St. Anthony's Youth Group Blog

Goodbye...

2011-06-09T11:12:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!

This will be my last blog entry. As most of you have probably heard by now, I will be leaving my position at St. Anthony’s at the end of June. I will be going to the Philippines as a Peace Corps volunteer for the next 27 months starting July 1^st.

I just wanted to say thank you for all the wonderful times! It has been a pleasure getting to know all of you and to be able to share such great memories.

It has been especially great to see the growth in the teens that I’ve worked with these last four years. Many were shy or unsure of themselves when I first met them, but they have really blossomed into confident leaders and amazing people. I am so proud of all the young people at St. Anthony’s! Their enthusiasm and energy, their faith for God, their dreams, goals, and passions have really inspired me. I always tell them that they are not only the future leaders of the Church, they are the present leaders, here and now. They have certainly proven themselves to be effective leaders by serving in various parish ministries and events, community events, and at Youth Group or retreats. You should certainly be proud to be parents, friends and mentors of such awesome young people.

I would also like to thank all the youth ministry leaders who have helped with the program. Their care and dedication to the youth is very evident in the way that they give their time and talent in many different kinds of ways. From chaperoning retreats to organizing snacks, to leading a game or mentoring a small group, they have all blessed the program with their presence. Youth ministry is certainly not a one person job and I couldn’t have run this program without them!

It has been a privilege to be a part of all of your lives. I’ve been witness to many wonderful things happening at St. Anthony’s. God has been present in every moment – including retreats, Adoration, pancake breakfasts, foosball, Confirmation, Youth Nights, meals shared with families, beach trips, youth band, Steubenville NW, silly games, and everything else!

Even though I am excited for the new life adventure I will soon be embarking on, I will still miss all of you very much! Feel free to keep in touch! You can also follow my Peace Corps blog to keep updated on my life in the Philippines.

Sincerely,

Deborah

"Oh the Places You'll Go!"

2011-05-25T09:36:00.001-07:00

We had our last Youth Night of the year this past Sunday! Where did the year go? We've had some fun times at Youth Group learning how to "Make a Difference" in our hearts, in our relationship with God, and in the world.

You can watch our end of the year video for a recap of some of our great memories this year.

Congrats to all our seniors!!! You have truly made a big difference in our Youth Program! Our younger teens really look up to you and you have all been great role models in your faith! Good luck in your new life adventures!!!

We are One Body Retreat

2011-04-20T12:13:00.000-07:00

We just got back from an amazing retreat in Newport, OR. The theme for the retreat this year was, "We are One Body," and focused on the blessings of being in community with one another. We are all called to contribute our gifts God has given us to help build up the Body of Christ. Through each session we learned how the communities in our lives (family, friends, church etc) help us grow in our faith and become closer to God.

We had some great teen leaders at the retreat helping with games talks, and prayer. We also had all teens participate in leading a morning or evening prayer session and it was wonderful to see how each person contributed to the prayer with enthusiasm.

Check out the video for all the fun pics. During our free time we got to go to the beach and visit a local aquarium.

Lent Gameshow Night

2011-04-20T12:11:00.000-07:00

Thanks for an awesome and very fun night! We played Lent Squares (similar to Hollywood Squares) and Lent Catch Phrase. Check out the video for some cool pics!

RISE UP Youth Rally

2011-03-16T16:31:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we went to RISE UP Youth Rally. It was an awesome day full of faith and fun - national speakers, musicians, mens and women's sessions, and an amazing time of Adoration.

Check out some of the pics!

MAD Lab Retreat

2011-03-11T15:17:00.000-08:00

MAD stands for Make A Difference.

Through a series of fun wacky science labs, teens learned how Jesus can make a difference in their own hearts and lives. The night also included awesome games, great food, making new friends, music and prayer!

