Gather Us In

New Blog Location

2011-09-06T14:26:00.002-05:00

Find the latest Youth Ministry posts here: http://stlukeyouthministry.tumblr.com/

The Start of a New Year

2011-08-31T14:03:00.000-05:00

It is officially back-to-school time, and many of us are getting used to new routines. Even though faith and Youth Ministry are certainly a year-round, things change around here as the school year start up again. For one thing, it is a whole lot more lively around St Luke with all the kids back at St Luke School. Even if I get immersed in work and lose track of the time, I know when 3pm hits, because I can hear all the kids singing, laughing, and yelling as they come piling out of school at the end of the day. And of course being focused on high school students means that the routine changes here in the Youth Office as school begins again.
Almost as much as New Years, the beginning of the school year seems to be a time of resolutions. It is a time of new beginnings, and we promise ourselves we are going to be braver or more organized or get more sleep this year. I find that I often get trapped in the anxiety of trying to plan the coming year perfectly: anticipating the problems that may arise, planning expertly around school schedules, trying to get the word-out, and deciding how everything is going to fall. So at this time of the year, more than ever, I have to remind myself that God is truly in charge and that the best thing I can do is pray and remember to trust in our Loving Creator.
Happy New (School) Year Everyone!

Six Flags-Great America and the Stuff We Carry

2011-08-29T16:05:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, Youth Ministry had a great trip to Six Flags-Great America with teens from Ascension and St Giles parishes. The weather was absolutely perfect: cool enough to be comfortable, but not quite cool enough to need a jacket. The not-needing-a-jacket was especially nice, because a lot of the rides go upside-down, and the less you carry with you, the less you are likely to lose.

On a side note, that seems to be a good rule for life: carry less. Scripture encourages us to take only what we need and leave the extra behind. Remember the manna in Exodus, chapter 16? God provides food for the Israelites as they flee Egypt, and he instructs them to gather and keep only what they need each day, because he promises to give them new manna each morning. Those who gathered more than they needed and hoarded it for later, found that it was rotted and filled with worms. And later, in the Gospels, we also see Jesus leading the disciples in a life of simplicity.
I lived in Boston, MA for two years. For the first year, I did not have a car. This made grocery shopping and other things more complicated, but I learned to use the buses and trains very well. My second year in Boston, I got a car. Suddenly it was easier and faster to get where I was going, but I had a whole new load of worries on my mind: Boston is a congested city, so where was I even going to park this car? If I parked it in the wrong spot, would something happen to it? Now that I had a car, I was worried about something happening to make me not have a car when I barely missed it before. This big expensive thing that was supposed to make my life easier was now weighing on my mind (you also have to think about insurance, registration, oil changes...).
Sometimes it is hard to remember that when God gives us directions to live by, it is always for our own good. But, God's plan for us is better than anything we can imagine ourselves. I still have my car, because it allows me to do things like visit my extended family and run errands for work, and those positives make it worth dealing with the worries, but my experience with the car illustrated this particular lesson to me: God wants us to carry less and lighten our load because it also makes our minds and hearts lighter, and without all our stuff stacked-up and getting in the way, we are really able to LIVE and experience God's LIGHT in our lives more when we learn to rely on God for those things that make us happy and whole.
So, back to Great America...

The rides were an absolute blast. Everyone had a different favorite, but Raging Bull seemed to figure in a lot of people's top 3 (including mine). We just had one official check-in after lunch, but it was also fun to run into people as we all zig-zagged around the park from ride to ride. It seemed like most folks were there to ride the big scary roller-coasters, but after getting bounced-around and screaming themselves hoarse, some were content to take it easier later in the day with a loop around Hurricane Harbor's lazy river or a giggle-inducing twirl on the "cow ride".
To make sure you know what kinds of fun events are coming-up next, be sure to join our email list or Facebook group (or both), and see you at Spark on Sunday, September 11.

Laser Tag Report

2011-03-21T17:25:00.000-05:00

On Saturday St Luke Youth Ministry spent the afternoon playing laser tag and then bragging about our laser exploits over pizza. It was so much fun! We had the arena reserved for two games, so we really got to let loose with only friends around to see our silliness.
We were each given a vest outfitted with sensors and a big laser gun. The gun was obviously harmless, but when you pulled the trigger, it would shoot a beam of light. If your beam hit an opponent's sensor,
they were not out of the game, but it meant that you got points, and they got about five seconds to run and hide before their sensors turned on again. The arena was really dark and decorated with black-light neon paintings on all the craggy walls. There were two levels to the arena with plenty of holes in the wall, corners, and other places to hide. You had to be careful because people would fire at you from a different level or from a little gap in a wall, and they could even shoot through a grate in the floor. And there was fog machines, mirrors, and pounding music to make the whole thing even more mysterious.
People would jump out at you and fire their laser, you would fire back and hope that you hit them before they got you. People had all different kinds of strategies. Some would form an alliance and watch each other's backs as they played in a little pack. Other people would pick a spot on the upper level where they could see people from a hole in the wall and try to hit them from there. The first game we played every person for his or herself, but the second game we played in teams. The red team won.
After the games were over, the rankings by who scored the most points were flashed up on a TV screen, and we got individual score cards telling us who we hit and how many times, and who got us, and how we did compared to everybody else. t was especially fun to have the scorecards when the pizza came and we could sit around the table, eat our pizza, and relive the games.
It was a blast. There were some people who came who had never been to a St Luke Youth Ministry thing before, and everyone hopes they will come back again. We are already talking about our next game of laser tag!

Laser Tag 3.19.2011

2011-03-16T16:13:00.000-05:00

This Saturday, St Luke has the Laser Quest - Norridge arena all to ourselves for two high-tech heart-pounding games of Laser Tag followed by plenty of time to relate our exploits over pizza. This is an exclusive event for 8th graders and high school students and is absolutely not to be missed. Click here to get more information and a permission form, and be sure to return it to the Youth Ministry Office by 5pm on Thursday, March 17. We will NOT take any registrations AFTER 5pm.

Creation Care Tip for March

2011-03-03T12:33:00.000-06:00

God gave us our planet to live on, so let’s remember to protect and save it! The theme of this week’s tip to be eco-friendly is:

You Don’t Have To Throw That Out!!!

Reusing items in our house is good for the environment and helps us save money. So try it out! Keep reading for some suggestions...

Instead of constantly throwing out napkins, paper towels, plastic utensils, or paper plates, use cloth napkins/kitchen cloths/silverware/reusable plates. Using the disposable kind may be more convenient, but it wastes you money!
Save leftovers and reheat them the next night! It saves you money and you don’t have to make dinner two days in a row.
Save plastic bags for later use instead of throwing them out.
Save sandwich bags if they’re not messy, or rinse them out quickly with soap and water to get them clean.
Save clean jars or old film containers – they’re great to keep knick-knacks, coins, or jewelry in!
Don’t throw away clothes that you no longer wear. Pass them on to a neighbor or donate them to charity.

Remember: Just thinking “Could I still use this?” before throwing things away will save you money and time and protect the environment, too!

The Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers

2011-02-16T15:48:00.000-06:00

This week we are making a post a day on Catholic Social Teaching. Keep coming back to explore what our Summer Service Trip volunteers had to say about each of the seven principles of Catholic Social Teaching. The featured theme for today is...

The Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers

How the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops describes it:
The economy must serve the people, not the other way around. Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God's creation. If dignity of work is to be protected, the basic rights of workers must be respected--the right to productive work, to decent and fair wages, to organize and join unions, to private property, and to economic initiative.

How our Volunteers describe it:

We are all called to continue God's work by following our calling.
People have the right to work in a safe and fulfilling environment with fair compensation.

How do YOU live with respect for the Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers?

Rights and Responsiblities of All People

2011-02-15T14:19:00.001-06:00

Rights and Responsibilities of All People

How the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops describes it:
The Catholic tradition teaches that human dignity can be protected and a healthy community can be achieved only if human rights are protected and responsibilities are met. Therefore, every person has a fundamental right to life and a right to those things required for human decency. Corresponding to these rights are duties and responsibilities--to one another, to our families, and to the larger society.

How our Volunteers describe it:

God gives us free will and the gifts to help other people live well, and God wants us to use those gifts for ourselves and others.

How do YOU live with respect for the Rights and Responsibilities of All People?

Life and Dignity of the Human Person

2011-02-14T14:37:00.002-06:00

Life and Dignity of the Human Person

How the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops describes it:
The Catholic Church proclaims that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society.
Our belief in the sanctity of human life and the inherent dignity of the human person is the foundation of all the principles of our social teaching. In our society, human life is under direct attack from abortion and assisted suicide. The value of human life is being threatened by increasing use of the death penalty. We believe that every person is precious, that people are more important than things, and that the measure of every institution is whether it threatens or enhances the life and dignity of the human person.

How our Volunteers describe it:

Human life is a sacred thing, and all our decisions should be based on whether the outcome will make people's lives better or worse.
This is the principle on which all other principles are based.

How our Volunteers see a world that respects the Life and Dignity of the Human Person
A world in which little sacrifices would enhance the lives of everyone. All aspects of our lives could be improved with respect for human life.

How do YOU live with respect for the Life and Dignity of the Human Person?

Who is St Valentine?

2011-02-14T07:06:00.007-06:00

There is no easy answer to that question: with many of the older recognized saints, we do not have good records or knowledge of what their lives and deaths were actually like. By most accounts: there are two St Valentines that have been recognized by the Catholic Church, one a priest and the other a bishop, and both were imprisoned and later beheaded for their opposition to the persecution of Christians by the Roman Emperor Claudius II. Legend has them both writing letters from prison, and the tradition of Valentine Cards has been attributed to these legends.

The timing of St Valentine’s Day is also linked to the Roman festival of Lupercalia and the even older belief that birds choose their mates in mid-February. The confusion over the origins of the holiday led the Catholic Church to remove it from the calendar of official feast days in 1969 (there are so many feast days vying for a spot on the calendar), but people are, or of course, still allowed to celebrate this day.

Despite its commercialization or fuzzy origins, we can still appreciate that St Valentine’s Day is a day about love, as are all our Saints Days. After all, the saints are the ones who show us how to serve the God of love. And when it comes to knowing that God loves us and we are called to love in God’s name, well, there is nothing fuzzy about that.

Care for God's Creation

2011-02-12T07:30:00.003-06:00

Care for God's Creation

How the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops describes it:
We show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation. Care for the earth is not just an Earth Day slogan; it is a requirement of our faith. We are called
to protect people and the planet, living our faith in relationship with all of God's creation. This environmental challenge has fundamental moral and ethical dimensions that cannot be ignored.

How our Volunteers describe it:

Protect the environment; Don't abuse it.
We should respect and care for everything we interact with in our lifetime regardless of its monetary worth.
By being children of God, we are all responsible for maintaining God's Creation.

How our Volunteers see Care for God's Creation:
less global warming, less endangered species, healthier lifestyle, conservation

How do YOU live out Care for God's Creation?

St Luke Trivia Answer

2011-02-11T13:24:00.001-06:00

Here’s the answer to the trivia question posted a while ago. Did you make a guess? Check your answer below. Was it close?

A: St. Luke School is 90 years old this year! It was founded in 1821.

