Hope on the Living God

The Archdiocesan Youth Day (AYD), an event which the Youth Ministry (YMO) had organised for the past two years for all youth in the Archdiocese undergoing confirmation in the following year has been decentralized and organised by the youth committees in the various parishes of the five districts this year. With the direction and guidance from the YMO, this event will be the first for all the 5 districts namely the Serangoon District Youth Day, North District Youth Day, City District Youth Day, East District Youth Day and West District Youth Day.

Although decentralized, the 5 districts are very much united as they share a common theme and have the same objectives.

The programme this year is focused on the theme 1 Timothy 4:10 “We have set our hope on the Living God” which hopes to stir our youth to recognize the Holy Spirit as their divine helper and guide in their Christian living.

Objectives:
- To give confirmation youth a sense of the larger Church through participation and inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

- To provide opportunity for parish youth groups in the same district to work together and outreach to their confirmation classes.

- To allow more youth across the Archdiocese to network and work and serve together on one event.

It is important for us as catechist in our parishes to encourage our youth to attend this celebration as well as be there with them. It is through such encounters outside the classroom setting that we affirm and experience what the Church teaches about the Sacrament of Confirmation:

"For 'by the sacrament of Confirmation, (the baptized) are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.' " (CCC 1285)

The programme will consist of a Parish Segment held at the respective parishes followed by a Rally Segment where all the youth of the various parishes in the same district will gather together at a venue. The details for the various districts are as follow:

Serangoon District Youth Day
Date: 22 August 2009, Sat
Time: Parish Segment (Afternoon), Rally Segment (Evening)
Venue: CHIJ Toa Payoh

West District Youth Day
Date: 29 Aug 2009, Sat
Time: Parish Segment (9.30 – 11.30am), Rally Segment (2.30 – 4.30pm)
Venue: Church of St. Ignatius

North District Youth Day
Date: 5 Sep 2009, Sat
Time: Parish Segment (Afternoon), Rally Segment (6.30-9.30pm)
Venue: Hersing Hub - 743 Lorong 5 Toa Payoh (S)319457

City District Youth Day
Date: 5 Sep 2009, Sat
Time: Full Day program
Venue: Church of St. Teresa

East District Youth Day
Date: 5 Sep 2009, Sat
Time: Parish Segment (Afternoon), Rally Segment (Evening)
Venue: CHIJ Katong Primary School

So, look out for more information on this event in your parish!

EF/lh

Should young children be at Mass? (Part 2)

Last week, we touched on how bringing a child to the Mass can leave a deep and lasting impact. This week, we would like to focus on some of the rituals we can do before the Mass as parents and as teachers of the faith.

1. Breaking open the Word of God
While at home before coming to Church, go through the readings with your child. This prepares both you and your child to better understand what is being celebrated at that particular Mass and in the right frame of mind.

2. Arrive early
Again, early lessons leave lasting impressions. Not only being punctual but coming early will set in place the mindset one should take coming for Mass from a very young age. For one, you don't have to be rushing to Church, with all the other stresses like traffic and finding a parking lot. (We already have that during the course of the week.) The other would give you time to teach a child proper etiquette upon entering the Church. Switching off your mobile phones, making the sign of the Cross and genuflecting with reverence (without rushing), moving into the pews to pray, visiting the Shrine of Our Lady after Mass, etc will all cultivate in the long run, the right disposition of how one should be in a sacred place of worship. The Church is filled with signs and symbols. Coming early gives you the opportunity to points these out to your child.

3. The Aftermass
The Mass ends with "Go in the peace to love and serve the Lord!" The Mass continues in our everyday lives. By reinforcing these ideas with love at home by family prayer at the altar, prayer before meals, morning and night prayers does wonders especially when child reaches the age of reason.

Then finally, there is always this question, "How do I start?" or "I don't know how to..." .
As cliched as it might sound, ask the Holy Spirit to guide you as you guide your child. And He will. These things take many years to nurture, so don't be expecting miracles to happen overnight (though it is possible that that might happen). Keep sharing God's love with your child and may God give your strength as your persevere!

