Advent Challenge Day 23

What does Christ's coming into the world mean for your life? We often think about what His life means for all of humanity but today answer this question: What does the birth of Jesus mean for me and my life? Sit with it. Pray with it. Wait. He is coming...Emmanuel...God. With. Us. Are you ready?? Christmas is upon us!

Advent Challenge Day 22

Today, pray for all those who are suffering during this season...that they may know the comfort of our God who is with us.

Advent Challenge: Day 21

During this season we have been preparing our hearts and our souls for the coming of our King. Many of us have taken advantage of the sacrament of reconciliation as part of this journey or preparation. We have asked forgiveness and it has been granted. Is there anyone that you need to ask for forgiveness? Have your hurt or offended anyone? Not loved as you should? Today, apologize to someone you have wronged and seek their forgiveness.

Advent Challenge: Day 20

Today, refrain from doing something that you know negatively effects another person. Even if it isn't "bad" but you know it annoys someone, just say no. :)

Advent Challenge Day 16-19

This weekend, pay close attention to how often to you surround yourself with "noise". I love music, and tv, and the internet as much as the next person, but how often to we fill our lives with noise instead of just sitting in silence and trying to hear His voice speaking to our hearts? Pay attention to your down time, and instead of laying around listening to music or playing on facebook try sitting in silence. Even 5 minutes has potential to change your day!

Advent Challenge: Day 15

We are blessed to know Christ and to be celebrating this season!Today, take a few moments and say a prayer (a rosary, perhaps?!) for those who do not know Christ or fully understand the significance of this blessed season. Pray that He would make Himself known to them no matter where they are!

Christmas Movie Night/Gift Exchange!

St. Andrew’s Youth Group

Christmas Movie Night/Gift Exchange!!

Who is invited?   YOU!

When?                 Sunday, December 19, 2010

What Time?         7:00-9:00PM

Where?               St. Andrew Apostle Kominski Room

Bring a WRAPPED $5-$10 gift to put into our gift  exchange game!

** Please bring a holiday snack (or any favorite) to share!**

Questions? Please Call Joanna at (301) 287-8209

Daily Advent Challenge: Day 14

Spend today in a conscious effort to understand that fact that you are deeply loved by God. Try to rid your thoughts of the "ifs", and the conditions that distract you from the truth of His deep love for you.

Daily Advent Challenge: Day 13

Advent is a reminder that we as Christians are in a constant state of preparation. We should always be in a state of readiness for our Lord to come. Wake up 15 minutes early, or go to bed 15 minutes later in order to devote time to watchful waiting a prayer. Spending time with the One for whom we are waiting is how we can be most ready!

Daily Advent Challenge: Day 12

Just as Jesus knew Mary and Elizabeth needed each other's love and support through their journeys, He also knows that we need the love and support of those around us in this daily life. Offer gentle assistance to someone in your life who is in need: of praise, of a good word, of day-brightening laughter.

Daily Advent Challenge: Day 11

It is easy to be distracted by the chaos of the world during this season of anticipation and preparation. How can we refocus when we find ourselves distracted?

A prisoner of war spent part of his time in prison in an effort to remember all the words of the 23rd Psalm. Often, in difficult situations or times of distraction we are at a loss for words to pray. Memorize a prayer that you  feel will help you re-focus in these times. It can be from scripture, or a prayer you have always known and loved.

Daily Advent Challenge: Day 10

How are we seeking God's plan in our daily lives? Obedience to God's plan for us can be lived in many different ways. Maybe it is in doing our homework when we don't feel like it. Maybe it is holding our tongue instead of speaking words that will only tear down...obedience and saying "yes" to God's desires for us is a life long journey. Today, give a "yes, always" instead of a "yes, but" to God's requests; the word "but" inserts a condition into our relationship with God and signifies less than whole hearted acceptance. 

Advent Challenge: Day 9

Today, pick one Christmas song and spend time not only listening closely to the words but really pay attention to what they are saying. Lyrics to Christmas songs speak to deeper parts of our hearts than we realize. 

