This is a video we worked on for this year's Advent Conspiracy push. If you, your church, or your organization would like to know more, just go to www.adventconspiracy.org
Sunday, November 30, 2014
Friday, November 14, 2014
November Parent Newsletter
Plenty is afoot with OLV Teen: A 100-teen Confirmation retreat, Junior Rally with dozens of others Treasure Valley middle schoolers, Theology of the Body for Middle Schoolers, family dinners among those preparing for First Communion, the Hot Seat night with questions for our priests, and the involvement of parents in our program. Get the latest in our November Parent Newsletter.
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Thursday, November 13, 2014
Three Things That Almost Guarantee Teens Stay Catholic
We all want to live our life by guarantees. What if I told you that if you’re able to get teens to have three simple factors, there’s an 80% chance the weekly mass attendees as adults? In Christian Smith’s Young Catholic America, he actually pointed out what these three factors are. 80% may not seem high but for comparison, the following combos don’t even produce 50%:
- High parental importance of faith, high teen importance of Faith, and teen frequently reads Scripture
- High teen importance of faith, teen attends Sunday School, and teen has many adults he can talk to about the faith
- High parental importance of faith, high teen importance of religious faith, attends Sunday School, and teen has many religious experiences
In this blog post I want to examine these three factors, then talk about how youth ministry, or better said the church’s ministry to teens, can achieve these three factors.
Christian Smith is a leading sociologist on the sociology of religion: he did a study of over 2000 young adults in their teen years on the religiosity and then followed up with them while they were in their 20s. As far as I know, there aren’t many comparable studies. When he followed up with the Catholics, the results are so amazing he compiled them into a separate book. One interesting thing is that if Catholics go to mass their 20s statistically speaking they will probably go to mass until they die but if they don’t go to mass their 20s the chances that they come back in the 30s, 40s, 50s, or 60s is actually rather slim. At the end of the book, he talks about how different combination of factors can come together to ensure that Catholic teens are active Catholics (for him, this basically means attending mass weekly, although I would hope that a truly active Catholic would do more). There are only seven possible path that lead to more than 50% of the teens remaining active Catholics as adults – and some of these require 4 or 5 factors to come together. Of the seven paths one stands out for two reasons: it produces an 80% success rate at having active Catholic adults and all three of the factors are things that we can create the environment where there almost definitely going to happen.
Click here to continue reading.
Sunday, November 9, 2014
ABCs of Fostering Vocations
This article comes from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). See it in its original form here.
A: Answer your children's questions about priesthood or Religious life; never discourage them or ridicule them if they bring it up.
Ask your child to identify a talent which he or she has, and imagine together what work or ministry God might want someone to do with that type of talent. Also talk about what good things can be done with the talent right now. For instance, singing talent could be used to sing a baby brother or sister to sleep. Talent at soccer could be used to help someone on the team who needs extra practice.
B: Bring your family to the next ordination mass or prayer vigil for religious.
C: Challenge teens and young adults to consider a Church-related vocation. Tell them about the gifts in ministry you see in them. Encourage them to participate in at least one special vocation event (ordination, vocation retreat, Focus 11, etc.).
Cultivate an attitude of service by responding as a family to the needs of others. Seek out those in need and find ways to care for them.
D: Discuss your own vocation to family life, explaining that God calls some people to priesthood or religious life, some to marriage, and some to life as single laypeople. You can talk about vocations firsthand!
E: Encourage your children to be involved in the liturgical life of the parish as servers, lectors, musicians, etc. (and see to it that they get there on time).
Explore the feelings you might experience should one of your children choose to give his or her life to Church ministry and discuss with your spouse your feelings and reactions if one of your children decided to become a priest or nun.
F: Find opportunities to affirm the gifts and talents of your children, and help them relate their gifts to various career and life choices (including priesthood and religious life).
G: Guide your junior high child to pray that he or she might discover and use the gifts God has given.
H: Have a priest come and bless your home. Have your younger children make a cross to hang in each bedroom in your home.
I: Include the diocesan vocation prayer in your personal and family prayer, especially on Wednesdays. Invite a priest, brother or sister to dinner or to an outing with your family.
J: Join together in prayer as a family; include a short vocations prayer when you pray before meals (especially on Wednesday).
K: Keep an eye open for TV shows and movies that present Gospel-centered role models. Watch them with your children and engage in a discussion.
L: Let your children see their Baptism pictures. Have the children make and send a card or note to the priest who baptized them promising him they will pray for them.
Let your children notice an attitude of openness to God's will in you.
M: Make time for teenagers in your life: your children and their friends, nieces and nephews, babysitters, etc.
N: Name the gifts of each family member on their birthday. Express gratitude for these gifts.
O: On the date of your child's baptism, talk about the life of the saint for whom the child is named (or the saint’s day it is). There is plenty of information about the background of saints on the Internet. The saints are people from all walks of life who tried to make a positive difference in the world--a goal as real today as it was for the saints.
P: Pray for the seminarians of the diocese by name if you can find out their names; you may want to “spiritually adopt” one of them.
