Sr. High Youth Group News

This past Sunday we went out to Putt-Putt Golf and Games on Summer Ave and completely worked the place. Between Go-Carts, Video Games, Lasertag, and, of course, Putt-Putt, it just seemed like we didn't have enough time to to take the whole experience in.
 
I'm not so proud to report that my Lastertag team (The Blue Bombshells) was dominated on the field of tagging with the laser, only taking 2 of the 6 games we played, but on the other hand, you can't shut me up about the amazing 45 I shot on the hardest putt-putt course that this location has to offer, which was the best score out of all everyone that was with us this Sunday regardless of course difficulty. All in all we had a blast and I look forward to the continued fun having through out these next few months and into the new school year.
 
This Sunday is Father's Day, and we're playing it light. I'd like to invite all Fathers to participate in our game night, that is if you don't have any other plans with your respective family unit. I figure we could get a little competition going on either the court, pool table, ping pong table, or even the OLPH Sr CYM's own Smileyball.

So much stuff is going on I feel that my head is spinning and I'm having trouble catching my breath before the next event. I want to remind you that the first weekend in June is a very, very busy weekend, leading into a busy week.
 
First, Thursday, June 4, from 6pm - 9pm St. Francis of Assisi Church will host a VOCATION YOUTH RALLY which will include music from Noelle Garcia and the 2009 class of Deacons who will be Ordained into the Holy Priesthood on Saturday, June 6. This rally will be hosted by Kathleen Platten and Danny Brough.
 
The very next day, Friday, June 5 - Saturday, June 13, the OLPH Sr High CYM has been selected to be the Host Youth Group for Catholic HEART Work Camp here in Memphis. Our duties as the Host Youth Group will be to make St. Benedict at Aurburndale as hospitable as we possibly can for the campers coming in all over the country. One way we do that is by removing desks from several of the rooms in SBA for their sleeping accommodations. And another way we help them is by serving them dinner during the week. We are also invited to participate in the program for Tuesday and Thursday.
 
As always, if you have any questions about any event that the Sr High CYM is participating in please do not hesitate to contact me at 901.754.1204 x 319 or by email at srhighyouth@olphgermantown.org

This past weekend we thew a party for the recently Confirmed here at OLPH. Included in that celebration was an invitation to all of this year's 8th graders to join the OLPH Senior High Catholic Youth Ministry, not only for next year, but ASAP.
 
So, what are some of things to immediately look forward to for these new members? Here are some things that are happening RIGHT NOW at this parish for High School Youth:

• Regular Sunday Meetings from 6:15 - 8:30pm in Fr. Gresham Hall (Until May 24)
  
• Diocesan Summer Softball on Wednesdays from 6:30 - 7:30pm on the OLPH Field
  
• Social Sundays in Fr. Gresham Hall from 5 - 7pm (Starting May 31)
  
• NCYC Registration (NCYC will be held Nov 20 - 22 in Kansas City, MO)

I look forward to seeing a lot of you this summer and I can't wait to get started

I realize that these next few weeks all the schools in the Memphis area will be on spring break and I'd like to remind everyone of the Sr High Youth Group's events. Although it maybe around that time when school starts to downshift into summer, the Youth Group is just getting revved up.

• March 11 & 18 - Living Stations Practice in Church at 5pm
• March 11 - First Volleyball practice at 6pm in Gym, practices will be each Wednesday (except during Holy Week, April 8) at 6pm
• March 27 - Living Stations in the Church at 7pm
• March 29 - Living Stations in the Church at 5pm
• April 5 - $75 Deposit due for "Ignite Your Torch" Summer Retreat
• May 3 - Confirmation Party hosted by Senior High Youth in St. Therese Hall at 6pm
• May - July - Summer Softball, Practices on Wednesdays, games on Mondays
• June 13 - 17 - "Ignite Your Torch" Summer Retreat

This past weekend we experienced a fantastic Youth Celebration at St. Benedict  at Auburndale. Keynote speaker Mike Patin energized and evangelized all who attended. Reminding us that we're "not the only freaks that are going through what we're going through, whether it is doubting your faith, having trouble with your parents, finding it difficult to fit in, or just having trouble with everything." He challenged us to look to the Churches Heroes, the Saints, see what example they can give and what advice on our own difficulties that the give. He also he helped us to understand the importance of being open to receive the help of the most spectacular of all the Superheroes in all of history, our Lord, Jesus Christ. He reminded us that Jesus calls us to Heroes in everyday life, to follow Christ's example.
 
John Angotti lead the praise and worship music for the weekend and absolutely rocked the place and kept the crowd in high spirits as the Holy Spirit worked on us all. Bishop Terry Steib came to celebrate mass with Memphis's Young Church of Today, and finally we said goodbye to the person responsible for DYC for the past 25 years, Mrs. Catherine Mensi, who is retiring after 30+ years of service to the Youth of the Diocese of Memphis.
 
All in all this weekend was a great success and we hope that all that attended will not forget the experience, and we pray that each and everyday that they will live to be Heroes for Christ.

Paperwork: All OLPH SR high youth participants need to have a Medical Release form and OLPH on Campus Permission form on file at all times. Each August at the kick-off event, new forms must be completed.  Before every major trip, a Personal Information form must be completed for each participant. The Personal Information Form enables the trip advisors to take care of the youth throughout the trip!

E-Mail List: The OLPH youth program has an official “Youth Program E-Mail List”. Addresses on the list will receive regular reminders about ministry activities, and news from the youth program. Contact srhighyouth@olphgermantown.org  to be added or removed from the list.

Calling post: The SR high youth group uses an automated message delivery system called “calling post” that can call a specific list of phone numbers. The youth program uses this technology to remind its participants of things that are happening. Only participants who request to be on the calling post list receive phone calls. Contact srhighyouth@olphgermantown.org to be added or removed from the list.