This is the song I'm focusing on today:

Oh, Come, Oh, Come Emmanuel (Steven Curtis Chapman)

Oh, Come, Oh, Come Emmanuel 

Translated: John Neal, 1818-66

Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel, 

And ransom captive Israel, 

That mourns in lonely exile here 

Until the Son of God appear. 

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel 

Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, our Wisdom from on high, 

Who ordered all things mightily; 

To us the path of knowledge show, 

and teach us in her ways to go. 

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel 

Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, oh, come, our Lord of might, 

Who to your tribes on Sinai's height 

In ancient times gave holy law, 

In cloud and majesty and awe.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel 

Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come O Rod of Jesse's stem, 

From ev'ry foe deliver them 

That trust your mighty pow'r to save; 

Bring them in vict'ry through the grave. 

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel 

Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, O Key of David, come, 

And open wide our heav'nly home; 

Make safe the way that leads on high, 

And close the path to misery. 

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel 

Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, our Dayspring from on high, 

And cheer us by your drawing nigh, 

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, 

And death's dark shadows put to flight. 

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel 

Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, Desire of nations, bind 

In one the hearts of all mankind; 

Oh, bid our sad divisions cease, 

And be yourself our King of Peace. 

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel 

Shall come to you, O Israel!

Advent Challenge: Day 9

Happy Feast of the Immaculate Conception!! On this day when we celebrate our Blessed Mother, conceived without sin, let us ask for her intercession on our lives as we continue to prepare for the coming of her Son. Today pray a decade of the rosary, asking Mary to pray that we would continue to turn FROM sin and TOWARD her son. 

PS-Don't forget to get to Mass today!

Advent Challenge: Days 7 and 8

Oops! Just because yesterday was my day off doesn't mean we should have taken a break from the challenge! My apologies!

Today, as we prepare for the Word to dwell among us, lets pay close attention to the words that leave our mouths throughout the day. Are they uplifting? Kind? Do they serve a purpose? Do they reflect the love we are called to share to those around us? Do they give God glory?

Think about those things...

Advent Challenge: Days 5 and 6!

Hey hey! These 2 challenges go hand in hand...Over these two days choose one thing that you are willing to give up for the day (music, the internet, gossiping, etc.) AND when you would normally do those things try to better fill your time, whether it be praying for the thing/person you've committed to pray for this advent or spending time with family, reading, or just sit and enjoying the break from the noise around you! 

Advent Challenge: Day 4

Today, when you are tempted to complain about your current circumstance, talk about the person that is really irritating you, etc..pray instead. Who can you be praying for more this advent? Choose someone or something to focus your prayers on this advent, and most especially in those moments. 

Advent Challenge: Day 3

Today, take a few minutes to find a scripture verse, lyrics to a song, or a favorite quote that reminds you of who Jesus is in your life and encourages you to invite Him into each detail of your day...carry it with you, put it on your mirror, in your locker...somewhere that it will catch your eye throughout the day!

Advent Challenge: Day 2

Yesterday we were supposed to seek out ways that we saw Jesus' presence in our daily life.

Today, look at your day to day life and ask yourself how you could be spending more time with Jesus, Serving your community, or changing your attitude about little things. These are all ways that we can daily prepare our hearts during this season. Today, pick one act of service or spiritual discipline that you would like to work on throughout Advent. Write it down and put it somewhere so that it can be a daily reminder over the next few weeks!

Daily Advent Challange

Happy Advent!

Often we hear that this is best time of year, and in my opinion it IS! 

I am sure we all love the preparations for Christmas: shopping, decorating,cooking, music! These things bring joy and laughter and peace and stir something in our hearts that we often can't put words to. This time of year is great. But why? What are we really preparing for?

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE decorating, baking, and christmas music as much as the next guy (I may or may not sneak christmas music throughout the entire year but shhhhh don't tell) but what I also love about advent is that it gives us the chance to pause, look at our lives and remember what we should be preparing our hearts for in daily life throughout the year. We have a savior, a king, who became one of us so that we could live in freedom from our sins. How do our lives reflect this truth? How are we saying "yes" to Him each day as Mary did? 

Over the next 4 weeks I will be posting a daily advent challenge here on our blog and also on our facebook page.

Some will be actions, others will be more inward focused, but each of them will challenge us to truly enter into this season of advent and see where Jesus is meeting us each day and what He is asking of us as we prepare to celebrate His birth. 

