Catholic Website for Tweens – 10 to 13 year-olds

October 13, 2009

Catholic resources for high school-aged youth and also for young adults abound.  But there is not much out there specifically aimed at 10 to 13 year-olds, often called tweens.  Given the computer-savvy nature of this population, a static website with Catholic doctrine is not going to draw much interest. 

The Bishops Conference of England & Wales has sponsored a great website for tweens called Yfaith.  The site is dynamic and catchy.   It draws in the viewer (and not only if you are in this age group!)  In many ways, the site utilizes the best features of popular secular sites — lots of interaction, surprises, videos by tweens, and many invitations to learn and discover.  You just can’t predict what you will learn the next time you visit this site.  Did you ever wonder how many times cheese is mentioned in the Bible?  Visit Yfaith and find out!

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Pew Study on Faith in Flux – The Catholic Data

April 27, 2009

The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life released a study on April 27, 2009, titled, Faith in Flux – Changes in Religious Affiliation in the US.   

The report identifies several interesting statistics for Catholics in the US.   

Childhood practices and commitment appear to be pivotal in influencing whether a person remains a member of their childhood faith.  A total of 46% of current adult Catholics who were raised Catholic say that they had very strong faith as a child and 96% worshiped weekly as a child.  In addition, 71% attended religious education as a child and 25% attended Catholic high school.

Examining the reasons why individuals chose to become former Catholics is also of interest.  A total of 71% of former Catholics who have become Protestant cite that their spiritual needs were not being met as the reason for leaving.  Nearly two thirds of former Catholics who are now “unaffiliated” cite that their reason for departure was that they stopped believing in Church teaching.  About 60% named teachings on abortion and homosexuality.  About 50% named teachings on birth control.  And about 40% identified issues related to the Church’s treatment of women.  Interestingly, about 71% of former Catholics say that they “just gradually drifted away from [their] religion.”

Currently, 10% of American adults are former Catholics.  In general, the population that has grown the most is that of “unaffiliated” individuals.  This group, however, is very diverse.  Catholicism has lost the most members to this group.  However, Catholicism also has a 68% retention rate of childhood members which is equal to or higher than other faith traditions.  

Interestingly, the changes are often made at a young age.  Approximately 48% of former Catholics who are now unaffiliated made that choice before they were 18 years old.  An additional 30% became former Catholics between age 18 and 23.  These statistics indicate the importance of not ignoring your youth and young adults within the Catholic community.  If we do ignore them, there is a good chance that they may choose to no longer be Catholic.

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World Youth Day Message for Palm Sunday, April 5, 2009

March 23, 2009

Pope Benedict XVI has released his message to young people worldwide for the 24th World Youth Day (WYD) in 2009.  The theme of the message is “We have set our hope on the living God” from 1Tim 4:10.  Not surprisingly since 2009 is the year of St. Paul, the Pope speaks of St. Paul as a witness of hope.

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Vatican Announces World Youth Day Themes for 2009, 2010 and 2011

December 16, 2008

Although the worldwide gathering of youth called World Youth Day only occurs every two or three years, the day itself is celebrated in parishes across the world every year. The Vatican has just released the theme for each of the next three World Youth Days, including the 2011 gathering in Spain.

The theme for 2009′s World Youth Day is “We Have Set Our Hope on the Living God” (1 Tim 4:10.)

The theme for 2010′s World Youth Day is “Good Teacher, What Must I do to Inherit Eternal Life?” (Mk 10:17.)

The theme for 2011′s World Youth Day is “Rooted and Built Up in Jesus Christ, Firm in the Faith” (cf Col 2:7).

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Schedule of Catholic Conferences in December 2008 and January 2009

November 18, 2008

The following Catholic national organizations have scheduled annual meetings in December and January:

12/4/2008  – 12/7/2008 
NCCYM – National Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry: Formed by Living Water/Formados for Agua Viva
Cleveland, OH
 
12/31/2008  – 1/4/2009 
NCSC – National Catholic Student Coalition 25th Annual Leadership Conference – Our Catholic Faith, Our Nation in Need
Atlanta, GA

1/6/2009  – 1/9/2009 
CCMA – Catholic Campus Ministry Association and NADDCM – National Association of Diocesan Directors of Campus Ministry National Convention
Atlanta, GA
 
1/16/2009  – 1/21/2009 
NCOD – National Catholic Office for the Deaf Pastoral Week 2009 – 2009 National Conference for Pastoral Workers in Deaf Ministry: Bridging the Gap
San Mateo/San Francisco, CA
 
1/31/2009  – 2/2/2009 
ACCU – Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities Annual Meeting 2009 – Catholic Higher Education: Institutional Diversity Shared Purpose
Washington, DC

Visit the ActiveParishioner.com Calendar for more details and future events.