Lab Sessions:
1. "God Helps the Blind to See" - Experiments with how the eye can see
2. "God Makes Us Clean" - Dirty penny to a clean penny
3. "Rooted in God" - How fast does celery soak up water?

Check out this slideshow of pics:

RISE UP Rally 2011!!!

2011-02-28T11:00:00.000-08:00

High School teens!!! You don't want to miss out on this awesome Rally!!! Check out the promo video. There might be a few people you'll recognize:

Rise Up '11 Promo from Jason Kidd on Vimeo.

Here are a few pics from last year:

Valentine's Day Fun!!!

2011-02-28T10:44:00.000-08:00

We had a Valentine's Day cookie decorating party! It was a fun time to just chat and hang out while making delicious treats. Sometimes the best ministry is done while taking time to just sit, relax and get to know the teens and hear about their lives. Check out the pictures of our awesome creations. We have some culinary artists amongst us!

Teen Worship Bands!!!

2011-02-24T12:10:00.000-08:00

Praise and worship music is a lot of fun and this year our teens have become to form their own praise and worship bands. They play at Youth Group as well as at the Youth Mass and they sound awesome! Every time I practice with them I am just bursting with pride at their enthusiasm and talent that they share with their community.

Here are some video clips from a praise and worship session during a Youth Night. The songs were, "Trading My Sorrows" and "Lean on Me."

Some of our Hispanic teens have also started a teen band and will soon be playing at the Spanish Mass. They have lots of energy and sound great! Check out the photos!

Whoaa!!!

2011-02-07T10:39:00.000-08:00

Howdy everyone!

I can't believe it's February already!!! Check out this slideshow of our New Years Kick-off Night as well as our Ask Fr. Jeff Night.

For Ask Fr. Jeff night, the teens get a chance to ask any questions they have about faith, God, or whatever else! It's a lot of fun and very insightful!

"Why do Catholics go to Confession?"
"Why did you decide to become a priest?"

Hmmm...

New Years Youth Group Kick-off!!!

2011-01-06T10:55:00.000-08:00

We're back!

Don't forget that Youth Group kicks off with an awesome Youth Night this Sunday January 9th! We'll have music, games, snacks, and always lots of fun!

See you there!

Flash Countdown

Blazer Game!!!

2010-12-23T13:37:00.000-08:00

I love going to see a live basketball game! There's just so much energy and excitement! Last Friday we took some teens to go watch the Blazers game. It was an awesome, action-filled game and the Blazers ended up scoring over 100 points. Any time that happens they give out coupons for free chalupas at Taco Bell. So guess where we went after the game?! Check out the pics below.

Portland Service Trip

2010-12-22T12:26:00.000-08:00

Thanks to all who helped out with our "Make A Difference" hats and socks drive. We had so many items to give away! The Youth Group wrapped them up into presents and last Saturday we handed them out to the homeless in downtown Portland. A lot of the teens mentioned that it felt good to give out the presents because they felt they were making a difference in another person's life, even if it was only a small gesture. Some of the homeless people we met were so happy to see us and were so thankful for receiving even just a pair of gloves or socks. They were all so nice and joyful as well. It's amazing to see all the hardships they have to go through and yet they are still able to be so joyful. The whole trip was such a cool experience and helped us all to really appreciate the many blessings in our own lives.

Check out the video of some of the pictures:

NCCYM New Orleans

2010-12-16T09:54:00.000-08:00

Last week I was fortunate enough to attend The National Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry in New Orleans. NCCYM is a conference for Youth Ministers and Youth Leaders. Some of the speakers and performers included Steve Angrisano, Mike Patin, Mark Hart, Jessie Manibusan, Fr. Larry Richards, Apex, and Jackie Francois. Twenty one Youth Ministers from the Portland Archdiocese attended and there were over 2,500 attendees at the Conference from all over the U.S.

It was a great experience to hear national speakers, get updated on current youth ministry trends, and network with other youth ministers. I took several workshops on youth ministry as well as college and young adult ministry. It was very refreshing and rejuvenating to be part of the conference!