Option for the Poor and Vulnerable

2011-02-11T08:06:00.005-06:00

Option for the Poor and Vulnerable

How the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops describes it:
A basic moral test is how our most vulnerable members are faring In a society marred by deepening divisions between rich and poor, our tradition recalls the story of the Last Judgment (Matthew 25:31-46) and instructs us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first.

How our Volunteers describe it:

Help those less fortunate than us.
The best measure of society is how we treat the lowest member of the society.
Live everyday thinking about, praying for, or helping anyone in need, whether it be emotional, economical, or spiritual.

How our Volunteers see life lived with an Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
Happiness

How do YOU live with an Option for the Poor and Vulnerable?

Solidarity

2011-02-10T16:39:00.002-06:00

Solidarity

How the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops describes it:
We are our brothers' and sisters' keepers, wherever they live. We are one human family, whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences. Learning to practice the virtue of solidarity means learning that "loving our neighbor" has global dimensions in an interdependent world.

How our Volunteers describe it:

We are all connected through our faith and God's love. We are all united on a global scale
A willingness and responsibility to do unto others as you would have them do unto yourself.
United, we can learn, succeed, and achieve a world in which equality is fundamental to our faith.

How our Volunteers see life life lived in Solidarity:
If everyone was united, there would be no violence and everyone would be accepting of others' culture and way of life.

How do YOU live out Solidarity?

Call to Family, Community, and Participation

2011-02-09T16:52:00.001-06:00

Call to Family, Community, and Participation

How the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops describes it:
The person is not only sacred but also social. How we organize our society--in economics and politics, in law and policy--directly affects human dignity and the capacity of individuals to grow in community. We believe people have a right and duty to participate in society, seeking together the common good and well being of all, especially the poor and vulnerable.

How our Volunteers describe it:

Working together as a community.
Families are the staples of society.
Everyone is worthy of being part of society, but you have to participate first.

How our Volunteers see life life lived by the standard of Family, Community, and Participation:
Our society would be more civil and together and their would be less fighting because the outcasts would be involved and everyone's voices would be heard.

How do YOU live out your Call to Family, Community and Participation?

Catholic Social Teaching

2011-02-08T17:19:00.000-06:00

This last Sunday, the volunteers for the 2011 Youth Summer Service Trips gathered for our first formation meeting, and it was truly excellent. We started by retelling the story of "Stone Soup" and rereading John's account of Jesus feeding the 5000, and then we moved into some discussions of the principles of Catholic Social Teaching and made our own "Catholic Bumper Stickers" representing the Church's teachings.

Not familiar with Catholic Social Teaching? Some people call it "the best kept Catholic secret".
These teachings are no secret, but sometimes it seems like they are: for as awesome as these teachings are, they do not get nearly enough "press". So here is a peek into what they are all about: starting in 1891, the leadership of the Catholic Church began gathering all the Church writings and teachings on living just lives and serving others in the way that Jesus taught us. These teachings are about what it really means to LIVE our faith: taking care of God's creation by doing things like conserving resources, taking care of the most vulnerable people in our midst, choosing to make sacrifices in solidarity with those who have less than we do... these are all part of Catholic Social Teaching.

It is generally recognized that there are seven major principles of Catholic Social Teaching. When our group gathered on Sunday, we created definitions of these seven themes, imagined what the world would be like if these were lived out, and created bumper stickers to spread the good news about these teachings. Come back every day this week for a post on each of the seven major principles of Catholic Social Teaching and find out what our summer volunteers had to say about them.

Why Do You Spark?

2011-02-05T08:57:00.002-06:00

At one of our meetings, I asked Sparkers to write down what they would like to tell other teens about Spark. Each day this week, we will post a few of their comments...

We are different than any ordinary youth group. You will believe it when you see it!
Hang-out with friends you don't see everyday.
Come to Spark! This isn't a typical youth group... meet new people, play fun games, and learn a little bit more about yourself along the way! We've got free snacks! Try it out and change your expectations.

St Luke Trivia Question

2011-02-04T13:24:00.000-06:00

This last week was Catholic Schools Week. This week is great to think the Catholic Church's commitment to quality education and all that St. Luke School has given to the community over the many years! Here’s a trivia question to test your knowledge about the school:

Q: Do you know how many years St. Luke's has been a school? (Hint: it was founded sometime before the Great Depression!)

Do you think you know? Want to take a wild guess? Feel free to leave a comment with your answer and check back in to see if you’re close!

What is Spark Like?

2011-02-04T08:32:00.002-06:00

At one of our meetings, I asked Sparkers to write down what they would like to tell other teens about Spark. Each day this week, we will post a few of their comments...

Enjoy games, food and reflection with dozens of your peers. Come see what makes Spark such a unique youth group.
Come to Spark! This isn't a typical youth group... meet new people, play fun games, and learn a little bit more about yourself along the way! We've got free snacks! Try it out and change your expectations!

What is Spark?

2011-02-03T08:47:00.001-06:00

At one of our meetings, I asked Sparkers to write down what they would like to tell other teens about Spark. Each day this week, we will post a few of their comments...

Come for friends, food and fun! Strengthen relationships with God and friends. Games, snacks, and an experience of a lifetime.
High school students: Come take a break from schoolwork! Join us at Spark Sunday night for a chance to relax, hang-out and talk about the things important to you with other high-school students. Come light the fire!

Why Spark?

2011-02-02T08:22:00.001-06:00

At one of our meetings, I asked Sparkers to write down what they would like to tell other teens about Spark. Each day this week, we will post a few of their comments...

Spark: Fun, Friends, Games, Laughs, Snacks, Sweets, Prayer, Reflection, Faith, Bonds, Relationship, God
Come to Spark: Good Conversation, Food, Fun, Games, Woo ooo ooo Hoooo!

Freshmen February

2011-02-01T10:35:00.000-06:00

Today marks the beginning of... Freshmen February! This is a whole month where freshmen get the special treatment at all Youth Ministry gatherings. We know your first year of high school is exciting but it can also be scary or confusing in some ways, and we want to be there to help you out. So come on, come try us out this month.

Reasons to Spark?

2011-02-01T08:22:00.001-06:00

At one of our meetings, I asked Sparkers to write down what they would like to tell other teens about Spark. Each day this week, we will post a few of their comments...

Come and see what it's like: it is a lot of fun!
In a busy week, it's difficult to find time to see your friends, play games, and relax. Come to Spark and find some time for yourself! Try it once and you might just keep coming back!

Sparkers Share With You

2011-01-31T13:58:00.000-06:00

At one of our meetings, I asked Sparkers to write down what they would like to tell other teens about Spark. Each day this week, we will post a few of their comments...

Teens: We need you! We're looking for new faces to join us Sunday nights at Spark. Come enjoy the games and a sense of community- see you there!
Come to Spark! A place for friends, games, snacks, and faith. Come and talk about everything that happens in your life with people who like you. Friends are encouraged and welcome. Spark is a happy place.
Build leadership skills.

Websites (part 2)

2011-01-23T15:50:00.000-06:00

The last post brought you some great online resources for exploring your Catholic faith. Let the adventure continue with these websites.

The Knights of Columbus not only offers an online version of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, they have also made the Catechism searchable! Curious about the diaconate? Go ahead, type "deacon" into the search box or browse through the Table of Contents and click on the appropriate heading. The Catechism is a kind of guide book for our Catholic faith, and this is a great tool for becoming familiar with that guidebook. Check it out:
http://www.kofc.org/un/catechism/index.action

Is there a fragment of Scripture running through your head and you just cannot remember the verse or even the book where it is found? Do you want to know what Jesus has to say about worry? The Oremus Bible Browser is a hugely convenient tool for getting familiar with Scripture. You can search this online text by reference (ie. chapter and verse) or by typing in a word or phrase. So you can type in that snippet of phrase and find the source, or you can type in a topic of interest and see how many places it appears in Scripture. You can even set parameters for which books you would like searched (and pay attention to the version). This is such a great resource:
http://bible.oremus.org/

Another way to explore our faith is to share our experiences of God with others. The Other 6 is an online community created by Loyola Press where people are asked to answer just two question (140 characters only, please!): Where have you found God today? and Where do you need to find God today? Go ahead, take a look, and answer the questions for yourself:
http://www.other6.com

Thanks for checking-in!

Catholic Links

2011-01-19T17:57:00.000-06:00

Hey!
Did you know that the Vatican has a website? Or that you can receive emailed reflections from our own Cardinal George by signing-up for "The Cardinal's Network" (in his latest musings, he called Jesus "God's Facebook"). There are some really cool ways to get connected to your faith online: I have pasted a few links below, and I will post even more over the next week, so keep stopping back!

Here is the website for the Vatican (you can choose from many different languages):
http://www.vatican.va/

Here is the website for our United States Conference of Bishops. You can find all sorts of interesting and official church documents on this site, as well as our daily readings, activities designed to help people of all ages understand social justice issues, and a lot more. This is a neat site to check-out if you want to get in touch with some of the decisions being made about the American Catholic Church:
http://www.usccb.org/

Click the link below to subscribe to "The Cardinal's Network" and get Cardinal George's reflections on what it means to be Catholic delivered right to your inbox:
http://www.archchicago.org/cardinal/

Our Church calendar is full of feast days dedicated to saints that you may never have heard of, and if you have, you probably do not know what St Fabian did, or when St Angela Merici lived, but these men and women can be models and inspiration for our own faith, and there is a cool website where you can learn about a saint every day (it is also a cool place to find out who is the patron saint of artists or anesthetists). Check it out here:
http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/

And the last link of today. Make a little space in your life for prayer with this site:
http://sacredspace.ie/

Live That Dream

2011-01-17T16:38:00.000-06:00

Today we celebrate a great person, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
During his lifetime, Dr. King led people see one another as brothers and sisters in Christ and not people separated by their race. In his very famous “I Have a Dream” speech, Dr. King spoke of his dream: a time when “the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together”. He was using words from the Bible. In the Book of Isaiah, God gives us an image of what the world can be and what the Kingdom of God looks like. The Kingdom of God is a place where everyone is treated like a beautiful and worthy child of God.
It is up to us to help build the Kingdom of God. Today, let us take Dr. King as a guide and look at those places in our lives where people are not being treated justly and with the love they deserve. You can make changes in your own life, and you can lead others to change. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was one person who made a big difference. How can you continue the task of building the Kingdom of God? Live that dream.

Finals

2011-01-13T18:27:00.000-06:00

Please pray for our high school students as many of them take their semester finals this week and next. We thank God that they have been provide with such excellent opportunities for education, and we pray that they might demonstrate and apply all that they have learned.

Proud To Be Catholic (comments welcome)

2011-01-12T15:50:00.001-06:00

Check out this "Catholics Come Home" video and the fact sheet to go with it.

Fact Sheet
What makes you proud to be Catholic? Why are you Catholic? Please share in the comments section of this post.

Catholics Come Home

2011-01-10T16:50:00.001-06:00

Click here to learn more.

St Luke Trivia Answer

2011-01-10T16:45:00.000-06:00

Here is the answer to last week's trivia question:

A: December 18^th was the 40^th anniversary of our pastor, Father Ken Fischer’s, ordination. Father, thank you for your service for so many years!