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Schedule of Catholic Conferences in November and December 2008

October 23, 2008

The following Catholic organizations will be hosting a conference in November or December:

10/30/2008  – 11/2/2008 
La Red – National Catholic Network de Pastoral Juvenil Hispana
La Red 2008 Annual Membership Reunion
San Antonio, TX 
 
11/18/2008  – 11/21/2008 
NATRI – National Association for Treasurers of Religious Institutes
2008 NATRI National Conference
Denver, CO 
 
12/4/2008  – 12/7/2008 
NFCYM – National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry
NCCYM – National Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry: Formed by Living Water/Formados por Agua Viva
Cleveland, OH 
 
12/31/2008  – 1/4/2009 
NCSC – National Catholic Student Coalition
NCSC 25th Annual Leadership Conference – Our Catholic Faith, Our Nation in Need
Atlanta, GA

Visit ActiveParishioner.com Calendar for more details and future events.

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Working Together in Catholic Schools – The Vatican’s Viewpoint

August 25, 2008

This morning the traffic announcers on the radio reminded drivers to be cautious about young children walking down the street since the school season has begun. The start of a new school year can be very exciting for students attending Catholic school, whether their teachers are lay or religious. Things are no longer as they were 50 years ago when Catholic school students were almost exclusively taught by religious sisters, brothers and priests. Today it is more common to have students almost exclusively taught by lay teachers. If the teachers are good, does it really matter if they are lay or religious? The Vatican says it definitely matters. In fact, the Vatican goes a step further by claiming that it is very important for students to be taught by both lay and religious teachers in Catholic schools.

Last September, the Vatican’s Congregation for Catholic Education issued a statement, “Educating Together in Catholic Schools” which has now been translated into English. In the statement, the Vatican focuses on the importance of Catholic education in helping with the full formation of students.  It is “especially urgent to offer young people a course of scholastic formation which is not reduced to a simple individualistic and instrumental fruition of service with a view to obtaining a qualification. As well as gaining knowledge, students must also have a strong experience of sharing with their educators.”

The Vatican goes a step further in emphasizing the importance of having both lay persons and religious collaborating together in the school system. The statement highlights ”three fundamental aspects of cooperation between lay faithful and consecrated persons in the Catholic school: 1) Communion in the educational mission, 2) Necessary course of formation for communion…, [and] 3) Openness towards others as the fruit of that communion.” The statement gives many suggestions for improving and building upon each of these areas.

Catholic school students have much to gain from having lay teachers and from having religious teachers. As the Vatican statement recommends, it is very important for lay teachers and religious teachers to work together as they take on the responsibility of educating and forming the next generation of students.

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Catholic Conference Welcomes Persons with Disabilities

August 8, 2008

In less than a month, one of my favorite organizations will be hosting its biennial conference.  The National Apostolate for Inclusion Ministry (NAfIM) will be meeting in Huron, OH on September 4-6, 2008.  The theme of the conference is “Winds of Change, Spirit of Inclusion.”

NAfIM is a Catholic membership organization of parish ministers, diocesan leaders, university professionals, parents and persons with mental retardation, intellectual disability and other developmental differences.  Anyone can join.  NAfIM’s vision is based on the realization that “the universal call to holiness leads us to recognize that the Body of Christ suffers when some members are not invited to full participation.” NAfIM “envisions that every person with intellectual/developmental disabilities will be welcome to full inclusion into our Catholic communities.” 

I had the opportunity to attend a NAfIM conference several years ago and found the experience to be both moving and enlightening.  Everyone who attends, regardless of intellectual or developmental ability, is fully welcome to participate in the workshops, the prayer services and all parts of the conference. 