The entire conference was infused with New Orleans style music, culture, and hospitality! This video clip is from the opening ceremonies:

Nothing like an energetic gospel choir to wake you up in the morning:

I also had a little bit of time to explore the city and sample some local treats and creole specialty foods like gumbo, jambalaya, turtle soup, po boys (big sandwiches), and more! New Orleans (or as the locals call it, N'awlins) is full of culture and history. Everywhere we walked in the French Quarter there were street musicians and restaurants playing lively jazz music.

Thanksgiving Festivities!

2010-11-22T14:29:00.000-08:00

Loving God, we give you thanks for your indescribable gifts to us.
Open our hearts to the needs of the poor, the lonely,
and the sick this Thanksgiving season.
Help us to receive and share your love
with everyone we encounter.
Thank you for all you do for us.
Help us to be people who live a life of gratitude
and send us out to be a blessing of love to a world in need.

Have a great Thanksgiving weekend everyone! Enjoy the snow, spend time with family and friends, and eat lots of good food!

Check out some pics of our awesome Thanksgiving social.

Pancakes Anyone?

2010-11-22T13:52:00.000-08:00

Thanks to all the wonderful people who helped out at the pancake breakfast! Check out this cool video of the event:

A Saintly Celebration

2010-11-01T12:10:00.000-07:00

Pics from our All Saints/All Souls/World Youth Day Celebration last Youth Group! Thanks for a fun time!

Happy All Saints Day!

If they had facebook back then...

2010-10-25T17:12:00.000-07:00

This was from our night about early Christianity. Want to learn more about Paul and the apostles? Check out the book of Acts in the Bible!

Early Chrisitanity Fb

Make A Difference Kick-Off

2010-09-20T12:21:00.000-07:00

What an awesome time at our kick-off last night! It's great to see our Youth Center packed with teens! Check out the pics below.

See ya next Sunday!

Youth Group Kick-off!!!

2010-09-14T15:24:00.000-07:00

Don't miss out on our Youth Group Kick-off this Sunday!!! We'll have pizza, games, and lots of fun activities!

This year our theme is "Make a Difference." What are ways you can make a difference in yourself? Your family? Your School? Your community? Your relationship with Jesus?

BEACH!!!

2010-09-14T15:23:00.000-07:00

Check out the pics from the Beach Trip last weekend!

Steubenville NW rocks!!!

2010-08-04T15:06:00.001-07:00

Steubenville NW was amazing!!! On Thursday we visited Silverwood Theme Park and went on roller coasters, water slides, and amusement rides to our heart’s content. That night we came back to the church we were spending the night and hung out with teens from other parishes. We had a little impromtu praise and worship and some of the other parishes joined us. Mucho divertido!

Friday we went to downtown Spokane and explored Riverfront park before we headed to Gonzaga to check into our dorms. At the Conference there was lots of singing, cool speakers, adoration, and of course tons of energy emitting throughout the room from the hundreds of teens present.

Saturday was full of more conference sessions, speakers, some cool entertainment, and workshops. That night was a powerful adoration experience. The priest brought the monstrance out and walked amongst the rows of people so that everyone could get a chance to worship Jesus in a closer and more intimate way.

On Sunday there were some men and women sessions, a final general session and a Mass to end the weekend. We headed for home taking with us the awesome experiences that were had throughout the trip. Check out our pics and videos to see what an amazing journey it was!

For the Steubenville NW Pics click here.

Here’s some videos to give you a taste of the fun!

VBS 2010

2010-08-03T12:08:00.000-07:00

Vacation Bible School rocked this year! Thanks to all our teen leaders who helped make it such a great experience for the kids.

All week at VBS, teens helped with music, skits, crafts, snacks, games, etc. Check out these videos of some of the awesome songs they did.