To mark this happy occasion, a parish celebration will take place on Sunday, January 23. Father Ken will celebrate the 10:30am Mass that day, and it will be followed by a reception in Waldron Hall. Everyone is invited to attend.

Reflections on the Epiphany

2011-01-05T13:57:00.001-06:00

On this December 21^st, my brother, sister and I stood outside staring into the clear Colorado night sky as the earth cast a shadow over the moon. In the darkness created by the lunar eclipse, the stars shown so brightly, I felt as if I could touch each of them.

Sometimes stars are not so easy to see. Have you ever tried to look for a particular star or constellation at night? Sometimes the clouds block your view, or the lights of the city crowd out the stars, and sometimes what you thought was the North Star turns out to be an airplane. Sometimes the stars are very clear. Over 2000 years ago, a group of magi saw a star rise clearly in the night sky, and they followed that star to meet a new born king. Being Gentiles, they were an unlikely bunch to go searching for a king whose birth was prophesied by the Jewish prophet Isaiah. And Jesus, born in a humble manger, was an unlikely king. Still, when they the baby, they fell to their knees and offered gifts fit for royalty, because they knew they were in the presence of the King of Kings.

Today, I want to ask you, what light are you following in your life? Are you following the light of Christ: the light set in Heaven? Or are you following a light like those airplanes: one that shines brightly and moves quickly, but only because it is soon to bring you back down to Earth.

Maybe you have seen the star shining, but you think that you are not the right person to follow it. Maybe you think the journey is too long and rough, that it is someone else’s star to follow, or that you are not worthy to follow it. Maybe you are scared because, though the star is from God you are not sure where that star will lead. Maybe you have not taken the time to look-up and find your light because you are busy with the worries of school, or work, or things. Or maybe you have looked up and seen so many stars that you are not sure which one to follow.

Some of us recognize the same star that we have been following since we were young, and we are pretty sure where it will take us. Others of us are not quite certain where the star is leading, or which one has been sent by God to call us closer to Jesus. What we do know is that the way to follow the light is to keep God in our lives through prayer and actions. Remember, the night that I saw the stars the most clearly, was the darkest night when a shadow passed over the moon. Sometimes it is in our darkest moments that we see the star that will lead us, and as long as we follow Christ's star, we know it will take us home.

Eco-Friendly Tip for January (Part 2)

2011-01-04T08:30:00.002-06:00

Did your New Year’s resolution promise to help the environment? (Mine actually did). So to finish my three easy eco steps (turn it off, unplug it, and keep the door closed), here are the last two as promised.

UNPLUG IT:

Did you know that a phone charger left in the wall (even when it’s not attached to a phone) still zaps energy? When you take the phone out or turn off the TV, pull the plug out of the wall as well! This goes for all electronics and their chargers.

KEEP THE DOOR CLOSED:

When you leave the refrigerator or freezer door open, cold air escapes and wastes the energy used to cool it. If you have an older fridge, it might also let CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) escape that cause holes in the ozone layer. So the next time you go to open the fridge door, decide what you’re looking for and grab it quickly. Don’t leave your fridge open as you wander around the kitchen cooking!
Leave the oven door closed when baking something to conserve heat and cook it faster!
When cooling or heating the house, close the doors to room to conserve the heat/cool air.

These steps ARE really easy. My family does the large majority in my house already! So this year, try them out. You will be surprised how easy they are!

For more, check out this great website I found! http://www.epa.state.il.us/citizens/green-tips.html

Eco-Friendly Tip of the Month (Part 1)

2011-01-03T08:30:00.011-06:00

Some tips from one of our teens for taking care of God's Creation.

New Year’s is a perfect time for new resolutions. Maybe you promised yourself not to procrastinate on homework or to stay in better shape. But what about the environment?

Saving the planet takes shockingly little will power and even less time. Have I mentioned that it saves your family money???? So, for those of us who just can’t commit to New Year’s resolutions, I provide the easiest steps to going greener – it takes no money, minimal effort, and no time: TURN IT OFF, UNPLUG IT, AND KEEP THE DOOR CLOSED!

What do I mean? I’ll start with “turn it off,” and the other two will come soon.

TURN IT OFF:

Turn off electronics (computer, printer, television) when they aren’t in use. It does not take that long to turn them back on! It saves you money on your energy bill and helps the environment.
When you leave a room, turn off the lights! As difficult as flipping that switch can be, it will save so much energy and money! According to www.thedailygreen.com (check it out if you want more green tips), lighting is 11% of your energy bill! And yes, this includes those Christmas lights you still have up. Turn them off when you go to sleep!
Turn off the tap when you’re brushing your teeth or washing the dishes (plug the sink to save and reuse the water instead). Also, turn off the water in the shower when shaving or lathering your hair.

CHECK BACK TOMORROW FOR MORE ECO-FRIENDLY TIPS

St Luke Trivia Question

2011-01-02T14:01:00.000-06:00

A trivia question from on of our teens:

Q: On December 18^th, Father Ken celebrated the anniversary of his ordination. For how many years has our pastor been serving parishes as a priest?

Feel free to post a comment! The answer will be posted shortly.

We saw his star at its rising...

2011-01-02T13:56:00.000-06:00

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,
in the days of King Herod,
behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
“Where is the newborn king of the Jews?
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.”
When King Herod heard this,
he was greatly troubled,
and all Jerusalem with him.
Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people,
He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea,
for thus it has been written through the prophet:
And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
since from you shall come a ruler,
who is to shepherd my people Israel.”
Then Herod called the magi secretly
and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance.
He sent them to Bethlehem and said,
“Go and search diligently for the child.
When you have found him, bring me word,
that I too may go and do him homage.”
After their audience with the king they set out.
And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them,
until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.
They were overjoyed at seeing the star,
and on entering the house
they saw the child with Mary his mother.
They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
Then they opened their treasures
and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod,
they departed for their country by another way.

Mt 2:1-12

While Shepherds Kept Their Watch...

2011-01-01T06:07:00.000-06:00

The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph,
and the infant lying in the manger.
When they saw this,
they made known the message
that had been told them about this child.
All who heard it were amazed
by what had been told them by the shepherds.
And Mary kept all these things,
reflecting on them in her heart.
Then the shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God
for all they had heard and seen,
just as it had been told to them.
When eight days were completed for his circumcision,
he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel
before he was conceived in the womb.

Luke 2.16-21

Spaghetti and College Dinner for High School Seniors and College Students

2010-12-31T12:53:00.001-06:00

All high school seniors and current college students are invited to dinner in the Convent on Sunday, January 2 at 7pm. Come re-connect with old friends. High school students: share the frustrations and joys of applying for college and get advice from friends who have been there. College students: reminisce about old times and share your college wisdom.

The dinner is free. Please bring a side dish or dessert to share.

Christmas is NOT Over!

2010-12-31T12:46:00.001-06:00

Are you feeling some post-Christmas blues? Well, stop that! Christmas is NOT over. Stores may have their Christmas items on clearance, and your neighbors may be taking down their lights, be we still have so much celebrating to do! According to the Church calendar, Christmas only STARTS on December 25th, we call it "The Nativity of the Lord", and it keeps right on going into January.

This Sunday we will be celebrating the Epiphany, or the visitation of the magi (wise men) to Jesus and his family (check out the readings here), and we get to celebrate Christmas all the way through The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord on January 9th. And, even after the Christmas season ends, we can continue to celebrate the truth that Jesus came to live among and within us all. Merry Christmas!

Light in the Darkness

2010-12-19T17:50:00.000-06:00

There is light even at night. A star guided the wise men to a small baby boy who would be the Savior of us all. God came to live among us in a world that can seem so full of darkness. God became human so that even in the dark of night, Jesus could show us the way home.
As temperatures drop and the days get shorter, it is easy to really feel that cold and darkness. You will hear people say that Christmas falls when it does because Christians co-opted a pagan holiday of lights that occurred around this time of year, but statements like this need not shake our faith. The truth is that the Holy Spirit moves in our lives in many and mysterious ways, and the fact that we may or may not be celebrating Christmas on the exact anniversary of Jesus's birth does not make our celebration any less true.
The Holy Spirit moves with us and through us in incredible ways, and now, as the days reach their shortest, it is we prepare to celebrate this joyous holiday. People light candles and string lights, and the night is filled with light. No matter what you are feeling as Christmas approaches, may your eyes be open to see the light of a God who came to live with us in this world.

Advent Traditions: Las Posadas

2010-12-16T09:15:00.000-06:00

Christmas is just nine days away, and today marks the beginning of a special tradition, celebrated primarily in Mexico but also in other Latin American countries, called "Las Posadas": this is a special custom that remembers Mary and Jospeh's search for shelter before Jesus's birth. On each evening from December 16 to 24, groups of people from a parish will gather to form a procession through their neighborhood. Some groups might have young children dressed as
Joseph and Mary (sometimes even with a donkey to ride!) and other figures from the biblical stories of the Nativity while other groups might carry a specially decorated depiction of Jesus's birth a top a kind of hand-held float.

This festive group of people will follow their "Holy Family" to a house that has been chosen prior to the procession. As they march, the group might sing, blow whistles, and carry candles. When they reach the first designated house, they will implore the people inside, often with song, to let them enter. The residents of the house protest, also in song, that they have no room for the travelers, and the procession moves onto the next house. This ritual of asking for and being denied shelter continues until the group reaches the designated party house for the night.
Finally, the group's sung request for shelter is answered with a welcome and everyone goes inside the house to enjoy some prayer together (maybe the Christmas Novena or a Rosary) as well as a great party with food, song, and games.
What a neat way to remember the Holy Family's journey to the place of Jesus's birth while we also journey toward Christmas. May the blessings of Advent continue to fill your lives.

Did you know...?

2010-12-15T15:56:00.000-06:00

Many of us have Nativity scenes in our homes, and we can see them in many other places (just look here at St Luke). They are a great way to remind us of the story of Jesus's birth and to help us pray (just check-out yesterday's post for an idea). We can see Nativity scenes in so many places in our lives that it is often hard to imagine that they might not always have been so common, but tradition tells us that the first Nativity scene, or "presepio" in Italian, was put together by St Francis in the town of Greccio, Italy in 1223.
St Francis is known for many wonderful things, but did you know he also gave us the Nativity scene? Why not ask St Francis to join you in prayer this Advent?

What was it like to be there...?

2010-12-14T17:17:00.000-06:00

As we prepare for Christmas in this time of Advent, it is important to give God time and space to speak to us, and it is important to open our hearts to Christ. There are many different ways to pray: why not gather your family or friends and try what the teens and adults at Spark did this Sunday:
Circle your group or family around a depiction of Jesus's birth (think family Nativity set, picture, etc), and open with a prayer. Tell your group that now
you will all spend some quite time looking at the Nativity scene (or scenes) and that everyone should concentrate on each person in the scene.
Everybody should take some time to really look at the shepherds, the magi, the Holy Family, the angels, and even the animals. Some scenes may hold more or less people, but spend your time concentrating on the people who are there. During this silent prayer, take time to consider each person or animal in the scene and try to imagine what he or she is feeling. Is she scared or surprised and excited? Is he happy and very tired? What is that look she has on her face? Why is he looking over there and holding his hand that way?
Give everyone plenty of time to explore the scene. Some people might want to walk around the scene or hold the figures and even move them. After an appropriate amount of time, gather your group and ask each person in the group to name the person (or animal... or even object) they most identified with, and ask them to explain why they felt close to that person. As you talk about each figure, you can explore what other group members felt when they looked at him or her. You can also discuss what the people might say to one another, where they came from, and where they will go from here.
Close by asking everyone what they have learned from the people in the scene and how they will make themselves ready for Christmas, and you may even want to read Matthew or Luke's account of Jesus's birth.
May your time together be blessed!