The keynote address this year will be given by theologian Fr. Jim Bacik and is titled, “The Parish as a Welcoming Community: Fostering the Spirit of Inclusion.”  This gentle and insightful pastor is adept at helping Catholics understand and live life from a theologically grounded perspective.

General sessions include “Faith-based Care in a Bureaucratic World,” ”Gospel Drama How-to’s: Sharing the Good News and Your Gifts,” “Marriage Panel: I Didn’t Sign Up for This!” where four couples share their marriage challenges and faith journey while raising their children with developmental disabilities, and “Sibling Panel: Riding the Bus and Beyond with my Sib!” where adult brothers and sisters share their relationships with their siblings with intellectual/developmental disability. Many other workshops are also scheduled during the conference. As you can see from this sampling, the conference is a family event where many attendees come as a family.

Whether you are a parish minister, a religious educator, or a parent who’s family is touched by intellectual/developmental disability, you will find this organization and its members to be a lifeline filled with love, wisdom, joy, and a welcoming attitude that would make Jesus proud.

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Connecting with other Catholics around the World

August 4, 2008

Every time a World Youth Day (WYD) occurs, the host country experiences many positive benefits as the effects of such a faith-filled gathering of this size touch many. It is not surprising then to see a new Catholic offering coming from Australia which just finished hosting WYD. This new opportunity is called FaithTrip and is an internet-based way for Catholics, especially younger Catholics, to connect with other faithfilled people across the world.

Signing up is free. Once you join, you can post your own profile. You can also add photos and a blog. (As with all social networking sites, caution is advised regarding how much information to reveal about yourself.) Members can then form or join a community, a group, or link to friends. Catholic music and videos are also available on the site.

For those of us who group up before the internet, this site can serve as a modern version of the old pen-pal system. You can form a group of like-minded people across the world, or you can use the site to form a local group. Although initial groups are heavily focused in Australia, this will change as the site grows with time.

Would you like to interact with worldwide Catholics in your own profession or with an interest in a specific hobby? Give this site a try and form a group. You may not get the beautiful stamps that you would with pen-pals, but your communication will proceed at a much faster speed.

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Read about World Youth Day (WYD) – Australia Every Day

July 17, 2008

The US-based Catholic News Service has set up a dedicated website to track events and impressions this week in Australia as pilgrims from around the world celebrate World Youth Day.  The page includes a blog with contributions from several writers. 

Before blogs existed, the US Bishops Conference (USCCB) would recruit young pilgrims to write their daily reflections and post them on the USCCB website.  Staff would also photograph US pilgrims participating in the events and post the photos online.  Given the technology back then (primarily during WYD-Toronto and WYD-Rome), this involved having the young people send faxes to the USCCB staff office at the event, or walk a long distance to the office. Then the staff would type in the daily journals and email them to Washington.  There, the bishops’ Computer office would post the photos and journals online.  It was a time-consuming but fun process, and many parents and pilgrims appreciated being able to follow what was happening on a more personal level.

Today with the advent of blogs, this is made so much easier.  Visit the CNS website to read the latest impressions from people participating in WYD-Australia.

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Pope Benedict’s World Youth Day (WYD) Message to Young People

July 16, 2008

At the start of every World Youth Day (WYD), the Pope issues a message to the young people of the world.  It is wonderful to see that wth each WYD, the Vatican publishes translations in more and more languages.  This year the text can be found in 23 languages. The Pope’s message be read in the following languages:  English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Vietnamese, Chinese, Filipino, Greek, Polish, Russian, Portuguese, Ukrainian, Thai, Croatian, Czech, Hungarian, Macedonian, Albanian, Maltese, Cambodian, Serbian, and Burmese. 

The theme for the message is taken from the Acts of Apostles (chapter 1, verse 8.)  “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses.”

In his message, the Pope emphasizes the promise of the Holy Spirit.  He notes how at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit “renewed the Apostles from within, filling them with a power that would give them courage to go out and boldly proclaim” the Good News. He reminds the young readers that “the Holy Spirit continues today to act with power in the Church, and the fruits of the Spirit are abundant in the measure in which we are ready to open up to this power that makes all things new.”  He invites and encourages young people everywhere to each get to know the Spirit, to build a relationship with the Spirit and to let the Spirit guide the young person’s life.

This is good advice for Catholics of any age.

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