Support From Sanctus
January 2012
(a free resource from Totally Catholic Fundraising)
First Priority This Year: Me
If you have ever ridden in an airplane, then you might have noticed the oxygen compartment located above every seat. There are explicit instructions that say, “In case of an emergency, first secure your own oxygen mask and then if you have children with you secure their masks.” Take care of yourself first... then assist your children. If we use that same philosophy in our spiritual life, it would be so valuable.
Youth ministers, by their very nature, point teenagers toward God. Of course teens hear what we have to say about God, but they also learn more about being a follower of Jesus by watching the actions of those who profess to be Christian: parents, friends, relatives, neighbors, priests and religious, youth ministers, deacons, etc.
It's the "clean slate" part of the year. Start it out with a commitment to prayer. A commitment to build a deeper relationship with God for yourself. An unbreakable promise to yourself that you'll have a daily appointment with the Lord that nothing will interfere with. This year, don't let busyness get in the way. Set a time of day and amount of time that you won't compromise...for anything!
Jesus will honor your commitment and it'll also be an unbreakable promise on His part to meet you there. He wants a closer relationship, too!
Prayer After Communion
By St. Padre Pio
Stay with me, Lord, for it is necessary to have You present so that I do not forget You. You know how easily I abandon You.
Stay with me, Lord, because I am weak and I need Your strength, that I may not fall so often.
Stay with me, Lord, for You are my life, and without You, I am without fervor.
Stay with me, Lord, for you are my light, and without You, I am in darkness.
Stay with me, Lord, to show me Your will.
Stay with me, Lord, so that I hear Your voice and follow You.
Stay with me, Lord, for I desire to love You very much, and always be in Your company.
Stay with me, Lord, if You wish me to be faithful to You.
Stay with me, Lord, for as poor as my soul is, I wish it to be a place of consolation for You, a nest of love.
Stay with me, Jesus, for it is getting late and the day is coming to a close, and life passes, death, judgement, eternity approaches.
It is necessary to renew my strength, so that I will not stop along the way and for that, I need you. It is getting late and death approaches. I fear the darkness, the temptations, the dryness, the cross, the sorrows. O how I need You, my Jesus, in this night of exile!
Stay with me tonight, Jesus, in life with all its dangers, I need You.
Let me recognize You as Your disciples did at the breaking of the bread, so that the Eucharistic Communion be the light which disperses the darkness, the force which sustains me, the unique joy of my heart.
Stay with me, Lord, because at the hour of my death, I want to remain united to You, if not by Communion, at least by grace and love.
Stay with me, Jesus, I do not ask for divine consolation, because I do not merit it, but, the gift of Your Presence, oh yes, I ask this of You!
Stay with me, Lord, for it is You alone I look for. Your Love, Your Grace, Your Will, Your Heart, Your Spirit, because I love You and ask no other reward but to love You more and more.
With a firm love, I will love You with all my heart while on earth and continue to love You perfectly during all eternity.
Amen
BOOK LENTEN FUNDRAISERS NOW!
Ash Wednesday is February 22 this year and we're already booking Lenten fundraisers. As always, the person who books first for the weekend you start will get their fundraiser packed first, thereby getting the best of what inventory is on the shelf that day.
We strive to always have the absolute best-sellers in stock for everybody, but a couple of our suppliers have gone out of business and a few items are harder to get than before. You'll still get a full inventory like always, but it's best to book early and hedge your bet!
"Doctor, I'd like you to evaluate my 13 year-old son."
"OK: He's suffering from a transient psychosis with an intermittent rage disorder, punctuated by episodic radical mood swings, but his prognosis is good for full recovery."
"How can you say all that without even meeting him?"
"I thought you said he's 13?"
Totally Catholic Fundraiser FAQ:
How Much Money Will You Make? Naturally, sales vary from parish to parish based on number of families, how close the nearest Catholic store is, and so forth. We send more than we think you’ll sell based on your demographics. It’s possible to make up to $2000 profit on one fundraising box.
As for me and my mouse, we will serve the Lord!
Youth Ministry Tips
Tip #77
Don't worry about the problem of cliques. Instead, provide plenty of opportunities for everyone to interact with and discover each other. Breaking up cliques is usually an exercise in futility and somewhat counter-productive.
Tip #82
Surround yourself with adults to whom you can go for advice or counsel. You need the accountability and support.
Tip #55
Keep parents informed. Publish a parents' newsletter or schedule periodic meetings for questions and feedback. Lack of communication with parents can seriously handicap your ministry.
Rules for Church Super Bowl Party
Is your church planning a 2010 Super Bowl party? If so, you'll want to pay attention to the following, which appears on ChurchRelevance.com:
Be sure that your church Super Bowl party is legal. In recent years, the NFL has become very protective of its copyright of all things Super Bowl. Fortunately, The Church Law Group has put together three rules for church Super Bowl parties (video).
1. The game must be shown on equipment that the church regularly uses in the course of ministry. So, if the church already owns a big screen and sound equipment, the game can be shown using this equipment.
2. The church cannot charge admission for the party. The NFL has said, however, the church may take up a donation to defray the cost of the event if it desires.
3. To avoid any copyright infringements, churches may want to call their events a "Big Game Party" rather than a "Super Bowl Party."
A little boy came home from Ash Wednesday Mass and went into his room to change
clothes.
When he emerged, he asked his mother, "Is it true that we came from dust?"
His mother replied, "Yes, dear. God made us from dust."
The kid ran back into his room and came out all excited: "Mom, come quick! I just looked under my bed, and there's somebody either coming or going!"
We've been told that fundraising has become harder in the last several months. Many parishes aren't making as much as they used to with their fundraising efforts. Please remember that the Totally Catholic Fundraising spring fundraiser includes items for First Communion, RCIA and Confirmation. Your parishioners will still purchase these gift items.
We know this is a priority in parishes because it has always been. Parents, sponsors and friends always have purchased gift items for those receiving sacraments. They always will. And they'll thank you for being a convenient source of affordable, quality Catholic religious articles.
Our Favorite Links:
catholicyouthministryresources.com
cornerstonemedia.org
cultivationministries.com
deadtheologianssociety.com
heartworkcamp.com
preparedcatholic.com
ministrytrainingsource.org
nacyml.org
youngneighbors.org
lifeteen.com
omegarock.com
musichristian.com
nfcym.org
apexministries.com
dougbrummel.com
cupcakesforlife.org
- formerly Sanctus Fundraising
Totally Catholic Fundraising
1-866-338-0879 toll-free