On the song and video: 10,000 Angels by Aaron Thompson

2010-12-13T11:05:00.001-06:00

During Advent we prepare for Christmas, the time when we celebrate Jesus coming to Earth to become one of us, and the day he will come again. Sometimes we stay away from Church because we feel that we are not good enough, OR sometimes we stay away because we think that the Church is so full of sinners that it is better to stay away.
The truth is that we all make mistakes, and we are a Church full of people joining together to try to make your way home to God. Jesus joined us here on Earth, in the midst of all our mistakes, to take our hads and lead us home. Advent is a time to ask forgiveness and to forgive others so that we can all come home together on Christmas. God Bless.

Advent Readings

2010-12-10T07:46:00.000-06:00

One of the ways you can help prepare yourself for the coming of Jesus is to prepare too hear the readings at mass this Sunday. Why not read and discuss them as a family this week? Here is a little help from the Center for Ministry Development:

Listen Up! Advent 2010

3^rd Sunday of Advent

Isaiah 35.1-6, 10 • James 5.7-10 • Matthew 11.2-11

When you go to Mass this Sunday, you will hear readings from the Bible. To prepare yourself and your family to truly hear God’s Word, read and discuss this short article before you go.

Isaiah 35.1-6 • Be Strong and Fear Not

This passage teaches us that there is hope amidst our struggle, and there is hope in the future. Biblical theologians often speak about “eschatology” in the Bible, which refers to the dynamic expectation that God will act in the future.This is not just the assumption that God will work tomorrow as God did today, but the much greater confidence that God has all of time and human history under a plan and that there will be profound change when God intervenes. A Messiah will deliver us all! Look at verses 5 and 6. What would be your modern equivalent of these prophecies?

I know the Savior has come when . . .

Eyes of the blind are opened:

Ears of the deaf are unstopped:

The lame leap like a deer:

Tongues of the speechless sing for joy:

* This article appears on p. 908 of the Catholic Faith & Family Bible, produced by the Center for Ministry Development, published by HarperCollins, © 2010. Order your copy at www.catholicfaithandfamilybible.org.

Our Lady of Guadalupe and St Juan Diego

2010-12-09T07:05:00.001-06:00

Let us keep thinking about Our Mother Mary. After all, we will soon be celebrating the birth of Christ. Mary gave birth to Jesus over two thousand years ago, and it was at that time that she also became mother of us all. On Sunday we will be celebrating Our Lady of Guadalupe, and today we celebrate St Juan Diego to whom Mary appeared in 1531. To learn more about St Juan Diego or the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe, check-out these links.

How We Got the Feast of the Immaculate Conception

2010-12-08T06:07:00.001-06:00

Today is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception: this is the day, as Catholics, when we celebrate the special grace that God placed on Mary to make her free from sin at the first moment of her existence. For more explanation about what this feast day is and is not, check-out yesterday's post.
The really neat thing about the teachings of the Immaculate Conception is that it came NOT from scripture and tradition, but from the sensus fidelium, or "sense of the faithful". This means that the teaching of the Immaculate Conception actually arose from the prayer and faithfulness of the people. In other words,
though we believe that Mary was and always has been conceived without sin, the Immaculate Conception was not a teaching from the very first days of the church, and it was not something that was painstakingly uncovered by scholarly theologians, rather, it was something revealed to faithful people by the Holy Spirit over the course of time through prayer. Because so many people had discovered this truth through prayer and devotion, Pope Pius declared it dogma in 1854.
Isn't it cool that the church is always moving forward and that the Holy Spirit continues to help us grow in understanding? Even as a Church, we always have new things to learn!
St Luke has special mass times today for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception: 6:30am, 8:00am, 9:15am, and 7:00pm.

A Common MIS-Conception

2010-12-07T13:33:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Many times you will hear people refer to the virgin birth of Jesus as "The Immaculate Conception", but this is a common MIS-conception.

It is in fact Mary the Mother of Jesus who was herself immaculately conceived. What does this mean? Mary has two human parents (tradition tells us their names were Anne and Joachim, and today we honor them as saints), so to be immaculately conceived does not mean that Mary was conceived of a virgin. Rather, the Catholic Church teaches that Mary is filled with the grace of God in a special way, and that she was born without the taint of sin. In fact, Mary was immaculately (purely) filled with grace from first the moment of her existence, her conception. Mary is a special part of our salvation history, and it is because of the powerful work of her son Jesus that she was blessed in this special way.

The Immaculate Conception is a name for Mary (others are Blessed Mother, Star of the Sea, Our Lady of Guadalupe, and many more) and under that name, Mary is the patroness of the United States and Brazil. Tomorrow is a very special feast day for us. Mass is offered at St Luke these times: 6:30am, 8:00am, 9:15am and 7:00pm.

FR-SO Retreat: Success!

2010-12-06T16:53:00.001-06:00

This weekend was the FR-SO Retreat here at St Luke. 9th and 10th graders who attended this Friday night retreat jointly hosted by St Giles, St Luke, and Ascension Parishes were treated to toilet-paper snowman decorating, singing, small group faith discussions, skits, and great talks from juniors and seniors.
The focus of the retreat was "Saints" (not the football team), and we talked about the obstacles to marching with the saints, the people who have modeled Christ to us, and how we can be "part of that number". Retretants also took part in a powerful prayer service designed by the team of junior and senior retreat leaders.
Thank you to everyone who helped make this retreat such a success!

2010-12-03T10:29:00.001-06:00

Our FR-SO Retreat starts at 4:30pm this afternoon. Please pray for all our participants and team members as we take part in this powerful weekend.

What's a Jesse Tree?

2010-12-01T18:14:00.001-06:00

You have probably heard of a Christmas Tree, but have you ever heard of a Jesse Tree? It is a traditional Advent decoration that symbolizes the heritage of Jesus; the Gospel of Matthew outlines all of Jesus's genealogy all the way up to Abraham, and it is prophesied in the Book of Isaiah that the Messiah will come from the "root of Jesse" (who was the father of the Biblical King David). So the Jesse Tree is
a kind of family tree that features symbols of all sorts of important people who came between Abraham and Jesus, and it also helps remind us that Jesus is the Savior Isaiah spoke of, and for which the world had been waiting.
Some Jesse Trees also feature symbols from events and stories in the Old Testament and the history of humanity and our relationship with God. The Jesse Tree can help us remember the history of God's love for us and the ways that God is constantly calling us closer. The symbolic decoration of a Jesse Tree calls us to recognize that we are never alone and that God has been with us throughout all history. God even came to Earth to become on of us and to show us the way home.

Advent Begins!

2010-11-30T17:06:00.000-06:00

And so Advent begins!
This Sunday was the very first Sunday of Advent, and our readings at mass were all about coming to Christ and staying alert and ready for Christ to come to us. Our first reading from Isaiah speaks of people coming to the mountain of the Lord and learning to live in the way of God with peace between all people. The second reading from Romans and the Gospel from Matthew encourage us to stay awake and be ready for the coming of the Lord. During Advent we prepare to honor Christ's coming in two ways.
First, we prepare for the celebration of Christmas and the remembrance of the day when Christ became one of us and came to Earth as a little baby born in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago. Second, we prepare our hearts and minds for Jesus to come again.
Advent is all about staying awake, noticing, focusing, and there are plenty of traditions and rituals to help us prepare for the coming of the Lord. In church this Sunday you probably noticed the advent wreath holding one lit purple candle and three unlit candles. As we move closer and closer to Christmas, we will light a new candle each Sunday, and as the wreath becomes brighter and brighter, hopefully it will be a symbol of the light filling our hearts. You might have a similar (though probably smaller) wreath at home.
If you do not have an advent wreath at home, this might be the year to make one, and if you are uncomfortable with lighting candles at home, you could think about other ways to symbolize the progression of Advent. In our church you will notice that a new Advent banner is hung-up every week.
An Advent wreath can be a great centerpiece for family prayer. St Luke has piles of little blue books available at the doors of the church and these are really great prayer guides for the Advent season. The daily scriptures are also a wonderful way to pray. You can find those here.
Blessings to your family this Advent season as we all prepare for and celebrate the coming of Christ in our lives.

Creation-Care Tip of the Month

2010-11-27T07:55:00.000-06:00

Here is one of our teens with the eco-friendly tip for this month:

Every day, we hear about the drive to be more “green.” Taking the care of the planet means taking care of one of God’s precious gifts to us; after all, God gave us the Earth to live on. But it can be difficult, especially in a busy lifestyle, to try and think green. Yet there are a few simple tricks to help you go green in different ways.

Reducing Paper Use!

One of the most serious environmental concerns today is the depletion of the Earth’s forests. Therefore, one of the best ways to become eco-friendly is to limit how much paper we use. Simple ways to do this are:

When writing in notebooks or using lined paper, write on the front and back of the paper
Save computer paper that has only been used on one side. Keep it next to the computer, and next time you need to print something out, print on the back instead of on a new sheet.
Recycle, recycle, recycle! Computer paper, junk mail, and phone books can all be placed in your recycling bin. If you’re ever unsure about what you can or cannot recycle, check out your village’s recycling guidelines. Here - www.river-forest.us/departments/pw/refuse.php - are the guidelines for River Forest.
Unsubscribe to unwanted magazines and pay bills online when possible.
Forget paper plates and plastic cups! Use reusable dishes and cups and cloth napkins to limit how much paper and plastic you throw away.

A Poem of Thanksgiving - Psalm 100

2010-11-25T06:00:00.002-06:00

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;

come into his presence with singing.
Know that the Lord is God.

It is he that made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,

and his courts with praise.

Give thanks to him, bless his name.
For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures for ever,

and his faithfulness to all generations.

St Luke Trivia Answer

2010-11-24T06:15:00.001-06:00

Did you come-up with the answer to last week's St Luke Trivia Question? The answer is...

Bowling! The old St. Luke School building, built in 1921, had a four-lane bowling alley in the basement! Don’t you wish there was still one now?

