Monday, November 2 is All Souls Day.  On that day, we will make an ouing to Mt. Calvary Cemetery and offer prayers on behalf of the dead.  We will meet at the normal Youth Group time, 7:00pm at St. Thomas.  If you plan to attend, please pick up a permission slip.  You can print off a copy here.

Members of a Youth Group took advantage of the beautiful Fall weather to take a hike down the main trail of Black Hand Gorge, near Dillon Lake in Southeastern Ohio.  Below is a picture of the group, with a link to a short slideshow of our hike.

Reminder: On October 5th & 11th there will be no regular Youth Group meetings. Instead, we have the following outings.

1. Life Chain. Saturday October 4 beginning at 2:15pm, Muskingum Valley Right to Life sponsors its annual Life Chain in support of life. After Life Chain ends (around 3:30 or so), the Youth Group and their families are invited to ice cream at Tom’s Ice Cream shop.
2. Black Hand Gorge. On Sunday October 11, we’ll enjoy the splendor of Autumn with a hike up to Black Hand Gorge near Dillon lake. Details TBA.

For both events a permission slip is necessary.  The permission forms are available from the website: HERE.

“I believe! Help my unbelief!” – Mark 9:24

Credo: I Believe

September 25 – 27, 2009 | Moeller High School
Cincinnati, Ohio

CREDO: I Believe is a Eucharist-centered retreat that gives young people an opportunity to grow in their relationship to Christ and the Church, and encourages them to become active in their parishes and in the programs of their local diocese. The weekend includes Mass, adoration, sacraments, fellowship, music, prayer, reflection, and talks by some nationally known speakers.

Archbishop Dennis Schnurr of Cincinnati has given CREDO at Moeller his blessing and will be joining us on Saturday to celebrate the Mass. This weekend will be coordinated by area parishes and assisted by the Archdiocesan Office of Youth Ministry of Cincinnati, Ohio.

For photos and schedule of last year’s conference, see:  www.credoibelieve.org

XLT will be back this Fall with a NEW venue.

October 7 at OLPH

Featuring the “Roman Collar Comedy Tour” and adoration beginning at 6:30 until 8:00pm

February 3 at Watterson High School

Featuring Jason Evert and adoration beginning at 6:30 until 8:30

April 7 at St. Andrew’s Bryce Eck Center

Speaker to be confirmed along with adoration beginning at 6:30-8:00

June 13 at St. John Neumann in Sunbury, Ohio

Outdoor Concert featuring Station 14 concert, food, Bonfire and adoration.  4pm until…details to come

Questions?  Need more info?  Check out www.xltcolumbus.com.

The picture above is from the April 19, 2009 edition of the Catholic Times, and shows the St. Thomas/St. Nicholas Youth Group at the Walking Stations of the Cross in Columbus.  here, the students portray the First Station – Jesus Falls for the First Time.  The theme for the Station focused on the ill and the disabled and was done outside of Grant Hospital in Columbus.

On Good Friday morning (April 10) the Youth Group will be traveling to Columbus to assist the Walking Stations of the Cross, “Journey Towards Peace”. The Walking Stations are sponsored by the Diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry and the Office for Social Concerns. We will be practicing the Stations at the Youth Group meeting this Sunday at St. Nicholas.  On Good Friday, meet at the St. Nicholas Teen Center at 6:15am. Permission slips for the trip are REQUIRED and are available in the parish office. Students will return to the Teen Center at approximately 12:00 noon where a simple lunch will be provided.  We will show a movie, so that students can wait there for the Good Friday service to begin at 3:00pm.

The Stations along the walk route include:

1. St. Joseph Cathedral – Jesus is arrested and condemned to death – Opening Prayers
2. Salesian Center – Jesus is made to carry his cross – focus: Youth in the City
3. Grant Hospital – Jesus falls for the first time – focus: Illness and Disabilities
4. Former abortion clinic – Jesus meets His Mother – focus: Abortion
5. Nazareth Towers – Simon carries the cross – focus: The Elderly
6. Holy Cross Church – Veronica wipes the face of Jesus – focus: Discrimination and Multiculturalism
7. St. Lawrence Haven – Jesus falls for the second time – focus: Hunger
8. Park across from Greyhound bus station – Women of Jerusalem weep – focus:Runaways; Refugees
9. Franklin County Human Services – Jesus falls for the third time – focus: Domestic Violence
10. Franklin County Courthouse – Jesus is stripped of his garments – focus: Justice
11. City Center Mall- Jesus is nailed to the cross – focus: Consumerism
12. State Capitol Building – West – Jesus is raised on the cross and dies – focus: Death Penalty
13. State Capitol Building – East – Jesus is taken from the cross – focus: Peace
14. St. Joseph Cathedral – Jesus is laid in the tomb – focus: the Church

Extraordinary Form -- the Dominican Rite

Confused about or interested in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite (the Latin Tridentine Mass)?  Then come to Holy Family Church in Columbus (584 W. Broad St,  Columbus, OH 43215) on Friday, April 17 at Holy Family.  Fr. Lutz will host an evening for teens about the ‘whys’ and ‘whats’ and anything else concerning the Extraordinary Form.

The evening will begin at 6:30 p.m. with the history of the Extraordinary Form, why we do it, the format, etc…, and then Fr. Lutz will celebrate Mass.  After Mass, Fr. Lutz will take Questions. Fr. Lutz will end the evening with an optional your of the Holy Family Jubilee Museum. (For more information about the Jubilee Museum, check out: http://www.holyfamilycolumbus.org/sec_jm.html)

St. Thomas Aquinas Church
2009 Parish Mission

March 9 -12, 2009
Beginning at 7:00pm

By the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal

Monday, March 9 @ 7pm:

Holy hour, Talk & Benediction
Theme: The Eucharist – Life of the Church

Tuesday, March 10 @ 7pm:

Holy hour, Talk & Confession
Theme: The Infinite Mercy of God

Wednesday, March 11 @ 7pm:

Holy hour, Talk & Eucharistic Healing Service
Theme: Christ’s Healing Power in the Eucharist

Thursday, March 12 @ 7pm:

Closing Mass with Marian Procession
Theme: Gratitude to God for our Mother Mary

While this is not exactly a high school youth group event, maybe you have some older siblings you can share this with:

The Columbus Diocesan Office of Youth & Young Adult Ministry is sponsoring a Lenten Retreat for Young Adults, ages 20‐35. The retreat is Saturday, March 21, from 9:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. The theme is: “I’m Sorry, I Forgive You, Thank You, I Love You“.  This is what it’s about:

The Church reminds us of our vocation to a holy life by means of a holy season, Lent. During this year’s Lenten season, please join us for a day of retreat and reflection with Fr. Joshua Wagner, parochial vicar of St. Mary’s Church in Marion. There will be morning prayer, three workshops, and an opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation before celebrating mass together at St. Mary’s.

You can register by downloading the Young Adults 2009 Lenten Retreat Flyer and printing it.