Summer Update

2010-07-15T10:27:00.001-07:00

Wow it’s been awhile since I’ve written. May was a blur of activity with Confirmation and finishing out the 09/10 Youth Group year.
In June we began to prepare and practice for Vacation Bible School, learning fun songs and skits. At the end of June several of our teens were selected to attend CLI (Christian Leadership Institute) which is a teen leadership camp. These teens learned some amazing skills that are applicable not only in the parish but at school and work as well. If you’re getting “I feel…when…because…” statements, you may be encountering a CLI teen ; )

CLI helps bring teens into leadership roles at Youth Group nights as well as various ministries at St. Anthony’s. It also helps teens grow in their faith and teaches them how to become better Christian leaders. It is an awesome opportunity for our teens! An article was written about CLI in the Catholic Sentinel. You can read about it here.

I can’t believe it is already the middle of July! I just got back from a trip to Hong Kong and China! It was an amazing adventure. If you want to see pics of my trip I’ll be adding them on facebook soon.
Vacation Bible School is next week and it looks like it’s going to be an exciting one! Who could resist helping kids make crafts, snacks, play games, and learn about Jesus? If you still want to help out we would love to have some more teen volunteers! And every day after VBS there is a special lunch and hangout time (12pm-1pm) for all teen leaders. Don’t miss out on the fun!

Youth Pilgrimage 2010!!!

2010-05-12T15:32:00.000-07:00

Hey ya'll
In April we went on a Youth Pilgrimage from the Grotto in NE Portland to St. Mary's Cathedral in NW Portland. It was a 6 mile walk that was filled with lots of adventure, faith, and fellowship - not to mention a bit of rain. It was an awesome experience and we got to hear music from Johannin as well as Jackie Francois. Our teens even got to participate in the procession of the Pilgrimage cross. It was cool seeing hundreds of Catholic teens from all over Oregon participating in the Pilgrimage. Check out the slideshow!

RISE UP Youth Rally

2010-05-10T16:27:00.000-07:00

So this is a little late but here it is! These are pics from an awesome Youth Rally we went to in April. The Band was the Ike Ndolo Band. They rock!

Help Spread the Word! H2O!!!

2010-04-15T13:41:00.000-07:00

We now have a special St. Anthony's Youth Group profile page to have friends, family, and parishioners donate to the water project as well. Here's a link to the profile. Feel free to share this webpage with anyone you know that would be interested in helping bring clean water to people that need it!

St. Anthony's Charity Water Profile Page

H2O Project

2010-04-14T12:12:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! This Sunday we are going to be learning about the H2O Project.

Did you know that over 1 billion people lack access to clean water?

What if the only way to get water for drinking, cleaning, and bathing was like this?:

Did you know that every 15 seconds someone dies of water related diseases?

Did you know that you can help make a difference in the world? Check out this video:

What can YOU do to help? Come to Youth Group and find out!

Bowling Night and Happy Easter!

2010-03-31T10:56:00.001-07:00

Hope you all had an awesome spring break! Here is a short video of Spring Break bowling night.

Have a wonderful and blessed Easter!!!
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him."
~ John 3:16-17

"Joyful Noise" High School Retreat

2010-02-25T14:06:00.000-08:00

This weekend was our High School retreat in Newport. The retreat was called, "Joyful Noise" and was all about the psalms in the Bible. Not only did we learn about David and the psalms he wrote, we also learned how prayer can come in many forms including music, adoration, praise, traditional prayer, reflection and meditation. Each psalm in the Bible expresses different emotions and reflect the joys and struggles we face today. Check back for a slideshow of pics from the retreat. In the meantime, here are a few videos of some prayers in rap forms. Enjoy!

ICE Middle School Retreat

2010-02-25T13:51:00.000-08:00

Howdy!

Sorry it's been so long since I've posted! But that's because there has been a lot going on in our program lately. Last weekend we were in Newport for the High School Retreat (blog article soon to come) and the weekend before that was our middle school night retreat.

