Youth Ministry E-VINE (March 7, 2008)
Youth Day 2008 – Thank you and Evaluations
ABOUT FACE! Focused on God! What a day, what a day. Thank you very much to everyone who supported Youth Day 2008 by bringing young people or by serving on one of the many committees that made that day possible. I specifically want to say thanks to the parish/school members of the Youth Day Coordinating Team and emphasize what a great job they did! I also wanted to let everyone know that we were given over $11,000 in our first ever Youth Day collection. This is a true testament to the generosity of so many people! This money will be split between the Catholic Youth Foundation USA and our Archdiocesan leadership programs to help young people attend. Lastly, please remember to send in your EVALUATION forms. These really do help us in choosing speakers and in making decisions about future Youth Days! Thanks for all the support!.
NACYML Reception - Thanks
Thank you to all of the members of the National Association for Catholic Youth Ministry Leaders (NACYML) who participated in the evening social on Youth Day. It was great to gather with some of the Youth Day speakers and unwind from a long day. It was also great to catch up with good friends. If you would like to join this professional organization specifically for adults who work with young people please check out www.nacyml.org! There are many national and Archdiocesan benefits for joining.
Vocations Program at Youth Day – Thanks
A very special thanks to all of the parishes that sent young people to the “Called by God” Vocations Program at Youth Day. It was a huge success and Cardinal Mahony, our Auxiliary Bishops, and all the key leaders that were part of the day were very pleased with the process. The young people that attended enjoyed it, as well. We appreciate you supporting this opportunity and helping us to raise awareness for vocations. Check out the pictures of the event [Youth Day story and Congress Photos] in this week’s Tidings newspaper! Thanks, again, for the great support.
Youth Ministry E-VINE (February 27, 2008)
Youth Day 2008 – ABOUT FACE! FOCUSED ON GOD
As this email is sent, it is exactly 24 hours before Youth Day 2008 will begin! Many thanks to the thousands of adults bringing young people to our great day. Also, the Youth Ministry Team would like to deeply thank all of those many volunteers who have worked hard to make this day possible. You know who you are, and we thank you very much. The day would not be possible without you! Please pray for all those young people and adults who will be rehearsing tonight and tomorrow morning for Youth Day 2008. See you in Anaheim!
Have a great rest of the week. SEE YOU TOMORROW at YOUTH DAY 2008!
Youth Ministry E-VINE (February 20, 2008)
Youth Day 2008 – ABOUT FACE! FOCUSED ON GODD
Youth Day is just eight days away! Please pray for great weather on that day! We also ask you to keep all of the young people and adults who are in the last few days of planning in your prayers, as well. Here are a few tips that might give you some help on Youth Day. Last year there was a problem with the entrance into the Arena for the morning Opening Session. We have asked the Convention Center to help lessen this problem by opening more doorways to the Arena area and to have MANY more turnstiles for people to enter through. We hope this will help alleviate the problem that came up when entering the Arena area last year. PLEASE remember that the bus situation is very stressful. We have little control over how the people who run the parking lot direct traffic. We have asked for a better system for dropping off and picking up and are being told that it is corrected, but I just want us to be sure to be aware of our groups and the fact that many buses are leaving at one time. Finally, please remember that food is expensive at the Arena and I would warn your youth in advance about the prices. We look forward to seeing you at Youth Day 2008.
Youth Ministry E-VINE (February 13, 2008)
Called By God – Youth Day Vocations Program
“Called by God” – A Vocations Program at Youth Day is a new event we have added to our wonderful day. This program will give young people a chance to dialogue with Cardinal Mahony, our Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishops, and other Religious leaders on the subject of vocations. There will be a chance to hear the discernment stories of our leaders, as well as having young people share their ideas with others. Each parish or school that is attending Youth Day is encouraged to send two young people to this great part of our day (that will last from 12:15 to 2:30 pm – after Mass until just before the Closing Rallies). Contact Mike Norman for a registration form to be retuned by Friday, February 15! Please let us know you are sending young people. We won’t be able to sponsor this event unless we have participants. Please call Mike Norman (213) 637-7674 for more information.
NACYML Reception at CongressThose members of the National Association for Catholic Youth Ministry Leaders – a professional organization for anyone who works with young people – are invited to be part of a reception at Congress on Thursday evening (after Youth Day) from 8 to 10 pm. We have mailed out invitations to everyone that is a “card carrying” member of NACYML. We’d like to remind you to RSVP for our gathering by calling or emailing Mike Norman. Please RSVP by Friday, February 22, 2008.
Unlicensed Buses at Youth DayHere (2-7-08UnlicensedBusses.pdf) is the latest list from the Public Utilities Commission of Charter Bus Companies that ARE NOT in compliance with the PUC. Please refrain from using any of these companies to transport young people to any event (especially Youth Day). If stopped by the police the bus could be asked to not transport your group anywhere – like home from Anaheim! Please take a look at the list and contact the Public Utilities Commission if your bus company is listed.
