

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Young Adult White Mountain Apache Trip

Young Adult White Mountain Apache Trip

Several Young Adults examined Native American culture and visited ancient historical sites on the Apache, Navajo and Hopi Indian reservations in Arizona and New Mexico the week of June 11. They did volunteer work on the Apache reservation and participated and observed ancient Native American rituals, including the Apache Puberty rites, Apache sweat lodge, and attendance of a Katsina Dancing Ceremony. They also visited ancient Anasazi archaelogical sites in Chaco Canyon, New Mexico and Canyon de Shelly on the Navajo reservation. For more information and pictures of this exciting trip please click here

Here is the web address:
http://web.mac.com/immersiondsj