Q: Quiz your children and discuss with them stories of calls in Scripture (e.g. Mary's response to God in Luke 1:26-39, Jesus' calling the Apostles in Mt 4:18-22, etc.).
R: Remember in prayer by name those who minister to your family and include in your family prayers petitions for those called to priesthood and consecrated life.
S: Set aside a "family time" each week for kids to talk about what is happening in lives. Let them share about their day.
Share the story of your own vocational choice with your children. Celebrate the occasion of your wedding anniversary as you share the story of your vocation to married life.
Support and participate in any school or parish vocation activities.
T: Talk about your family’s ethnic or cultural heritage at supper, while driving in the car, or at some other time when family members are all together. Pass along memories of cultural aspects of holiday and other celebrations that you remember.
Talk positively and enthusiastically about the priests, sisters, brothers, and deacons in your parish and share with your children the stories of the priests or sisters who have inspired you and how (e.g. priest at your wedding, or baptized your children, priests or religious from school, etc.).
Tell your children why you chose your particular profession. Who helped you form your decision?
U: Use books and videos to familiarize your children with saints who are priests or vowed religious. Use these lives of the saints as a springboard for discussion on these lifestyles.
Utilize opportunities to share your vocation as parents: what you value, how you came to that decision, and the importance of faith in your life.
V: Visit Churches and Shrines while on vacation and offer prayers together as a family.
W: Witness to your own vocation by telling stories about how you fell in love. Let the children see the love and care that parents have for each other.
XYZ: The end of the alphabet, but certainly not the end of ways or ideas to foster vocations at home!
A: Answer your children's questions about priesthood or Religious life; never discourage them or ridicule them if they bring it up.
Ask your child to identify a talent which he or she has, and imagine together what work or ministry God might want someone to do with that type of talent. Also talk about what good things can be done with the talent right now. For instance, singing talent could be used to sing a baby brother or sister to sleep. Talent at soccer could be used to help someone on the team who needs extra practice.
B: Bring your family to the next ordination mass or prayer vigil for religious.
C: Challenge teens and young adults to consider a Church-related vocation. Tell them about the gifts in ministry you see in them. Encourage them to participate in at least one special vocation event (ordination, vocation retreat, Focus 11, etc.).
Cultivate an attitude of service by responding as a family to the needs of others. Seek out those in need and find ways to care for them.
D: Discuss your own vocation to family life, explaining that God calls some people to priesthood or religious life, some to marriage, and some to life as single laypeople. You can talk about vocations firsthand!
E: Encourage your children to be involved in the liturgical life of the parish as servers, lectors, musicians, etc. (and see to it that they get there on time).
Explore the feelings you might experience should one of your children choose to give his or her life to Church ministry and discuss with your spouse your feelings and reactions if one of your children decided to become a priest or nun.
F: Find opportunities to affirm the gifts and talents of your children, and help them relate their gifts to various career and life choices (including priesthood and religious life).
G: Guide your junior high child to pray that he or she might discover and use the gifts God has given.
H: Have a priest come and bless your home. Have your younger children make a cross to hang in each bedroom in your home.
I: Include the diocesan vocation prayer in your personal and family prayer, especially on Wednesdays. Invite a priest, brother or sister to dinner or to an outing with your family.
J: Join together in prayer as a family; include a short vocations prayer when you pray before meals (especially on Wednesday).
K: Keep an eye open for TV shows and movies that present Gospel-centered role models. Watch them with your children and engage in a discussion.
L: Let your children see their Baptism pictures. Have the children make and send a card or note to the priest who baptized them promising him they will pray for them.
Let your children notice an attitude of openness to God's will in you.
M: Make time for teenagers in your life: your children and their friends, nieces and nephews, babysitters, etc.
N: Name the gifts of each family member on their birthday. Express gratitude for these gifts.
O: On the date of your child's baptism, talk about the life of the saint for whom the child is named (or the saint’s day it is). There is plenty of information about the background of saints on the Internet. The saints are people from all walks of life who tried to make a positive difference in the world--a goal as real today as it was for the saints.
P: Pray for the seminarians of the diocese by name if you can find out their names; you may want to “spiritually adopt” one of them.
Q: Quiz your children and discuss with them stories of calls in Scripture (e.g. Mary's response to God in Luke 1:26-39, Jesus' calling the Apostles in Mt 4:18-22, etc.).
R: Remember in prayer by name those who minister to your family and include in your family prayers petitions for those called to priesthood and consecrated life.
S: Set aside a "family time" each week for kids to talk about what is happening in lives. Let them share about their day.
Share the story of your own vocational choice with your children. Celebrate the occasion of your wedding anniversary as you share the story of your vocation to married life.
Support and participate in any school or parish vocation activities.
T: Talk about your family’s ethnic or cultural heritage at supper, while driving in the car, or at some other time when family members are all together. Pass along memories of cultural aspects of holiday and other celebrations that you remember.
Talk positively and enthusiastically about the priests, sisters, brothers, and deacons in your parish and share with your children the stories of the priests or sisters who have inspired you and how (e.g. priest at your wedding, or baptized your children, priests or religious from school, etc.).