A Big Sunday, A Turkey Sunday

2010-11-22T16:41:00.003-06:00

Yesterday was a good day for St Luke Youth Ministry. The Sunday before Thanksgiving is always Turkey Sunday at St Luke. Yesterday morning, fifteen teens, parents, and young adult volunteers headed down to Blessed Sacrament Ministries to distribute the makings of a Thanksgiving dinner to over 250 families, but Youth Ministry was just part of a group of St Luke parishioners who worked together to give those families a Thanksgiving feast.
Some St Luke-ers donated food or money: potatoes, onions, carrots, celery, corn, green beans, turkeys...
Other people took the food donations that people brought
with them to mass, and loaded those donations into cars, other volunteers drove those cars to Blessed Sacrament. Still other folks took monetary donations to the grocery store and bought loads of other food we needed.
Youth Ministry was waiting at Blessed Sacrament to receive all of that food, sort it, and distribute it to the families. When a car full of food pulled into the Blessed Sacrament parking-lot, someone would yell "FOOD'S HERE",
and we would all run up the stairs to grab armloads of potatoes or turkeys or whatever and carry them down to the sorting tables. Teens from the surrounding neighborhood were also there to help us out, and we had a great time working and chatting with them.When we were not unloading food from cars we were sorting it: one table for stuffing mixes, another table for carrots, a bench for onions, and another table for canned corn. The Blessed Sacrament hall was full of food divided among tables.
Snaking around those tables were two lines of grocery bags that we had set-up for each family. Once the food deliveries slowed, we got to work placing the food from the tables (and benches) into those bags. One person would walk down the line of bags dropping a box (or two) of stuffing mix into each bag, and another person might be following with bunches of celery or cans of mushroom gravy. Other people were busy sorting frozen turkeys (we wanted to be sure that larger families got twenty pound turkeys instead of the 10-pounders).
We had just finished moving the food from the tables to the bags and organizing the turkeys by weight when the families arrived to pick-up the food. The family would tell the person sitting at the table the number of people in their family, that person would yell out the number, and we would all run to grab the right size bag of food and the right size turkey and carry those out to the families' waiting cars.
By the time the last turkey and bag of food had been hauled out the door, we were all pretty exhausted, but we were also feeling good about the day we had, and we were able to relax at Spark that same night.
Happy Thanksgiving!

Freshman and Sophomores: Why you should go on retreat

2010-11-18T17:38:00.002-06:00

Serving at Turkey Sunday

2010-11-17T14:11:00.002-06:00

Turkey Sunday is just around the corner. Check out this recent bulletin entry from the St Luke Feed the Hungry Committee:

Next Sunday, November 21, is the annual Turkey Sunday food drive to provide Thanksgiving meals for individuals and families served by the Blessed Sacrament Ministries and St. Agatha Parish in North Lawndale, Chicago. This year the need is even greater than in past years with 50 more families counting on our generosity.The people you are helping are individuals and families just like yours – most families have 4 to 6 persons, with some smaller and a few larger, most with children and a few without. They are the working poor with jobs that just don’t pay enough, families of persons who have lost jobs and can’t find work, or seniors on Social Security who can’t afford to pay their heating and medical bills and buy food for Thanksgiving. For all of them, money for food is often gone before the end of the month.

Even in these very tough economic times, we have a lot to be thankful for and the ability to share from our abundance. Please be generous.

On Sunday, November 21, bring your frozen turkeys and all the fixings – vegetables, fruit, potatoes, rice, rolls, desserts (no frozen pies, please), condiments, paper products, etc. with you to Mass and give the food to volunteers at the Lake Street church entrance or in the parking lot. Between 7:15 am and 1:15 pm you can also drive up and drop off food on Lake Street in front of church. If you would rather have our “power shopper” do the shopping, cash and checks (made out to St. Luke Parish with “Turkey Sunday” on the memo line) are always appreciated.

Turkey Sunday is a really wonderful day when St Luke parishioners of all ages cooperate to make a difference in the lives of our neighbors. For our part, St Luke Youth Ministry helps out by heading down to Blessed Sacrament Ministries where we spend our afternoon sorting the donated food into grocery bags for individual families and handing the bags off to those same families.

If you are a teen that is interested in helping to sort food, contact Amanda in the Youth Office to volunteer.

St Luke Trivia Question

2010-11-17T13:17:00.001-06:00

Ponder our November trivia question and put your guesses in the comments section:

Before it was rebuilt in 1954, St. Luke School was a small, one-story brick building. This building had a special feature in the basement: a small set-up for a particular sport. What was the sport?

We will post the answer next week.

Chasing the Pope- An Update on World Youth Day

2010-11-15T13:08:00.002-06:00

Here is an important update from our friend in Spain:

Some people say that being near the Pope is a strange feeling, you are not really sure how to act, what to do...I am sure of what I did, I ran. "How weird", you may think, but let me tell you how everything went.

Last Saturday I went to Santiago, a city in the north east of Spain that is known worldwide because of the Saint James path. The Pope was coming to Spain: to this city and because of the path and also to Barcelona (I think I don’t need to explain what city I am talking about) to inaugurate the cathedral. I went to the airport two hours before of His arrive; it was extremely cold ( not as cold as Chicago in winter but it was foggy); after waiting what it seemed years, after a lot of security, the pope mobile pass by our side. I saw Him so close, but it didn’t seem enough, so some of my friends and I started to run after him. We were very lucky, because after a corner, we saw him even closer. This was for me the most important part of the day for me but not the end.

After lunch, there was a mass outside the Saint James cathedral we couldn’t get inside that square plaza but we were in the nearest one where we were able to see the mass in a gigantic screen. Although we weren’t in the principal square, and it was crowded as you can see in the photo, it was great. But that isn’t all: after mass people started to yell “ Nos vamos a Madrid” which means "We are going to Madrid", because of the World Youth Day. I can hardly wait.

FR-SO Retreat is Coming

2010-11-14T09:25:00.002-06:00

A post from Amanda Collins, Coordinator of Youth Ministry.

The Freshman-Sophomore Retreat is almost here, and everyone involved is so excited! The retreat is hosted by a large team of people from St Luke, Ascension and St Giles Parishes.
Each year, the retreat is held in the beginning of Advent, and it follows the same rough format, but there is still plenty of work to be done to make each retreat unique.
Back when the weather is still nice and hot, the three of us Coordinators of Youth Ministry (one from each parish) get together to reserve the weekend for the retreat and plan the general theme and retreat outline.

Once school starts, we recruit teen leaders. The really cool thing about the FR-SO Retreat is that most of the leading is done by juniors and seniors: they do the talks, they lead the small groups, they design the prayers, the games, the music... So many people who have gone on this retreat say that it is one of the absolute best experiences they have all year, and I think one of the major factors that makes this retreat so great is that it is led by people who were on the retreat themselves not so long ago.
There are even a few more people who come to help-out during the retreat itself by doing things like making delicious dinners and breakfasts, organizing games, or playing music.
Anyway, we are deep in retreat preparation, and the members of our retreat team are meeting every Tuesday night to work on making this a really great retreat. I am not going to say too much about what exactly we are planning, because I am sure there are freshmen and sophomores reading this post, and I think there is something really worthwhile about showing-up to a retreat and not having to know what is coming next. When you are one retreat, it is important to just relax and let someone else run the show while you have an amazing experience. But, 9th and 10th grade readers, I will tell you just a few things about what you might expect:

Really great discussions with people who will become fast friends. This is a time and place where you can get past superficial discussions and really talk about the deep stuff that matters to you.
Some goofy fun that will get you making fast friends with other people in your group. We always have some crazy and quick games in the beginning, and people still laugh about going (surprise) caroling two years ago or competing in a treasure hunt last year.
Real talks from juniors and seniors who are being totally real with you.
A dance party. We never plan a dance party into the night, but it seems that every year a dance party forms during free-time before bed.
Some great reflection on the saints in your life.

Anyway, we are still collecting registrations for the retreat through the end of this week (we extended the deadline). So if you are in 9th or 10th grade, fill out your form and get it in today (you can download one here). It is sure to be a great retreat.

More About Youth Summer 2011 Service Trips

2010-11-09T16:32:00.002-06:00

Post by: Amanda, Coordinator of Youth Ministry

Despite the fact that the cold has really just started to creep in, the teens of St Luke Parish are already preparing for next summer and all the wonderful work they will do with St Luke Youth Summer 2011 Service Trips. I held our information meeting a week ago, and I have had fun reading all the service contracts that have been landing on my desk since that time. Summer Service Trips are a pretty long tradition at St Luke, and in summer 2011 we will continue the tradition with a great group of trips plus one little twist on the service trip tradition.

First, both our college and high school students will be returning to Bethlehem Farm in Summer County, WV. Bethlehem Farm is an intentional Christian community founded on the Gospel cornerstones of prayer, simplicity, service, and community. Our St Luke group stays in an old farm house complete with chickens, a vegetable patch, and morning chores. During the day we do home repairs in the surrounding community, and at night we pray and play with other Catholics from all over the country. I know that even after a week of hard work in the hot sun, the peaceful and joyful setting of Bethlehem Farm leaves me feeling refreshed and recharged, and I am so glad that we will be returning "home" to Bethlehem Farm this summer.

This year, we will also be returning to our work with Habitat for Humanity. For the last three summers we have partnered with the Habitat affiliate in Clarksdale, MS to build new homes within the community. This year we will be traveling to Lexington, KY and the Bluegrass Region. Habitat for Humanity is such a great organization because affiliates are formed by community members to fulfill the needs of the community from within, and we know that providing families with a safe and comfortable place to call home builds a stronger and healthier community. In years past, we have really enjoyed the opportunity to work alongside the new homeowners, and this year we are looking forward to working with the people of Lexington, KY.

Two years ago, we participated in a service week in Detroit, MI with a program called Young Neighbors in Action. This summer, we will again be partnering with YNIA, but we will be serving at the Winnebago Indian Reservation in Nebraska. YNIA does a really great job bringing Catholic Social Teaching to life and linking it with service work, and I am so excited for the exposure we will all get to a different culture and way of life.

Last summer we did a service trip right here in Chicago. That trip was so popular, I decided to follow it with another Chicago service experience for summer 2011. We will be staying and working with the Br David Darst Center in the Chicago neighborhood of Bridgeport for three days and two nights. The Darst Center staff will be leading us in reflections on our faith as well as service work at sites all over the city of Chicago. I am excited about this trip, because I know it will bring a whole new perspective on Chicago to our participants. I am also glad that we were able to organize a weekend service trip: this will be a good opportunity for people who have tighter summer schedules.

Finally, the trip to Notre Dame Vision in South Bend is the twist I mentioned earlier in this post. ND Vision is a five day summer conference that is open to high school students who come from all over the country. Participants will not be doing service work during the conference, but it will be preparing them for a lifetime of service. ND Vision is a program designed to help high school students recognize God's call in their own lives and encourage them to use their gifts to change the world. We may not be building houses during the week, but this is a great place to develop servant leadership.

I believe that all of our summer trips will be great experiences, and I am excited by the responses I have been receiving from high school students and adults here at St Luke. If you are a high school student or adult who is interested in participating in a summer service trip, please be sure to contact me here at the Youth Office. I would be happy to catch you up on what you missed at our informational meeting, and while spots are going fast, there certainly is still time to register for a trip.

