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With another week in the books here at Holy Family, there's a lot of info to get out this sunny Monday Morning! For this week, we'll be recapping the Core Team meeting this past week, as well as the Diocesan Youth Minister's meeting. Also a few brief notes on a weekend that wasn't exactly what I had scheduled in as I looked forward Monday of last week.
What was already looking to be a whirlwind week got even more complicated Monday evening when a friend in Salem, Oregon contacted me to let me know some hard news. "They're taking him off life support." Shea Keeney was 20 years old, born with a heart condition. Things hadn't been going well for a while, but when he suddenly collapsed in their driveway Thursday, it was just that. Sudden. He slipped into a coma, and never came out, with no transplant available. I know the family, though I didn't know their youngest son very well. Theresa and I drove down to Oregon Friday night to pay our respects at his funeral mass Saturday morning at Saint Joseph's in Salem. It was a beautiful mass.
When things like this happen, it's easy to question God. Why would a merciful God take a such a young life really just getting started? Why take him from his family and friends? Why? Why him and not me, or someone dear to me? There is no denying the tragic nature of such a loss. I could try and explain the theology of why bad things happen to good people, while so often the "Bad Guys" seem to face no consequences. We could talk about free will in the Garden of Eden, and man choosing death. We could talk about how the Lord says that vengeance is His, and all people will come to judgement. At the end of the day however, the truth is this: God is in control, and we must trust Him with all of ourselves. He doesn't take people's lives, but He will allow it to happen in it's due course. When these things happen, standing at the gates of heaven, we will be judged on how we loved. Rest In Peace Shea, our prayers are with you still.
Looking Back:
Onto ministry! Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday feel like a blur to me now. All three days spent finalizing material and putting together books and calendars for my Core Team members. Wednesday evening we were ready, and got info out to all of the team (save a couple who couldn't make the meeting) over pizza and a movie (safe environment training video). Thank you to all of of you guys for coming out! After the meeting, the WWWB (Wednesday Wonder Worship Band) had a practice session welcoming in our female power vocalist Kelly. She's pretty much a rock-star, and we're beyond blessed to have her. I can't wait to get into leading worship this year with these guys!
Thursday was a much anticipated Diocesan Youth Minister's meeting (happens each month). The Diocesan Youth Convention is pretty much ready to go, though we're still waiting on forms and fliers to promote and register parishes to attend. Paul George will be the Keynote Presenter and worship leader, hailing from Louisiana. If you're not familiar with Paul, he founded Adore Ministries 15 years ago, and working with Life Teen, directed the construction of XLT as a worship experience. He is a gifted speaker, and singer/songwriter, and a wonderful gift to the Church, and we are very blessed to have him coming to Yakima in November.
As for the promised discussion on Summer Ministry, we ran out of time before we got there, but hopefully we can make it a priority for the next meeting in October.
And for kicks, this video has had me captivated for a while now. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. The band is Gungor, and this is, "When Death Dies" from their album, "Ghosts Upon the Earth" being released tomorrow!
Looking Forward:
Today is going to be busy. After I finish up here, it will be on to putting together a flier for the Core Team Training Retreat Day coming up on October first that we are hosting for the diocese. Then onto putting things together for registration night coming up...
Tuesday is a staff retreat and reflection day up in Suncadia for us here at Holy Family. I'm really looking forward to the opportunity to get out of the office and spend a day in prayer and reflection!
Wednesday is Registration Night from 6pm--8pm(ish) for all religious education and youth group and confirmation kids!
Friday morning (really early) I'll be driving out to Walla Walla to connect with De Sales High School seniors to facilitate praise and worship (prayer through song) for their pilgrimage retreat. It's a 12 mile walk geared to take all day and be broken up with breaks for talks, and lunch, and such things. A beautiful retreat that I was blessed to be a part of the year before last. We stay overnight at the end of our journey, and then pack up and drive back Saturday.
In the weeks to come:
Quote of the Week:
Tweet of the Week II:
Six Things I Think I Think:
What was already looking to be a whirlwind week got even more complicated Monday evening when a friend in Salem, Oregon contacted me to let me know some hard news. "They're taking him off life support." Shea Keeney was 20 years old, born with a heart condition. Things hadn't been going well for a while, but when he suddenly collapsed in their driveway Thursday, it was just that. Sudden. He slipped into a coma, and never came out, with no transplant available. I know the family, though I didn't know their youngest son very well. Theresa and I drove down to Oregon Friday night to pay our respects at his funeral mass Saturday morning at Saint Joseph's in Salem. It was a beautiful mass.
When things like this happen, it's easy to question God. Why would a merciful God take a such a young life really just getting started? Why take him from his family and friends? Why? Why him and not me, or someone dear to me? There is no denying the tragic nature of such a loss. I could try and explain the theology of why bad things happen to good people, while so often the "Bad Guys" seem to face no consequences. We could talk about free will in the Garden of Eden, and man choosing death. We could talk about how the Lord says that vengeance is His, and all people will come to judgement. At the end of the day however, the truth is this: God is in control, and we must trust Him with all of ourselves. He doesn't take people's lives, but He will allow it to happen in it's due course. When these things happen, standing at the gates of heaven, we will be judged on how we loved. Rest In Peace Shea, our prayers are with you still.