Tell your children why you chose your particular profession. Who helped you form your decision?
U: Use books and videos to familiarize your children with saints who are priests or vowed religious. Use these lives of the saints as a springboard for discussion on these lifestyles.
Utilize opportunities to share your vocation as parents: what you value, how you came to that decision, and the importance of faith in your life.
V: Visit Churches and Shrines while on vacation and offer prayers together as a family.
W: Witness to your own vocation by telling stories about how you fell in love. Let the children see the love and care that parents have for each other.
XYZ: The end of the alphabet, but certainly not the end of ways or ideas to foster vocations at home!
Saturday, November 8, 2014
In Sickness and In Health
“In sickness and in health.”
On two occasions I have said those words with the full confidence that the couple repeating those words actually knew what they meant.
The first occurrence brought a smile to my face. She had endured and marriage was her reward on the other side of illness. Together they have journeyed through the struggles of a serious disease as boyfriend and girlfriend. Now they would be husband and wife. They knew what “in sickness and in health” meant.
The second occurrence brought a tear to my eye. She had weeks to live. The vow renewal was his gift to her. I almost cut the words fearing the might be too painful. But with a crowd gathered I included them as a testimony to all who would hear them say, “in sickness and in health.” They meant it and everyone knew it.
Few people consider sickness and suffering when picking a mate.
They consider how the other person might look in the morning or what bad habits they might have.
They consider what offspring they could produce or what extended family they might bring to the reunion.
Yet few people ever consider what is a vital question—can I suffer with this person?
It sounds like the beginning of another marriage joke, but it’s not.
It’s a real question and one which should be explored by every dating couple.
Suffering is a part of life.
Click here to continue reading.
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
We have a new bishop-elect
Big news arrived in our Diocese of Boise this morning. Here is the press release from the Diocesan Office:
BOISE — Pope Francis announced at the Vatican today that he had accepted the resignation of Bishop Michael P. Driscoll, Seventh Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Boise, and named Bishop Peter F. Christensen, of the Diocese of Superior, Wisconsin, as Eighth Bishop of Boise.
“I would like to thank the Holy Father Pope Francis, Archbishop Carlos Maria Vigano and all who made possible this opportunity to serve the church in Idaho. I am humbled by the Holy Father’s confidence in me, and pray that I may be worthy of his trust,” Bishop Christensen said at a press conference Nov. 4 at the Diocesan Pastoral Center.
“This is a wonderful and diverse state with beautiful mountains and prairies, deserts, rivers and green valleys. Yet nothing reveals the love of God for this community more than the good works and faithfulness of his people. I look forward to seeing the beauty of creation through the holiness and love of Idaho Catholics, and hope that you see God’s love reflected in me in the same way.”
Bishop Driscoll, who submitted his letter of resignation to the pope on Aug. 8, 2014, when he turned 75 years old, applauded the pope’s choice for Idaho’s new bishop.
“I am thrilled with the selection of Bishop Christensen as the next Bishop of Boise. He is a man of energy and prayer and love for the church, and will find in Idaho a community of committed and faithful Catholics willing to serve and follow him in the years ahead. I am also very grateful to Pope Francis for granting my request for retirement,” Bishop Driscoll said. “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time serving the people and the Catholic Church of Idaho.”
Bishop Christensen will be installed as Bishop of Boise at a Mass Dec. 17 in St. John Cathedral.
Bishop Driscoll will continue to oversee the daily governance of the diocese until Bishop Christensen is installed.
BOISE — Pope Francis announced at the Vatican today that he had accepted the resignation of Bishop Michael P. Driscoll, Seventh Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Boise, and named Bishop Peter F. Christensen, of the Diocese of Superior, Wisconsin, as Eighth Bishop of Boise.
“I would like to thank the Holy Father Pope Francis, Archbishop Carlos Maria Vigano and all who made possible this opportunity to serve the church in Idaho. I am humbled by the Holy Father’s confidence in me, and pray that I may be worthy of his trust,” Bishop Christensen said at a press conference Nov. 4 at the Diocesan Pastoral Center.
“This is a wonderful and diverse state with beautiful mountains and prairies, deserts, rivers and green valleys. Yet nothing reveals the love of God for this community more than the good works and faithfulness of his people. I look forward to seeing the beauty of creation through the holiness and love of Idaho Catholics, and hope that you see God’s love reflected in me in the same way.”
Bishop Driscoll, who submitted his letter of resignation to the pope on Aug. 8, 2014, when he turned 75 years old, applauded the pope’s choice for Idaho’s new bishop.
“I am thrilled with the selection of Bishop Christensen as the next Bishop of Boise. He is a man of energy and prayer and love for the church, and will find in Idaho a community of committed and faithful Catholics willing to serve and follow him in the years ahead. I am also very grateful to Pope Francis for granting my request for retirement,” Bishop Driscoll said. “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time serving the people and the Catholic Church of Idaho.”
Bishop Christensen will be installed as Bishop of Boise at a Mass Dec. 17 in St. John Cathedral.
Bishop Driscoll will continue to oversee the daily governance of the diocese until Bishop Christensen is installed.
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