Informational Meeting for 2011 Summer Service Trips

2010-10-21T15:24:00.001-05:00

        October 31st is Halloween, but it is also the day of the informational meeting for our St Luke Youth Ministry Summer 2011 Service Trips. And you are invited.
      Each year, St Luke Parish sends groups of high school students and their adult leaders to follow in the steps of Jesus and fight the injustice of poverty at service sites all over the country.
Last year we worked with people subjected to hunger and homelessness right here in Chicago, we built new homes for families looking for a safe and healthy place to raise their children in Mississippi, we repaired homes and lived in simplicity and solidarity with people affected by poverty in West Virginia, and we gathered with hundreds of other Catholic teens to make a difference in the area around Flint, Michigan.
        Our Summer Service Trips are an excellent opportunity to step outside your daily routine and commit a week of your summer to making a difference in the world, and the first step in that journey is attending the informational meeting on October 31st at 1pm in Waldron Hall. You are invited to take part in a service trip if you are currently in high school or are interested in being an adult leader (you do not have to be a parent). And if you are in college, we also have a limited number of spots in a service trip just for you.
        Please take the first step on this journey and join us on the 31st.

2010-10-14T15:39:00.000-05:00

This weekend, join us for Lukefest, a special weekend-long celebration honoring our patron saint and our parish community.

Saturday, October 16

4:00 pm: Special Mass Honoring St Luke (Please note the time change from 5:30 pm for this day.)

The celebration kicks off with a special Mass honoring St. Luke. The Contemporary and Children’s Choirs will provide the music. You are invited to walk to mass and then go to the parking lot afterward for...

5:00 – 10:00 pm: Parish Block Party

Free burgers, brats and hot dogs, along with plenty of soft drinks and beer will be available for all. There’ll be activities for the children and from 7:00-10:00, a DJ will play dance-style music for all to enjoy. Plan to spend a fun evening with your family and friends at St. Luke. Should the weather be less than favorable, we will move the Party inside to the Gym.

Sunday, October 17

10:00 am – 12:00 Noon: School Open House

St. Luke School will host an Open House for all parishioners, especially those with young children. Come and see what St. Luke School has to offer your family.

2:00 pm: Stained Glass Tour

Join Deacon Paul Faherty for a very informative tour of our church’s beautiful stained glass windows. If you have never taken this tour before, here is your chance!

Personal Scripture Reflection from Kevin

2010-10-13T12:00:00.001-05:00

Luke 6:27-38

Reading for Thursday September 9, 2010

As I have said in some of my previous posts, Jesus was smart. He came from a poor family and received little (if any) formal education, but living at the crossroads of civilization offered experiences and lessons that money could not buy. Couple that with his strong connection to his intuition and you have a brilliant man. I think what Jesus is saying in this passage about loving your enemies is one of his wisest (and hardest) lessons in the Bible.

Loving those who love you is easy. I agree with that….for the most part. As Jesus said, “For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.” I could not have said it better - yes, loving those who do not return that emotion is indeed something special.

Now the disconnect that I still have with this is the ‘reward’ after it is all said and done. All I can see from loving your enemies is trouble (and maybe the very, very slight possibility of having them turn from foe to friend). More often than not, though, we would get burned by doing this.

Of course, after pondering over this for the better part of an hour, I realized that I cannot understand God’s entire plan. And also, love is one of (if not the only) universal truth that we can always fall back on. So, in times of question, let us all revert to love. For Jesus said, “But rather, love your enemies and do good to them…then your reward will be great…for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful.”

Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us

Personal Scripture Reflection from Kevin

2010-10-13T07:05:00.000-05:00

Luke 11:5-13

Gospel for Thursday October 7, 2010

How often do you find yourself in doubt? For me, it is every day. I am always wondering what will be next, did I do the right thing, or when will I know. (Ok, I must admit, I am a little more anxious than the average person.) But still, we are always wondering or agonizing about something. A lot of the time, worrying is good; it shows that we care about whatever we are worrying about and prepares us for the unexpected.

Jesus was human just like us. And when I think of the trials that he went through – I can only imagine how often his mind wandered and worried. To me, what made him divine and above all humans was the fact that he never doubted God’s will. His unwavering faith allowed him to trust God, even to death. And look how it turned out: he is our hope and savior!

In the garden of Gethsemane, he knew what was to come next. He was so worried that he even sweat blood! As he prayed he told God that he did not wish it to happen but wanted to follow God’s will more than anything. And following His will worked out well for him.

Next time you pray, follow Jesus’ style. Let God know how you feel and what you want. Do not be afraid to ask him for anything, because he wants to give you peace, joy and love, which comes from following his will. He does have something magnificent in store for you, just listen and follow as best as you can.

Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.

Build It! A Spark Review

2010-10-12T12:08:00.000-05:00

This last Sunday a group of us gathered to discuss God's call in our lives. We talked about Noah and what it would be like to hear God's call to build the ark. Would you have felt embarrassed, inadequate, excited, at peace...? We also talked about hearing God's call in our own lives and what that means while feeling the pressure of preparing for and picking the right college.
The sillier part of the night came with bubble-gum sculptures of Noah and a heart.

Please be sure to join us at Lukefest next Saturday, October 16th for a special mass, food, music, and games.

Order Your St Luke Youth Ministry T-Shirt

2010-10-05T15:13:00.000-05:00

Whether you like to cheer on our youth or you are a youth yourself, support St Luke Youth Ministry by ordering a t-shirt today. Click below to download an order form.

Am I My Brother or Sister's Keeper? A Spark Review

2010-10-05T12:09:00.010-05:00

This Sunday, we gathered again for our weekly high school group called Spark. We saw some old faces and some welcome new ones, and Michael helped us bond as a group by leading a fast paced game that resulted in balls flying around the room and lots of laughter. We discussed the upcoming FR-SO Retreat and Day of Fun at YMCA Camp Duncan, as well as the opportunities to help out at mass or Lukefest, and everyone grabbed forms to order their own Youth Ministry t-shirt.
The topic of the night was family and the discussion was intense. We talked about how family relationships might change as we grow older, the things we wish we could do or change, and those things that remain constant. Certainly, being in high school comes with family conflicts, but we can always talk about it at Spark.

Creation-Care Tip of the Month

2010-09-29T08:17:00.002-05:00

God truly has created a wonderful world for us, but it is up to each one of us to care for that world. Catholic teaching encourages us to treat our environment as a precious gift. From one of our teens, here is the eco-friendly tip for this month:

How many times a week do you do the laundry? For some of us, the count can be pretty high – but using all that energy and water is extremely hurtful to the environment. This month's eco-friendly tip consists of three simple steps to help everyone save resources (and money!) while washing clothes.

· Step #1: Keep your clothes cleaner! You don’t have to throw a pair of jeans in the wash after just one wear. If you prevent stains or dirt during the day, most items of clothing can be worn more than once before washing, saving water. And cleaner clothes without stains mean less use of bleach and other chemicals that are dangerous to the environment.

· Step #2: Wash clothes in cold water! 90% of the energy the washing machine uses goes towards heating the water (http://www.supergreenme.com/go-green-environment-eco:The-Environmentally-Friendly-Way-to-Wash-Your-Clothes). Washing in cold water saves money, energy, and can keep the shape of your clothes better, too!

· Step #3: Wash only full loads! Save water and energy by only running full loads of laundry. Need something cleaner right away? Try hand washing it in the sink with just a little detergent or some baking soda.

Even the little things can help our environment a lot. After all, changes start at home.

The Day to Day in Madrid

2010-09-27T14:44:00.001-05:00

Our friend in Madrid sends us another update as she starts school and continues to prepare for World Youth Day:
Here we go again. After a month of school, we get used to the routine : wake up early in the morning, study, trains... that is why I think one of the latest messages of the Pope to the youth comes at a very good time. Pope Benedict XVI talks about his youth in Germany and how his family tried to live day by day fighting to not fall into mediocrity.
We should not be conforming just to the plain simple. We should put goals in each day. They don’t have to be big ones (this week I am going to save the world from hunger); they can be small ones. Sometimes these are more difficult: smile to that person that always seems to be annoyed with you, help your little siblings with their homework... let's try this for the month. I think that is a great way to be getting ready for World Youth Day. You can always post your goals or questions about the World Youth Day in the comments section.
Click here to read Pope Benedict XVI's message to the youth.

Let There Be Light: A Spark Review

2010-09-22T07:30:00.002-05:00

We had a truly excellent Spark this week. With the beginning of the year, our team of adult volunteers told stories about beginnings in their own lives. From the first time Liz went sky diving to Michael's first experience in the maternity ward, the stories were great. Kevin led a game called "Like it, Love it" and there was plenty of laughing and mid-game crashes. We read the story from Genesis about God creating Earth in seven days, and Stephen told us about the Big Bang Theory and other scientific ideas about how we got here. Then we talked about Religion and Science, and everyone seemed to agree: Science and Religion are NOT at two opposite sides of the spectrum. In fact, the more Science reveals to us, the more we are able to realize, ponder, and stand in awe of the amazing work of God.

The Big 4

2010-09-21T14:19:00.001-05:00

The Big 4 is an opportunity for high school age young people to go deeper into their faith with small group discussions around the Gospels. It is called The Big 4 because the series consists of 4 sessions of 4 weeks each on the 4 Gospels. We start out by looking at the Scriptures, but that opens up discussion into life experiences, the people we know, and the choices we make. The Big 4 is the perfect place for teens looking for something more. Our first session is on the Gospel of Mark, and it meets in the Convent at 6:30pm on Tuesdays through October 12th. There is no cost, and all teens are invited.

Personal Scripture Reflection from Kevin

2010-09-15T16:05:00.001-05:00

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Luke 14:7-14

When I was young, my brothers and I would always race to the car screaming “SHOTGUN” to win the front seat. However, whenever my dad was with us, he would make the rightful winner (by standard shotgun rules) sit in the back seat in the middle with the hump – the worst spot in the car! We complained and told him that he was not playing the game right, but he always responded with ‘Those who are first shall be last.’ Looking back on it – our standard shotgun rules were not really fair; those of us who earned shotgun were always the older and my two younger siblings never would have gotten it.

Being humble is a tough virtue to grasp, but my dad was trying to instill that in us early. Stories like this Gospel parable remind me how important it is to be meek. In this story Jesus tells us pragmatically the benefits of being humble.

“When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor. A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him, and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then you would proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest place. Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, ‘My friend, move up to a higher position.’ Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table.

Another benefit of being humble that I would like to point out in terms of this story, is watching others take that place of honor and thrive there. What a wonderful feeling it is when you see someone else succeed. So next time you want to be in the limelight, step back and let someone else take it.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

St Luke Trivia Answer

2010-09-14T09:04:00.003-05:00

The answer to this month's trivia question is:

The current church building was completed in 1936. It cost a total of $240,000 to build. The next time you're in church, look around to admire a building that is over 70 years old!

To see the earlier post that contains this trivia question, click here:

http://gatherusin.blogspot.com/2010/09/st-luke-trivia-question.html

Spark Success!

2010-09-13T15:48:00.000-05:00

Last night's Spark opening was a great success. Sparkers new and old toasted marshmallows over a crackling fire in the Convent Yard, played a raucous game of "Pull-up" (the boys team won), and listened to a short welcome talk by Amanda. There were plenty of new faces and lots of catching-up to be done (both very exciting things!!), so most of the night consisted of lots of talking, laughing, and a little Frisbee tossing. Spark meets again this Sunday at 6:30pm in the Convent: the theme is "Let There Be Light", and the best is yet to come.