Are you with me?

Need a little nudge?

This may make you think...

Here were go:

Day 1: Today look for one small sign that God is present in your daily life. Give Him thanks for His presence. If you find that He is absent, sit for a few moments and find out why. 

(Christmas) Music Mondays!

I LOVE Christmas music! Not only can it make ANY day better, but the words stir my heart and quickly remind me of who He is and how He loves us. SO, this advent I will be posting a song each Monday in hopes that my love for Christmas music can be shared. Maybe the words will help you focus on why this season is so significant. Maybe it will just be a sweet break in your day. Either way, I hope you enjoy Christmas music Mondays! Feel free to share your favorite songs as well!

Our first song is "Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus".

This version came out last year and I've been obsessed with it since. 

Hope you Enjoy!

Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus (Chris Tomlin)

    Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne. 

Wear Red on Friday!!

On Friday, November 19, all Catholics in the Archdiocese of Washington are invited and encouraged to wear red in celebration of Cardinal-designate Wuerl’s November 20 elevation to the College of Cardinals and the honor it will be for our archbishop and archdiocese.

Why Red? Fr. Greg's Blog explains:
Cardinals in the Roman Catholic Church wear red as a sign of their readiness to “act with fortitude, even to the point of spilling your blood for the increase of the Christian faith, for peace and harmony among the people of God, for freedom and the spread of the Holy Roman Catholic Church."




SOOOO celebrate with the Archdiocese of Washington and wear your red tomorrow!!!

LOCK-IN!!

Come One! Come All! St. Andrew's Youth Group Lock-In!!

(All teens entering grades 9-12 are welcome)

December 10^th-11^th 7pm-7am  in St. Andrew Apostle All Purpose Room!

A night filled with games, movies, food, music and fun!!  Bring a friend and come ready to have fun...

ALL.NIGHT.LONG!

*Permission Slips due NOT LATER THAN Sunday, December 5^th *

For More Information Contact:

Joanna Moleski

301-287-8209 or st.andrewsym@gmail.com

Happy Hallow (HOLY) Ween?!?!

I know this is a big weekend...lots of costumes, candy, parties , friends...it is Halloween! But have you ever wondered WHY it is such a big deal? How are we as Catholic Christians supposed to respond to Halloween?

The truth is we SHOULD be partying! Halloween (or all Hallows eve) is the even before one of the biggest, sweetest feast in our church:ALL SAINTS DAYS!! All Saints are rock-stars and people we should spend more time learning about and imitate/learn from their lives but check out this tid bit I found from life teen about what Halloween/All Saints day is all about...the martyrs of the church! Now those are some hard core folks...

"Before Christianity came to Europe, the eve of November 1st was a common day of celebration for many Celtic tribes living in modern-day Great Britain. In preparation for the beginning of winter, the people of the land would ring in the new year by celebrating the souls of the dead. They believed that all those who had died, including evil spirits, would come out on this night. To scare these spirits away they would dress in disguise, wearing masks. Over the years, new traditions were added. More decorations and the incorporation of common foods we see today on Halloween (apples and cider) became common. However, Halloween did not technically adopt its Catholic ties until 835 when Pope Gregory IV moved the celebration honoring all martyrs of the Church from May 13th to November 1st. Many of these martyrs are also saints. This holy day eventually became known as All Saints Day. All Saints Day is still observed on November 1st, followed by All Souls Day on November 2nd. The attire of participants on All Hallows Eve started to change as well. No longer did people dress to scare away evil spirits, but instead dressed up as saints to honor those who had died for their faith."

...So while you are getting all strung out on sugar this weekend and while you are getting that costume ready, remember where it all started and take a minute to remember those people who have given their lives for our Faith. Now THEY are people to dress up as for Halloween!

Happy All Saints Day!!

All You Holy Men and Women, Pray for us!

Halloween Extravaganza!!

St. Andrew's Youth Group Presents:


A Night of Halloween Fun For All!!!

Who doesn't love to dress up in crazy costumes and have a good time?!

Costume Contest!
Games!
Prizes!
Goodie Bags!
Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin may make an appearance...You never know!

