Ahhhh, as Memorial Day weekend nears, I can hear the sighs of relief from many parish ministers, teachers, and families as another school year concludes. Another sprint through the winter and spring are almost complete, and we are celebrating: longer and warmer days.... graduations from everything from pre-schools through advanced college degrees... awards ceremonies... Sacramental Celebrations, especially Confirmations and First Holy Communions... perhaps Weddings and vacations as well.... "end of the year" retreats, parties and field trips... the closing of the 75th Anniversary of the Diocese... In any event, there seems no lack of JOY at this time of the year! WHAT BRINGS YOU JOY? Really, take a moment to reflect on the question.... sure, jot down the first things that come to your mind, but then consider if they bring laughter, satisfaction, warm-fuzzies, or true joy? Dig deeper.... what truly fills your heart with joy? Beginning this Friday and running throughout the summer, the OY&YAM Facebook page/Twitter feed will have posts from the 2019 Eagle of the Cross Recipients on what brings them joy. Perhaps, as no surprise, the most repeated answer involved family and friends. However, service and helping others ran a close second! Thank you, Coordinators for Youth Ministries for making opportunities for service and mission work possible as to help bring joy to those serving as well as those being served. My point of posting these insights is to help prompt thoughts of joy in all who will read them... and hope the readers will then share joy to those around them. Here is the full list, in no particular order (just as I typed them flipping through the Eagle of the Cross response forms). Possibly, the list will bring you some joy, and help you tap into the deep joy in your heart, so that we can continue to be "an Easter people" claiming "Alleluia is our song" as St. John Paul II said, long after this Easter season has ended. And as Pope Francis reminds us, "If we live the faith in our daily life, then our work too becomes a chance to spread the joy of being a Christian." Please, keep spreading joy in your daily life of faith! 2019 Eagle of the Cross Recipients Joys:
#DOYjoy #DOYteens
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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
July 2021
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