Spark is the Sunday night faith sharing group for high school age teens. Every Sunday we meet at 6:30pm in the Youth Room (in the Convent) to hang-out, discuss our faith, goof around with some games, and strengthen our relationships with our friends and Jesus. Mostly Spark is a place where you can be you. There is no cost, and ALL high school age teens are invited, so please consider joining us this Sunday in the Convent at 6:30pm. We love to see new faces. Come light the fire!

St Luke Trivia

2010-09-13T15:01:00.000-05:00

The answer to this month's St Luke Trivia Question will be posted tomorrow morning. So make your guesses and earn your bragging rights today. See the question here:

http://gatherusin.blogspot.com/2010/09/st-luke-trivia-question.html

Spark Tonight!

2010-09-12T11:55:00.001-05:00

High school age teens: please join us tonight for Spark's opening fire at 6:30pm to 8:00pm in the Convent Yard. Whether you have never been before, or you are excited to come back and see your old friends, we are excited to see you on Sunday night.

St Luke Trivia Question

2010-09-07T13:21:00.001-05:00

Our monthly trivia question:

Many parishioners have been a part of St. Luke's for many years. However, there are still a lot of things you may not know about the parish. That's why we have created a monthly trivia question - to see how much you know about St. Luke Church!

This month's trivia question is: In the first half of the 20th century, St. Luke's replaced the old church building with the same building we attend mass in today. In what year was the construction finished?

Feel free to leave a comment with your guess to the trivia question. The answer will be posted soon, so check back to see if you were right!!

2010-09-05T07:00:00.000-05:00

Spark, the Sunday night faith group for teens, returns in just one week. Our opening night is a really informal bonfire in the Convent Yard, and the perfect opportunity to try out Spark for the first time or invite friends or siblings. If you are in high school, make sure to make some time for Spark this week.

Online Scripture

2010-09-03T14:20:00.000-05:00

One of the great things that you can do for your faith life is to take some time to read and reflect on the Scriptures before or after mass. You do not even have to have the Lectionary on hand: if you go to the website for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, they have a convenient link for "Today's Reading" from the Lectionary or you can read ahead to the Scripture for the coming Sunday.
So why not take the time to bookmark this convenient site right now? Maybe each morning while you are checking your email or Facebook (or this blog), you can also read the Bible online! Here is the link:

http://www.usccb.org/nab/today.shtml

Personal Scripture Reflection from Kevin

2010-09-01T13:08:00.000-05:00

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Matthew 22:1-14

I strongly encourage you to read this Gospel. To me it explained salvation (and its history) to me wonderfully. It also pointed out my own weaknesses and faults. This Gospel has reminded me of many wonderful truths that I have known for some time:

1) 1) God is always reaching out to us

2) 2) Many of our gifts and opportunities are wasted because of our human flaws

3) Everyone has the option to go to heaven

4) 4) Not all will make it in.

I found this final line, frankly, scary. But also, thought provoking. Try to take some time this week contemplating on it: Many are invited, few are chosen.

Service Stories

2010-08-26T16:38:00.000-05:00

You are invited to come hear stories and see pictures of our Youth Summer Service Trips this Sunday, August 29th in Waldron Hall. Visit with the young people and adults who built houses in Mississippi, stocked food pantries in Chicago, repaired homes in West Virginia, and changed lives in Michigan.
Just stop by after the 9am, 10:30am, and 12pm masses. There will be coffee.

Meal Time Discussion: Back-to-School

2010-08-24T14:04:00.000-05:00

It is back-to-school time, and even for those of us not in school ourselves, it is hard not to get caught up in the current of this time of year. Plaid skirts, khaki pants, and polo shirts come marching back into our St Luke Parish School, and sitting in my office, I can again hear the yells and pounding feet from a recess kickball game. The stores are swamped with high school students trolling the aisles for notebooks and newly-minted college freshman snagging whiteboards and extra-long bed sheets. Everyone looks as if they are stocking up for battle.

School can be exciting and grueling, but we generally accept that education is very important. What about our education as Christians? Try discussing these questions around the dinner table tonight, and feel free to come back here and leave a comment about what you discussed:

Where have you learned about your faith? Who have been your greatest teachers? How did they teach you? How do you teach others?

In the Bible, one of the titles consistently given to Jesus is that of "Teacher": how much do we need to KNOW about our faith to be good Christians? How much do we need to TEACH about our faith?

Do you think it is important to keep learning about your faith? How will you keep growing in knowledge?

Post by Amanda, Coordinator of Youth Ministry

Creation-Care Tip of the Month

2010-08-23T12:54:00.003-05:00

God truly has created a wonderful world for us, but it is up to each one of us to care for that world. Catholic teaching encourages us to treat our environment as a precious gift. Here is one of our teens with the eco-friendly tip for this month:

Every day, we hear about the drive to be more “green.” It’s not always easy to be more eco-friendly, but there are quite a few simple steps you can take to save the planet.

Recycling is one of the first things to come to mind when people think about becoming green. But while recycling is essential to saving the environment, it can be a little complicated to figure out. Without realizing it, you probably throw out something every day that could be (or should be!) recycled. Here is a list of materials you should recycle:

· Acid Batteries

· Aluminum Cans

· Building materials

· Cardboard

· Chemicals

· Electronic equipment

· Glass (particularly bottles and jars)

· Lead

· Magazines

· Metal

· Newspaper

· Oil

· Paint

· Paper

· Plastic Bags

· Plastic Bottles

· Steel Cans

· Tires

· White Goods (Appliances)

· Wood

· Writing/Copy Paper

· Yard Waste

These materials should all be recycled whenever possible, but that doesn’t mean they can all go in the recycling bin! Check out your village’s guidelines for recyclables. For example, you can find River Forest’s list here - www.river-forest.us/departments/pw/refuse.php. Other recycling centers or stores can recycle other things for you: it just takes a little research! For example, most office supply stores like Staples will offer you a discount on ink or toner if you bring in an old cartridge, and some grocery stores will take back plastic shopping bags!

For more eco-friendly tips, keep checking in or search online. Thanks to http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/recycle.htm for the information.

Prayer Corner

2010-08-21T12:04:00.002-05:00

Would you like us all to pray for a special intention? Submit your prayer intention as a "comment" below. Look the comments of our readers, and please add them to your prayers.

Coffee, Donuts, and Our Blog Launch!

2010-08-20T10:06:00.002-05:00

Youth Ministry is hosting Coffee on the Plaza this Sunday, August 22nd after the 9am and 10:30am masses at St Luke. Be sure to stop by for some coffee, OJ, and donuts, and to chat with our blog authors. This will mark the official launch of our blog, so do not miss it.

Sparking Friendly Competition

2010-08-19T11:15:00.003-05:00

A post from an Ultimate Frisbee-er:

This summer, members of Spark have spent their Sunday nights getting to know each other outside of regular youth group meetings. They have organized regular Ultimate Frisbee games, a great way for everyone to bond but still get a little exercise! Whether there are four or fifteen people there, a game of Frisbee can take place. And everyone is welcome to join: it’s a great way to meet new people, and it’s easy to learn how to play. Throughout the summer, everyone has made new friends and had a great time. Not to mention, we have all gotten a lot better at Ultimate Frisbee!

Thanks to our adult volunteers, Kevin and Henry, for leading these fun nights.

A Week of Service in Chicago

2010-08-19T09:00:00.001-05:00

A reflection on the Chicago service trip by Amanda. Please join us on Sunday, August 29th for more stories and pictures from our summer service trips.

St Luke Youth Ministry organized four different summer service trips this year, and one of them was right here in Chicago! Four adults and nine teens spent five days helping people right here in our own backyard: in the Back of the Yards that is.

The Back of the Yards neighborhood is called that because it lies just south and west of the famous (former) Union Stock Yard of Chicago. Because of its location, the Back of the Yards has traditionally been home to waves of the newest immigrants working industrial jobs. Today, it is a mostly Latin-American community.

From June 19th to 23rd, we stayed in former Franciscan residence that took in homeless Spanish-speaking families, and we spent our days working at different Catholic Charities volunteer sites. One of our favorite sites was just down the street from where we were staying: Casa Catalina, a “basic needs center” run by the impressive Sister Joellen Tumas. On Tuesday morning of our trip, our “bucket brigade” passed thousands of pounds of rice, pasta, milk, and canned foods from the Greater Chicago Food Depository truck into the shelves of Casa Catalina. When we slumped into our seats for lunch and a much needed break, Sr Joellen told us stories of the genesis of Casa Catalina and the wonderful men and women she has met along the way. We were lucky enough to meet some of these special people, and counted ourselves especially blessed that we met Sr Joellen.

Another one of our favorite sites was the MAC warehouse. This is where Catholic Charities packs boxes of highly nutritious food items that go out to pregnant and nursing women and their children (MAC is an acronym for Mother and Child). We put together an awesome assembly line and cranked out 462 boxes in just a couple hours.

By the end of our week we had picked food up from donation locations, packed it, distributed it, and ate with the people of the neighborhood. We cleaned play rooms and senior housing, sorted clothing donations, provided child care, and hauled boxes. We served together, cooked together, prayed together, and played a raucous game of Pictionary. I feel blessed to have had an unforgettable experience right here in our own Back of the Yards.

Personal Scripture Reflection from Kevin

2010-08-18T09:06:00.005-05:00

Kevin is a young adult volunteer with youth ministry who believes it is important to reflect on daily Scripture. Check-out his most recent written reflection:

The Reading from Tuesday August 10th.
2 Cor 9:6-10

Who are the happiest people in your life? And by happy, I mean those that are content, at peace, and just seem to spread that feeling to others. I am sure that the person you are thinking of is not the same as mine. In fact, you are probably thinking of someone totally different in character, background, and lifestyle. But, I bet there is one thing that they have in common; they are generous.

Isn’t it weird that those who give so much experience the most joy? This certainly is against mainstream culture. Society is always telling us that the things we have will bring happiness. Peter Tosh has a good joke:

"You know those people who say that money can’t buy happiness? They’re wrong! Money can buy Wave Runners. And when you’re on a Wave Runner you can’t help but smile. Go ahead, try and frown on a Wave Runner…you can’t."

Now, this is true – Wave Runners are a blast. They bring entertainment and fun, but that is not joy. Joy is not fleeting. True joy lasts forever. Joy is not in that new car, phone, or outfit.

So, how do we get that everlasting joy? Paul tells us right here in his letter, “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” He is telling us to give out what we have, whether it is time, treasure or talent for the good of others; then and only then will we reap the ‘harvest’ that is joy.

For it is in giving that we receive, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

A Week of Service in Davison, Michigan

2010-08-18T08:08:00.004-05:00

A post from another St Luke Youth Summer 2010 Service Trip participant. Remember to join us on August 29th for more pictures and stories.

On July 18th, 13 teens and 3 adults left for a week at Catholic Heart Workcamp in Davison, Michigan. The week was full of hard work during the day and Catholic-based programs during the night. Workers from St. Lukes were split up and given the opportunity to meet kids from many different parishes. In total, the camp held over 300 kids. Our teens and adults were assigned to a broad variety of jobs such as cleaning, painting, building handicap ramps, gardening, and working in soup kitchens. The smiles and joyful tears from the residents at the end of the week were very rewarding. We were grateful to be able to do God’s work and thankful for our parish’s support!