Bring a friend AND bring a bag of your favorite halloween candy to share!!!

**All costumes must be tasteful. Nothing negative or scary...have fun with it! The crazier the better!!**

EPIC MUSIC FEST!

The Next BIG thing:

October 16th: Epic Music Fest/Youth Rally!

St. Joseph's in Pomfret, MD is hosting an epic day of music,

rock-climbing, games, mass, concerts...you name it...they have it!

It is going to be a great day to get together with youth from all over

and just have a blast!

The cost is $10 for the entire day. You should bring extra money for

food that will be sold at the vendors throughout the day.

We will meet at St. Andrew's at NOON and plan on returning around 7:30pm

Permission Slips and payments for this events are due by October 3rd!

Contact Joanna for a permission slip or more info!

Grab a friend and come on out! You don't want to miss this!

Pope Benedict XVI's Message for the Youth

(To the Youth- Westminster Cathedral, September 18th 2010)

As some of you may know, the Holy Father recently made a visit to England. During this visit he spoke to the youth directly, encouraging them to look into their hearts and seek more deeply the source of the love that they are created to receive a give...take a look...

Dear young friends,

Thank you for your warm welcome! “Heart speaks unto heart” – cor ad cor loquitur – as you know, I chose these words so dear to Cardinal Newman as the theme of my visit. In these few moments that we are together, I wish to speak to you from my own heart, and I ask you to open your hearts to what I have to say.

I ask each of you, first and foremost, to look into your own heart. Think of all the love that your heart was made to receive, and all the love it is meant to give. After all, we were made for love. This is what the Bible means when it says that we are made in the image and likeness of God: we were made to know the God of love, the God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and to find our supreme fulfilment in that divine love that knows no beginning or end.

We were made to receive love, and we have. Every day we should thank God for the love we have already known, for the love that has made us who we are, the love that has shown us what is truly important in life. We need to thank the Lord for the love we have received from our families, our friends, our teachers, and all those people in our lives who have helped us to realize how precious we are, in their eyes and in the eyes of God.

We were also made to give love, to make love it the inspiration for all we do and the most enduring thing in our lives. At times this seems so natural, especially when we feel the exhilaration of love, when our hearts brim over with generosity, idealism, the desire to help others, to build a better world. But at other times we realize that it is difficult to love; our hearts can easily be hardened by selfishness, envy and pride. Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, the great Missionary of Charity, reminded us that giving love, pure and generous love, is the fruit of a daily decision. Every day we have to choose to love, and this requires help, the help that comes from Christ, from prayer and from the wisdom found in his word, and from the grace which he bestows on us in the sacraments of his Church.

This is the message I want to share with you today. I ask you to look into your hearts each day to find the source of all true love. Jesus is always there, quietly waiting for us to be still with him and to hear his voice. Deep within your heart, he is calling you to spend time with him in prayer. But this kind of prayer, real prayer, requires discipline; it requires making time for moments of silence every day. Often it means waiting for the Lord to speak. Even amid the “busy-ness” and the stress of our daily lives, we need to make space for silence, because it is in silence that we find God, and in silence that we discover our true self. And in discovering our true self, we discover the particular vocation which God has given us for the building up of his Church and the redemption of our world.

Heart speaks unto heart. With these words from my heart, dear young friends, I assure you of my prayers for you, that your lives will bear abundant fruit for the growth of the civilization of love. I ask you also to pray for me, for my ministry as the Successor of Peter, and for the needs of the Church throughout the world. Upon you, your families and your friends, I cordially invoke God’s blessings of wisdom, joy and peace.

Is He Calling You?

As I sit in my office this week preparing for our upcoming BBQ/Kick-Off for Youth Group I find my mind wandering off to the land of "what do I tell people when they ask how they can help?"

Sure, I have practical responses such as "we need people to help with meals" or "We can always use small group leaders for youth group on Sunday or chaperones/drivers for trips!" but when it comes to the big picture I struggle to find words for how important it is for everyone to get involved in any way that they can...according to their gifts and their talents.