Youth Ministry E-VINE (February 6, 2008)
Youth Day Waiting List
Presently there are about 25 groups (parishes/schools) on the waiting list for Youth Day 2008. These groups are desperate for tickets. If you know now or find out soon that you will have tickets available please contact Mike Norman at (213) 637-7674 or mnorman@la-archdiocese.org. This is a great way to make sure you don’t lose money if you have additional, unused tickets. Mike will be able to connect you with another coordinator looking for tickets and you can work out details to sell your extras to another group. It would be great if we were able to get everyone into Youth Day that wants to be there. Please connect with Mike as soon as you know if you will have extra tickets. We have promised to let those on the waiting list know either way by February 20. Thank you for helping out.Sunday Keynote Speaker at Congress
This year at Congress the Sunday morning keynote will be Mr. Mike Patin! This is a very big deal because it will be one of the first times that someone from the Youth Ministry community is a keynote speaker at our Religious Education Congress. I know most of us like to sleep in on Sunday (unless we are going to the morning liturgy), but wouldn’t it be great if a LARGE group of Youth Ministry/Confirmation/Campus Ministry Coordinators and their teams showed up to support Mike. Most of you will know him from Youth Day, Congress, his keynote at the National Conference for Catholic Youth Ministry (NCCYM) in Las Vegas in 2006, or from the year he led the Youth Ministry Day Retreat at Congress. He is a huge part of Youth Ministry on the national scene and won the National Trainer Award from the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry in 2006. Mike’s keynote will be at 8:30am on Sunday, March 2, in Convention Center Grand Ballroom D. We hope to see you there!
Proper Manners at Youth Day 2008
The Youth Ministry Team would like to take this moment out to remind you that groups CANNOT save seats in any of the venues at Youth Day. This causes a lot of problems in trying to fill up the different rooms – especially the Arena. We will be watching closely to make sure ministry groups adhere to this policy. In the past some groups have even put signs on seats or used tape to portion off sections. We want to inform you that we will begin to take the names of groups that do this and not allow them to register for future Youth Days. If you encounter a group that is saving seats on Youth Day please contact the nearest Convention Center employee or a Congress staff person (people with walkie-talkies) and they will help you. Please be considerate of other groups and help to make our day as positive and transforming as possible. Thank you, in advance, for your help with this matter.
Youth Ministry E-VINE (January 18, 2008)
Unlicensed Bus Companies
The Office of Religious Education keeps a list of bus companies that are not in compliance with Public Utilities Commission of the State of California (CPUC). [You can obtain a copy from Mike Norman using the contact information at the bottom of this page.] These unlicensed charter bus companies, as of January 11, 2008, do not possess valid authority from the CPUC and are NOT legal to perform charter bus transportation within our state. You can check the CPUC website at www.cpuc.ca.gov/PUC/Transportation/passengers for valid charter bus companies and updates on enforcement action. If you are presently using one of the companies named on the list for Youth Day (or other events) you are risking the chance that police will stop the bus and refuse it to move any more. If you have questions please contact the Public Utilities Commission through the website. If you are using one of these companies you might want to let them know you received this list – it might cause them to straighten out the conflict.
Adults for Youth Day Moving Crew
We are still looking for adults who can join us on Youth Day for the Adult Moving Crew. This group of people helps groups find their way around the convention center, keeps an eye out for “lost young people,” energizes slow moving groups, and other fun activities for our day. It would not be the same Youth Day without this team. If you, or an adult you know, is interested in coming to Youth Day – and will not be a chaperone with a parish/school group – you can download the Moving Crew sign-up form from www.RECongress.org/YD . We need you to help us make Youth Day a huge success! Thanks for volunteering.
Youth Ministry E-VINE (January 9, 2008)
Youth Day Fills Up
We just wanted to give you a heads up about Youth Day. As of Monday, January 7, there were only 1,500 spots left open. That means our great day will close this week. I am very sorry for the inconvenience this causes to some of you. I would strongly suggest you still send in your registration (if you have not done so) because we will start a waiting list (last year most of the waiting list got into Youth Day). Here’s to another fantastic year of support for Youth Day. Thank you very much.
Youth Ministry E-VINE (January 2, 2008)
Happy New Year!The Youth Ministry Team wishes you a very Happy New Year! May 2008 be filled with much love, laughter, and wonderful ministry. Thank you, again, for all that you do for the young people of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and beyond.
Youth Day Registration ReminderJust a reminder that Youth Day 2008 is fast approaching. It is less than two months away! Please remember that Youth Day sometimes fills up before the date when tickets are mailed out (which is after January 31st). Remember, there is no ON SITE registration at Youth Day. If we receive your registration after Youth Day is closed we will return the forms/money to you. ALSO, don’t forget that you can pre-order official t-shirts for Youth Day that have your parish or school name on them! Check out the shirts at www.Seraph7.com. That is also the place to make your special order. Orders must be received before February 15th.
Youth Ministry E-VINE (November 6, 2007)
Arena Archdiocesan Choir for Youth DayDownload the Choir Flyer for young people to sign up to be part of the Youth Day Archdiocesan Choir that supplies music and voices to the Arena Liturgy on our great day. This is an excellent opportunity for young people to be involved in our liturgy. The flyer details the rehearsal dates and also gives guidelines for participating. If you have any questions concerning the Youth Day Arena Choir please contact John Rinaldo at jmrinaldo@la-archdiocese.org or (213) 637-7616.
Youth Day Registration
Just a reminder that Congress Registration Guidebooks have begun to be mailed out (many people have already received them). We have even gotten 15 registration sheets for Youth Day already (WOW!). You can register for Youth Day 2008 by downloading a form from the website for our Religious Education Congress at www.RECongress.org or by filling out the form in the registration guidebook and mailing it to us. If you have not received a Guidebook please first check with your parish office or Director of Religious Education. Some are usually given to each parish. If you came to Congress last year (and have not moved since then) you should receive a book in the mail. If you do not receive one in the next two weeks please check us out online or call (213) 637-7348.
This Youth Ministry E-VINE is an email reminder/notice of important information in the field of Youth Ministry for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. To be added or deleted from this list please contact Mike Norman at mnorman@la-archdiocese.org.
Michael Norman
Associate Director
Office of Religious Education
Archdiocese of Los Angeles
(213) 637-7674
mnorman@la-archdiocese.org
Youth Ministry homepage: archdiocese.la/learning/ore/youth
Calendar of events: archdiocese.la/calendar