The Diocesan Offices of Youth & Young Adult Ministry and Social Concerns together annually sponsor the Diocesan Walking Stations of the Cross, “Walk for Peace” on Good Friday. This year the walk will take place on April 10, 2009. This walk through downtown Columbus begins promptly at 8:00am at St. Joseph Cathedral, 212 E. Broad St., with opening prayer led by Bishop Frederick Campbell. The walk concludes at the Cathedral approximately 11:00 am.

Following a 4-mile route, young people and adults from the 23-county Diocese of Columbus will stop along 14 locations throughout downtown Columbus to recognize a station of Jesus’ suffering and crucifixion as well as reflect on a current social concern. Parish and school youth groups from around the diocese prepare short reflections linking each station with the suffering Christ found in the many trials of our brothers and sisters in our own community.

The stops and focuses will include: Faith Mission (Homelessness), Topiary Garden in Old Deaf School Park (Environmental Stewardship), Grant Hospital (Illness/Disabilities), Nazareth Towers (Elderly), Holy Cross Church (Discrimination; Multiculturalism), St. Lawrence Haven (Hunger), Greyhound Bus Terminal (Runaways; Refugees), Franklin County Human Services (Poverty; Welfare), Franklin County Courthouse (Justice), City Center Shopping Mall (Consumerism), State Capital Building (west end: Death Penalty, east end: Peace), St. Joseph Cathedral (the Church).

Youth from St. Thomas and St. Nicholas usually sponsors one of the stations.  If you would like to participate this year, please contact Fr. Pius or Patty.

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

From the Diocesan Office of Youth Ministry:

Stuck in the doldrums of winter?  No problem, you can get unstuck by going to the upcoming XLTs.

Hit the road with XLT to Marion St. Mary’s this Sunday, February 8 from 5:00-6:30p (251 N. Main St., Marion, OH 43302) with speaker Fr. Black!

Join teens throughout the Columbus diocese for XLT  an intense evening of praise and worship, preaching and adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. Meet and make new friends. Worship and praise with Station 14, speaker Fr. Black, and then experience Jesus in Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.

The next Columbus XLT will be next Wednesday, February 11 at St. Brendan’s in Hilliard (4475 Dublin Rd., Hilliard, OH 43026) with speaker Dan DeMatte. This XLT is from 6:30-8:30.

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

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.