We are in need of all of those things this year at St. Andrew's Youth Group but I ask you to prayerfully consider if God is asking YOU to serve the youth in some capacity. Here is a little tid bit I found today to get you started:

If You Want To Learn To Do Youth Ministry

I am excited for what God has in store this year at St. Andrew's. I know that He is going to meet us and I hope that you will jump on board and get involved too!

Welcome Back BBQ and Youth Group Info. Night!

           Youth Group KICK-OFF BBQ

(And INFO NIGHT!)

WHAT?

 Food, Games, Fun, AND all the Youth Group Information YOU and YOUR FAMILY will need for the upcoming school year! Welcome Back! Come enjoy the fun!

When?

Sunday, September, 12^th immediately following the 6pm mass!

Where?

Outside behind the old convent!

*For more information please contact: Joanna at 287-8209 or st.andrewsym@gmail.com*

Something New. Something More.

Hello Blog/St. Andrew's Youth Group World! Who is ready to go back to school?! Who is ready for sports to start? Who is ready for crazy, every minute planned schedules that seem to come with the beginning of a new school year? Who is ready for Fall and all that comes with it? 

Not so much? OK, here is a different question: Who is ready for something NEW? Something DIFFERENT? Maybe even something MORE? I know I am.

I love summer, don't get me wrong. I love the sun. I love the heat. I love it all. BUT come mid-august I find myself itching for the next thing. Ready for change. I reach a point that my heart is aching for Fall. Fall my favorite! Well, Christmas is my #1 favorite but we will talk about that later. 

Fall is my favorite for so many reasons but here are the top 3:

1. It. Is. Gorgeous.

2. It reminds me that change is necessary for life to exist.

3. It reminds me that there is more to come through, in AND after the change...

Fall can mean a lot of things. Yes, it can mean more stress, more schedules, more homework, more drama but it can also mean a fresh start to seeking more of Him and what He has for us in this season of change and chaos. If we are going to add "more" or something to our already chaotic lives wouldn't it be great if that more was the Person who wants to be in every one of those scheduled moments with us? As I sit here planning the Youth Group calendar for the Fall my prayer is that we wouldn't just add more and more things to our calendar but that what we would meet Him in each of those things...more and more...

Metro. Madness.

!!!METRO MADNESS!!!

What? A DC Wide Scavenger Hunt!

When? Sunday, June 6th 11:30AM-8:00PM

Where? ALL OVER DC!

Why? Because a little friendly competition never hurt anyone, right?!

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

We will be competing against other youth group's in Montgomery County to see who has what it takes! 

We will meet at St. Andrew's at 11:00AM and make our way to St. Mary's in Rockville. If you do not need a ride, please be at St. Mary's no later than 11:30!!

Bring your digital camera and prepare for war! The events of the day are going to be EPIC!!! Get ready!

We will return to St. Raphael's for mass, dinner and to announce the winners at 5:30. 

WHAT YOU NEED:

1. Metro Card (day pass). If you sign up ahead of time and drop off your money I will have these ready to go that day. 

2. $10 spending money. 

3. Permission Slip 

3. Digital Camera

4. Good attitude.

5. The will to win!!!

Ready to show them what st. Andrew's in made of?! I am!

Email, Facebook or Call Joanna to sign up ASAP!

Pre-Prom Madness!!

Over the next few weeks you will have MANY opportunities to have "the best night of your life". Whether it be your last after musical cast party, the last game of the season or graduation, ALL of these have potential to be some of the moments you will take with you forever. Make them count. Take them in. Live them in a way that you won't have to look back and say "ooo what was I thinking?!" 

One of the most obvious "best nights of your life" is Prom. Some of you have already started the endless weekends of going to prom after prom and I truly hope the choices you made created amazing memories for a lifetime. If you are looking for ways to make Prom the BEST night of your life...check out these 4 tips from a friend of mine. You won't regret it:

http://www.lifeteen.com/default.aspx?PageID=FEATUREDETAIL&__DocumentID=255660

Digital Drama?!