A Week of Service with Habitat for Humanity

2010-08-17T09:00:00.006-05:00

Here is an update from another Youth Summer 2010 Service Trip written by someone who was there. This group of teens traveled to Clarksdale, Mississippi to build houses with Habitat for Humanity. Remember to join us in Waldron Hall on the 29th for more service stories:

The last week of July, a group of 15 teens and 5 adults took the 10-hour drive to Clarksdale, Mississippi to spend a week building homes for Habitat for Humanity. Clarksdale is located in a poor, rural area of Mississippi, between the Yazoo and Mississippi Rivers. Though the region may be struggling, it has a rich history and culture that we all got to experience throughout the week.

We accomplished a lot of work during our stay – in just a short week, we were able to tear down and replace all the doors in the small house we worked on, stain the new doors, completely repaint every room, paint the exterior of the house, and much more! With the right help, Habitat for Humanity can build a house in one month. It was terrific to think that we were helping so much in just five days, but it was still difficult to leave the house unfinished.

When we weren’t working, we had a lot of fun exploring the Clarksdale area and getting to know kids around the neighborhood. Clarksdale’s culture and history is based in the blues, so we visited the Delta Blues Museum, as well as a lively blues club called Ground Zero. We also spent an afternoon swimming in the Mississippi River. The kids in the neighborhood loved meeting new people, and we enjoyed spending our free time playing games with them. Before we left, a few of them sang us a song for our departure: it was called “I Know I’ve Been Changed,” and it was a bittersweet ending to the trip.

Some of the best parts about the trip were seeing the neighborhood people so appreciative of even the smallest work that we were doing in their community. Also, we were able to meet Matt, the Volunteer Coordinator for Habitat for Humanity in Clarksdale, and J.D., the construction expert who worked with us. Both were great role models for everyone there, as they were extremely kind, patient, and helpful. Finally, we were able to see a health center in the nearby town of Tutweiler that was founded by a Catholic nun over 20 years ago. The work of just one woman helped steady the area, and it has expanded into a prosperous community center.

The entire week was truly a learning experience, but it was also a lot of fun. Everyone made new friends, and the trip helped strengthen old relationships. It was a week that few of us will ever forget.

A Reflection on Church Architecture

2010-08-17T08:05:00.001-05:00

Over the years, the design of churches has continued to evolve and diverge from traditional design. For many years, traditional stained glass windows and specific church layouts have gone hand-in-hand with Catholic beliefs. However, architects, whose profession it is to design the building, are beginning to have more of an influence on the finished form than Catholic tradition. As the face of the church inevitably changes, will the Catholic Church change its traditions also? Take some time to notice St. Luke’s beautiful design.

Traditional church layout.

An example of modern church architecture.

A Week of Service at Bethlehem Farm

2010-08-16T12:33:00.003-05:00

Here is a post from another one of our teens on her Youth Summer 2010 Service Trip to Bethlehem Farm. St Luke Youth Ministry hosts several volunteer weeks each summer. If you were interested in hearing more about our Summer 2010 Service Trips, come to Waldron Hall after mass on August 29th, and hear our stories.

On the morning of the country’s birthday, three St. Luke parishioners and I got into a car for a 13 hour drive to a little town in West Virginia. We arrived in a town just past the sign: "population: people friendly". We were immediately welcomed home to Bethlehem Farm. At first, I was hesitant. We were hugged by strangers and welcomed “home.” I did not quite feel at home yet. Later, we were given a tour of the beautiful farm, and we greeted the donkeys and other animals named after the four Gospel writers.

Throughout the week, we lived by four main corner stones: prayer, community, service, and simplicity.

My favorite corner stone was simplicity. For one week, we were unplugged. We did not rush to our phones to check text messages, we did not waste time sitting on Facebook telling people that we were at Bethlehem Farm, and we did not listen to the radio. To fill the time that we would normally be doing all of those things, we were able to take some time for new and long lasting friendships, playing games, self reflection, prayer. Most of all, our brains were given a little rest from the multi-tasking lifestyle that many of us lead.

Each morning, we were lead in a different type of morning pray, and then we were told where to meet for chores. The night before, we all signed up for a chore, though the name gave us no hint as to what exactly we would be doing. When the big bell rang, we went in for breakfast. We ate from the organic garden 10 feet from the house and from local farmers. We were then sent out with coolers full of homemade jams, bread, loads of snacks, and water. Each crew went with a different summer servant and care taker. Projects were anything from helping at the local town thrift store to roofing and siding. When we came home, we were welcomed by the hospitality crew.

The evenings were spent playing games such as Ninja, Risk, and Catch Phrase. Free time was very relaxing. After a hard day of service, relaxing with friends was much appreciated by everyone. We ate dinner made by the home crew, and then we had evening prayer, also lead by the home crew.

Each day brought new experiences and closer friendships. The trip to Bethlehem Farm was unforgettable and priceless. Every single day, I woke up wondering what wonderful and exciting plans God had made for me. My character and faith were pushed to improve every single moment. The beauty of the area we were in and those little moments we laughed and shared with friends made the trip an experience everyone should have. Not only were the relationships with friends built, but my relationship to God became much closer. I was really able to sit down and take some time to just think about life, the past, the present, and the future. If anyone is thinking about a summer service trip, this is one that should be checked as number one.

Thank you to all who supported us during the stock sale, all those who said prayers for us, and who read this excerpt. I hope your summer continues to be enjoyable and relaxing. God bless.

Take me home, country roads... Bethlehem Farm in West Virginia

An Update From Spain

2010-08-16T12:11:00.004-05:00

One of our youth ministry members has returned to her home in Madrid, Spain, but she is keeping us updated on faith in Spain and the preparations for World Youth Day. Read her post here:

I wake up this morning; the first thing I do, like every morning, is turn on the radio, and I hear, "World Youth Day is here: WE NEED YOU". I feel completely awake, it is so true that it is almost here, and I can't wait. While we wait for this event you should check their website:

http://en.madrid11.com

But it isn't the only thing going on in Spain (of course we won the World Cup, hahaha): this year is the Xacobeo. This is a celebration when more people than ever make a pilgrimage to Santiago in a A Coruña (north of Spain) to see the patron. The Pope is coming in November to visit the cathedral, and it will be a practice for World Youth Day, since it is expected to be a very large event. I will explain more about Saint James or Santiago next time.

Personal Scripture Reflection from Kevin

2010-06-16T15:18:00.002-05:00

The Second Reading on Sunday June 13 Gal 2:16, 19-21

The Catholic Church often tackles the protestant ideal of Faith Alone (the doctrine of justification by faith), but I feel like in today’s world, we need to face the other side of the spectrum: Works Alone. How often do you hear friends and family say something like: I’m a good person and do good deeds, I don’t need to go to Mass, Reconciliation, etc. This mindset makes me worry a bit and it doesn’t help that it is sweeping through society.

As Catholics, we believe that both faith and works justify us to receive God’s grace.

We do need both, but I am also a little guilty for leaning on the side of works. What about all of those wonderful, wise, selfless, and loving people who were not Christian (Gandhi, Muhammad, etc)? I have to believe that they are in a special place in heaven, because they have certainly done some wonderful deeds. But, just like us, they were not perfect and needed that extra boost to get into heaven.

To rationalize the faith side of Faith and Works, think about all the gifts and blessings that God has given us…and then, all of those times where we messed up with sin. These failures push us away from ourselves, loved ones, and God far too frequently considering all the gifts we have been given. How is any amount of good deeds going to justify us that? If we are always pushing away the love of God, how are we ever to justify eternal life in heaven on our own?

That is why Jesus came. He came to be our advocate to God - to show that we are still worth saving, regardless of all our sin.

I like to think that Jesus is looking over Peter’s shoulders at the gates of heaven. Peter is doing his job looking to see where we end up on the naughty to nice continuum (Which, let’s face it, we’re on the bad list). But if we create that relationship with God we may have a fighting chance. For those who work with, for and through God, Jesus will slip Peter a $50, lift up that velvet rope and say, ‘He’s with me.’

Lord, help me to strengthen my relationship with you so that you and your peace may live in me.

Dinner Table Discussion

2010-06-02T18:27:00.001-05:00

This Sunday we celebrate the Most Holy Body & Blood of Christ or the Feast of Corpus Christi. We celebrate the gift that Jesus has given us in the Sacrament of the Eucharist. One way that people celebrate is with Eucharistic Processions, and in some places people might decorate the procession's route with things like flowers, candles, and banners.
So why not celebrate this special feast by having a mealtime discussion with family or friends? Share some discussion with the questions below and come back here to comment on our blog and tell us what you thought:

When did you celebrate your First Holy Communion? What do you remember about it? What were the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and feelings you recall from that day? What sticks with you?

How did you prepare to celebrate your First Eucharist. How do you prepare to celebrate Eucharist now?

How is the celebration of Eucharist important in your life today?

Post by Amanda, Coordinator of Youth Ministry

Personal Scripture Reflection from Kevin

2010-06-02T18:12:00.003-05:00

The Gospel from 6-1-10 - Mark 12:13-17

After reading this story, I can’t help but think how smooth Jesus was. People crowded around Him, challenged Him, tired to trick Him, and worked to make Him look like a fool, but Jesus kept his cool and stayed collected. His nonchalant response of “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God,” put the priests in their place and left them feeling ‘salty.’ What a great response! It’s like Humphrey Bogart and James Bond took their cool and suave from Jesus. I am sure that Jesus was upset and annoyed that they were pushing the envelope, but he did not let his emotions get the best of him. Instead, he used his mind and words. To use the phrase of Marshall Eriksen from How I Met Your Mother, those Priests ‘just got Lawyered!’

Jesus always seemed to have a way with words and that shows me how sharp he was. I think we forget that Jesus, while being the definition of love and compassion, was also brilliant. We should strive to be like Jesus in all ways, which also means using our heads. So whether it is controlling our emotions, learning a new language, doing better on the ACT, understanding calculus, or finishing that book, we should be engaging our minds. The capacity of the human mind is incredible. In fact, researchers say that the average person only uses 10% of it. Can you imagine if we used all 100%?!?

I let my emotions get the best of me far too often. Instead, I should use my mind and take some lessons from the Bible because cooler heads always do seem to prevail. What will you be doing to exercise your brain this week?

Spark and the Prime Timers March in the Memorial Day Parade

2010-05-31T13:52:00.004-05:00

Members of Spark and the Prime Timers crossed their fingers for nice weather at this year's River Forest Memorial Day Parade. Although the day ended up being very rainy, nothing could stop St. Luke's spirit. The Prime Timers flipped up the roof of their convertible while the spark members followed in a car behind. Two brave Spark members led the way with posters in the rain. The day was an adventure and a great way for these two groups to meet and form a stronger community within the parish.

Trip to Staved Rock

2010-05-23T14:17:00.003-05:00

This Saturday, Spark teamed up with St. Giles' youth group for our annual trip to Starved Rock. The day included a seven mile hike followed by dinner and s'mores around the fire. We were able to enjoy time with our friends and form closer bonds within the youth group. There was time for quiet reflection and the opportunity to appreciate God's great creations. The trip was a great way to get away from stress at home and enjoy nature. We were lucky to have great weather and we had a great time!