EF/ at

Should young children be at Mass? (Part 1)

It is not always easy bringing young children to the Catholic Mass. I just want to affirm all of you for making the commitment and effort to do so. You can see God's blessing is abundant to those who do not stop their little children coming to Him!

1. By bringing children to Mass, parents fulfill their duty to begin faith education in their children's earliest years. At your children's baptism, you made a vow before God that you will bring them up in the Catholic faith. It's better to start early. Not only will it be a lot tougher to teach an older child who has rarely been to Mass to behave, leaving kids at home sends the message that Mass is not for children. Regular attendance at Mass is a must to help them recognize the sacredness of the Eucharist and to value their faith.

2. Bringing children to Mass helps nurture their inner life. Early lessons make lasting impressions, child development experts tell us. Good parents recognize the importance of nurturing their children physically and emotionally during their formative years. But if we fail to nurture their spiritual self as well, then we are not attending to the whole child. While we can teach about the Faith within the walls of our domestic church, being in the presence of Christ and those who love Him is what really awakens the spiritual self.

3. Regularly attending Mass helps children find their true home. While my children are constantly with me at this age, I know I won't always be there to guide them. But God will never leave their side. Their real home is with God in His Church, but they will only learn to recognize it as home if I bring them to Mass from an early age. We cannot open the door to the Church at Baptism, only to slam it in their face until they're deemed mature enough to be a part of the Body of Christ.

Jesus invites all of us to His table – and He extended a special invitation to children, saying, "Let the little children come to me."

God bless you & your children!

Extracted & adapted from 'Why Young Children Belong at Mass' by Kate Wicker

Doubt

What's in the DVD stores now that's worth a watch?

Image from: Internet Movie Poster Awards - Featuring one of the largest collections of movie poster images on the web.

Set at a Catholic school in the Bronx, it centers on a nun who grows suspicious when a priest begins taking too much interest in the life of a young black student. Is she being overly protective or not protective enough? And can she work within the system to discover the truth? Written by Sherman (courtesy of Broadway.com)

Click here for the trailer.

Come, Holy Spirit, Come

Susan Boyle has made headlines all over the world! The 48-year old Scottish from Blackburn turned heads just last month at a programme called Britain's Got Talent when she performed I Dream a Dream. Unassuming in character, Ms Boyle has definitely inspired and tugged the hearts of hundreds of millions around the world.

After recently performing Memory this past week, talent judge Simon Cowell apologised for laughing at her a month ago when she first set foot on stage. Instead of commenting negatively, she shrugged her shoulders and brushed the topic aside. This one simple act to date has been viewed by a hundred million people throughout the world. Maybe she's aware of the impact she's made, maybe she's not. But it's a reminder of how God can use us wherever we are, in any situation, to reflect His love and compassion! How have we been God's channel at the workbench? At home? In class? To our neighbours? To those whom we are not aware of, but are watching our every move?

During the outpouring of he Holy Spirit this weekend, let us allow ourselves to be truly renewed and also to be guided on how we use technology to spread the Good News!

Come Holy Spirit, Come!

Click here for the YouTube link.

by AT

Addressing Pastoral Needs of Catechists

This workshop by Br Collin Wee is aimed at helping catechists who may face young people going through crisis; to understand and help. For more information about the workshop content, please click here.

Event Date: 30 May 09, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Location: 2 Highland Road
Organised By: Singapore Pastoral Institute
Booking Information: 68583011
Contact Email: spi@catholic.org.sg
Website: http://www.catholicspi.org

World Communications Sunday

I affirm Pope Benedict’s call for young Catholics to use the internet media (like Facebook, Youtube, blogger, Twitter, etc) to share and promote our faith.

Anyone regardless of age will appreciate how technology can enhance our daily life and keep us connected with the fast moving world. Its speed and capacity of acquiring information and data is undeniable.

While we must be careful not to be enslaved by technology, we must also not avoid it because of fear of its harmful effects. Instead, we should guide our young brothers and sisters how to use this powerful instrument for the good of humanity. Just as how we communicate openly with others, so the same goes for sharing our faith in the online world for…

“Everyone who acknowledges me before others, I will acknowledge before my heavenly father… (Mt 10:33)."

by LH