Ask any of the teens in St. Andrew's Youth Group to tell you one thing about me and I guarantee one of the first things out of their mouths will be "Joanna is addicted to her cell phone."
It is true, I cannot deny it. I have everything on my phone that I could possibly need in a day. Facebook, Twitter, E-mail...it is all there. Not only can I put anything out into cyberspace with one push of a button on my blackberry, but I can access what everyone else puts out into cyberspace as well. No questions asked.
Technology is amazing, but if it is not used wisely it can cause some serious damage. We don't like to think about it but it is true.
A great friend of mine just wrote an article that sums up what has been on my mind a lot lately. I could not have said it better myself if I tried!!!
Check out the scoop on DIGITAL DRAMA here:
Team Catholic: Digital Drama

Lenten Check up

We are 19 days into Lent (21 if you include Sundays) and how are we doing?
If you are anything like me you've probably fallen off the wagon once or twice, caught yourself mid-bite into that delicious brownie or just flat out given up. We are half way there. We can do it!

But why do we need the pep talks? Why do we "sacrifice" with such complaining hearts? What does not eating that chocolate or drinking that coffee actually do for us? The answer is nothing if we do no remember WHY we are doing it. Our sacrifices make us look ourselves, examine our hearts and our motives. It is hard, and it certainly is not pretty. If we are making these sacrifices just to prove to ourselves that we can last 40 days without something, and relying on ourselves to make it through than we have missed it!! As we enter the second half of Lent I pray that we are able to check our motives,look at our hearts and ask Jesus to show us what He is desiring from us through our sacrifices this Lent.

The first place we should be looking as we examine our hearts is the cross! Join us this Friday for Stations at 7:00 pm and soup afterwards in the Kominski room! What better way to kick off the second 1/2 of Lent?

Forty Days of What?? Water!

What is your favorite thing to drink? How often do we spend money on that soda, coffee, latte, tea while we are out an about when we have something that many people in the world don't have, and it is right at our fingertips....WATER! I know it is hard for us to truly understand that their are actually places in the world where clean, drinkable water isn't an option...but it is real and we have a chance to help!

If you are up for the challenge join me in spending these next forty days setting aside the money I would have spent on coffee, soda, etc. and drinking only water so that money can help build a well in Africa!

Here are some other ways you can participate in 40 days of water and still make a huge difference in Africa:
1. If 40 days of no drink but water is too difficult (and it IS huge) then pick one day a week that you will set aside to just drink water. Set that 2-3 bucks aside in a jar and you will be amazed at the end of Lent what you have to offer!

2. Pick ONE beverage you will fast from...say soda...and place the money you would have spent on soda in a jar each time and see what it looks like at the end of Lent.

These are just a couple of ideas to get you going. We will talk about it a little more on Sunday. I for one am already missing my coffee, but it helps to know that my sacrifice will help someone in africa get to have even one sip of clean water! We can do this!

We will have a bucket at youth group for money, as well as one in the back of the church just in case you can't make it to youth group. Feel free to have your own jar at home and bring it in at the end. We will send our money to the bloodwater mission at the end of Lent!

Check out the promo video and get excited:

Forty Days of Water Challenge

Why?

Small Child: "Mommy, why do you have that stuff on your head? Why do I have to get it too?"

Mother: "Honey, because...because it is Ash Wednesday. It is just what we do."

Yes, this happened.

I was surprised by how quickly the answer was given, and how matter of fact it seemed. The child asked no further questions. The answer satisfied his curiosity,and that was clearly demonstrated by how quickly he went back to eating his cheerios. I, however, was not satisfied with the answer. The words "It is just what we do" have been rolling around in my head all day and it is only now that I'm realizing why. Those five little words have a lot of power in our daily lives, especially our spiritual lives. As Catholics we are often found most guilty of just doing things "because it is what we do" and by responding to the richness of our faith that way we are not only doing ourselves a HUGE disservice, but each of the people in we come in to contact with as well.

There is a lot that will be going on in these next 40 days that we could totally get away with doing "because it is just what we do" (no meat on Fridays, dirt on our heads, giving things up, taking things on, not saying alleluia at mass...) but I want to put the challenge before you to ask the question that little boy asked his Mom,  WHY?! And get ready for the ride of your lives because we've got the next 40 days to learn about the beauty, richness and love that comes with sacrifice.

Got your ashes ready?? I'm all in...are you??


If you want to get a jump start before youth group sunday check out these sites:
Team Catholic
Are you ready?!
Just for fun...