Looking Back:
Onto ministry! Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday feel like a blur to me now. All three days spent finalizing material and putting together books and calendars for my Core Team members. Wednesday evening we were ready, and got info out to all of the team (save a couple who couldn't make the meeting) over pizza and a movie (safe environment training video). Thank you to all of of you guys for coming out! After the meeting, the WWWB (Wednesday Wonder Worship Band) had a practice session welcoming in our female power vocalist Kelly. She's pretty much a rock-star, and we're beyond blessed to have her. I can't wait to get into leading worship this year with these guys!
Thursday was a much anticipated Diocesan Youth Minister's meeting (happens each month). The Diocesan Youth Convention is pretty much ready to go, though we're still waiting on forms and fliers to promote and register parishes to attend. Paul George will be the Keynote Presenter and worship leader, hailing from Louisiana. If you're not familiar with Paul, he founded Adore Ministries 15 years ago, and working with Life Teen, directed the construction of XLT as a worship experience. He is a gifted speaker, and singer/songwriter, and a wonderful gift to the Church, and we are very blessed to have him coming to Yakima in November.
As for the promised discussion on Summer Ministry, we ran out of time before we got there, but hopefully we can make it a priority for the next meeting in October.
And for kicks, this video has had me captivated for a while now. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. The band is Gungor, and this is, "When Death Dies" from their album, "Ghosts Upon the Earth" being released tomorrow!
Looking Forward:
Today is going to be busy. After I finish up here, it will be on to putting together a flier for the Core Team Training Retreat Day coming up on October first that we are hosting for the diocese. Then onto putting things together for registration night coming up...
Tuesday is a staff retreat and reflection day up in Suncadia for us here at Holy Family. I'm really looking forward to the opportunity to get out of the office and spend a day in prayer and reflection!
Wednesday is Registration Night from 6pm--8pm(ish) for all religious education and youth group and confirmation kids!
Friday morning (really early) I'll be driving out to Walla Walla to connect with De Sales High School seniors to facilitate praise and worship (prayer through song) for their pilgrimage retreat. It's a 12 mile walk geared to take all day and be broken up with breaks for talks, and lunch, and such things. A beautiful retreat that I was blessed to be a part of the year before last. We stay overnight at the end of our journey, and then pack up and drive back Saturday.
In the weeks to come:
- 09/21/11--Registration Night
- 09/28/11--Youth Group Barbecue
- 10/01/11--Core Team Training Retreat
- 10/05/11--Youth Group/Confirmation
- 10/12/11--Youth Group/Confirmation
- 10/19/11--Youth Group/Confirmation
Quote of the Week:
" Can you breathe? If you can, please go replace
Alan Ball."Great line from the Dallas Cowboys Coaching staff during the game against the Jets, talking to Michael Jenkins.
Tweet of the Week I:
"1 hr of stationary bike, no air circ, peppy blonde yelling, Eminem in background.. Who needs 2 fear hell-I just experienced it.Mary Bielski--Catholic Speaker and founder of All 4 Him Ministries#spinning"
Tweet of the Week II:
"Back in my beautiful home state. Don't let Snooki fool you...it's awesome here!http://twitpic.com/6ltkmr"Audrey Assad--Catholic Singer/Songwriter
Six Things I Think I Think:
- I think Father Cesar's homily last night was really insightful. He spoke at length on Generosity from the Gospel reading, and it's good for our young people to hear a message contrary to the self-centered media they're bombarded with on a daily basis.
- I think I may take on a second weekly entry going forward, with reflection on the upcoming Sunday readings for mass. Thoughts on this?
- I think that given that 2 people +1'd my blog last week, that means that someone is reading it!
- I think I told KC Poor that I'd blog about him this week. He's a nurse at Regional here in Yakima, a long time parishoner at Holy Family, having gone to the very first summer camp done at Camp Koinonia in 1996. He still helps out with Middle School ministry, is married with 2 beautiful children, and continues to bless our parish with his time and talents. Thank you sir, I salute you! Also, if anybody wants to hear a feel good story, ask him about how he met and came to marry his wife. Great story.
- I think it's good to see some non youth council students as ministers during the youth mass even before groups get assigned to that facilitation. Don't get me wrong, it's great to have the youth council crew there week in and week out, it's just good for the parish to see that there are more than those sixteen students wanting to be a part of the parish in this way.
- I think these are my non-ministry thoughts of the week:
- I think in need 32 points from Eli Manning and Hakeem Nicks in tonight's game against the Rams to win one of my fantasy league matchups this week. Given that they're playing the rams, I have high hopes yet. And the hole wouldn't be so big if MJD had scored more than nine. Also, call of the week goes to me starting Cedric Benson over Jamaal Charles. Of course Ced's 6 isn't too hot either.
- I think my other game is just a wash. My team had a great week, and I got smoked anyway. 147 points, and the sick part, nobody on the roster scored more than 26, they all just had great weeks all at once. Lame.
- I think catching up with Stacy last night (along with Theresa and Fred) was really great. I'm excited to have her helping out with the Senior Group this year, and I'm excited to be able to enjoy that friendship again after being away for a year.
- I think God is good, and I am out of words. God bless you all, and we'll be back next Monday with much more!
Do you suppose the new Gungor album will be in our next Life Teen box. Wait, you aren't a Life Teen parish so you don't get a cool Catholic cereal box-ish toy every couple of months and a new cd. How do you survive?
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