Notes from the Virtual Youth Ministers Gathering on Thursday, May 7, 2020 Blessings, Self-Care and Summer Opening prayer: Holy Mary, help those in need, give strength to the weak, comfort the sorrowful, pray for God's people, assist the clergy, intercede for religious. Mary all who seek your help experience your unfailing protection. Amen. (Source: https://www.marypages.com/prayers-to-the-blessed-virgin-mary.html) Participants were invited to introduce themselves and share a blessing experienced since the March 17th shut down in Ohio. Blessings included: Move/improved prayer time technology working at home! Family time (spouse, kids, grandkids) friendly neighbors Still employed seeing parishioners checking in on each other Help at home helping others/working with food cupboard Calling parishioners has helped make great connections SELF-CARE: As a reminder that we have to take time to take care of ourselves in order to be able to serve others. Stephen Covey’s 7th Habit of Highly Effective people is to “Sharpen the Saw” where we have to schedule time for our physical, emotional/mental and spiritual well-being. We divided into breakout rooms to discuss how we are doing so. As re-grouped and shared the following insights: Need to work on more walking – indoors and outside Getting up from the computer periodically stop work at 4:00 p.m. Video chats with family/friends old fashioned phone calls Reading, including spiritual books praying as a household Keeping routines going in to the office, but shorter hours Set an alarm every two hours to get up and move new prayer styles SUMMER ADAPTATIONS: Cindee referred to organizations that she listed in yesterday’s Youth Ministers Update that had canceled, postponed or rescheduled some summer events (see below). Most are cancelled for 2020, but some have only gone through June so far. The unknown is difficult. Right now, we only have mandates through May, wherein we should not be calling people out of their homes unnecessarily. The limits of ten people, with masks and six-feet distancing once we can gather also can be challenging, but some things can continue to be done virtually, by mail, and the other creative ways you have used for two months now…. Once the Ohio dioceses share the guidelines for resuming Mass and Liturgy, we will need to follow up similar guidelines for other pastoral activities as well. Some plans:
Post-meeting note: since there was a question about planning for June,Cindee did email Msgr. Zuraw that question. He replied, “I would advise against this at this time.” Also, once Church buildings do open, be sure to talk with the pastor/administrator/leader to inquire about hosting prayer services for/with teens and/or their families following the guidelines. Highlight various aspects of your Church as appropriate (statues of saints or stained glass windows as a focus for prayer) Do not let fear rule, Keep hope and “Be Not Afraid” but keep in mind our responsibilities should we schedule something at which an outbreak happens…. We don’t want to put our teens (or the households to which they return) in harms way. KEEP UP THE CREATIVITY and doing what you can to support the teens and their families. And you for all you do! ========================== BOOKS RECOMMENDED: Mollie: Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska Joe: Can You Drink the Cup?: Henri JM Nouwen Article to which was referred regarding U.S. bishops’ guidelines for re-opening Churches: https://www.ncronline.org/news/coronavirus/us-bishops-guidelines-reopening-mass-groups-10-sanitizer-during-communion?clickSource=email ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Participants: Bob Barto (Holy Trinity East Liverpool), Marcy Fessler (St. Patrick Youngstown), Joe Frangos (St. Paul North Canton and Little Flower Middlebranch), Mollie Kulig (St. Peter and St. John Canton), Cara Lipinski (St. Joseph Massillon), Shannon Pecchia (St. Angela Merici), Terry Sibert (St. Joan of Arc Canton), Diane Tarka (St. John Summitville), and Cindee Case (Office of Youth & Young Adult Ministry), and late Anne Weeks (Holy Spirit). Asher Frangos also joined us a few times (so glad to see him doing well!) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rescheduling Summer - Updates from some of the organizations used by parishes in our diocese: > Catholic Heart Work Camps All 2020 summer camps have been canceled. > CMD Young Neighbors in Action and CMD Just 5 Days All 2020 summer camps have been canceled. However, The Center for Ministry Development is planning to provide resources for parishes and Catholic High Schools to serve in your community this summer. We are preparing for a multi-day national event in late July or early August that will include live streaming for music, prayer, and faith sharing as a send-off and wrap-up for service in your local community. > ND Vision at Notre Dame Canceled for summer 2020 > One Bread, One Cup CANCELED the summer conferences for 2020 (May 1 announcement) > Steubenville Youth Conferences As of May 5th, they have still only canceled/rescheduled June dates, they still have July dates posted... but check with them if the parents/teens of your group do not yet feel confident about going, to inquire about cancellation policies. ==========================
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*** Note: The Office Blog is now inactive, but posted for continued reference as needed (6/30/21) ***Cindee Case, MPSFormer Director of the Diocese of Youngstown Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry (2/2002 - 6/2021) Archives
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