ICE Middle School Retreat

Check out some pics from our awesome middle school retreat. The theme was ICE, which stands for Illuminating Christ Everyday. We learned all about what it means to shine our light for others and be a witness of Christ to the world. We played fun games, heard some cool talks from the leaders, had small groups, pizza, snacks and made new friends. Thanks to all the teens that went! I had a blast!!!

New Year Kick-off

2010-01-11T16:04:00.001-08:00

Welcome back to Youth Group! Last night we kicked off the New Youth Group Year with pizza, games, and Bible Jeopardy. Check out the pics from the Ice breaker, "Deal or no Deal," in which contestants had to choose to take a small consolation prize or take on the challenge for each round.

Round 1: Standing on one foot for the duration of the entire announcements.

Round 2: Eat a mixture of random foods...Mmmm

Round 3: Putt the egg in the cup without cracking it.

Too bad it cracked!

And it's in!!!

And of course Bible Jeopardy (with a few fun additions) was very epic and full of high energy. In the craziness we forgot to take some pics. Oh well!

See you next week at Youth Group!

Portland Service Trip

2009-12-28T11:28:00.000-08:00

The Saturday before Christmas, we took a group of teens to Portland for a service trip. With Santa hats and bags full of wrapped mittens, socks, hats and scarves, we walked around downtown Portland and handed out our presents to the homeless. The teens were surprised at how many people there were who were in need of such simple items like socks and mittens. It was a very meaningful time for everyone and those from our group kept talking about how good it felt to make a difference in so many people's lives.

Ice Skating Trip

2009-12-28T11:25:00.000-08:00

As promised, here are the ice skating pics...

A Video Christmas Card for You!

2009-12-23T13:18:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas everyone!!! Have a great holiday! See you all in the new year! Check back soon for pics from ice skating as well as the Portland Service trip.

Relient K & Toby Mac Concert. Woot Woot!

2009-12-14T11:43:00.000-08:00

Last night we went to the Relient K & Toby Mac Concert. It was an awesome time and we all had a blast. My favorite was Toby Mac. His performance is always fun, energetic and makes you want to dance. Check out the pics!

Sorry, my camera is not good at taking pics in the dark so you can't see the stage so well in these. Oh well.

waiting...preparing...hoping...

2009-12-03T12:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Advent everyone! Seriously, where did November go? I hope all of you are staying healthy and keeping up with school, sports, and other activities. It’s a busy time of the year, but don’t worry, Christmas break is almost here!

I remember my senior year of high school I spent my entire Christmas break filling out college applications and writing scholarship essays. Those were fun times (not really :P). I had to do it because going to college was important to me. I wanted to get into a good school and I wanted to make sure I could pay for it too! I’m sure many of our lovely seniors are going through a similar time of preparation, whether it be college applications or figuring out what you want to do after high school. It takes a lot of work but in the end you know it’ll be worth it and your hard work will pay off.

In the season of Advent, we encounter a similar situation. But instead of graduation day, we have an even greater day ahead of us…Christmas! A day of celebration for the birth of our savior Jesus. This date also requires a lot of preparation as we await the coming of Christ. You wouldn’t wait until the day before graduation to fill out your college applications would you? Nor would you wait until the night before a European vacation to prepare for your trip. Would you wait until an hour before an extremely hard test to study? Would you wait until 5 minutes before the homecoming dance to get ready? My point is that there are many things in life that we have to prepare for and if it is important to us, we make the effort to complete those preparations.

Advent is all about preparation and it is also about hope. We know that Jesus will come again but we do not know when. Yet, we wait in hopeful anticipation for the time that we will one day be with Christ.

"But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be watchful! Be Alert! You do not know when the time will come." ~Mark 13: 32-33

Is your Advent season filled with hope and joy? If Jesus came right now at this very minute, would you be ready to greet him?

Giving Thanks

2009-11-24T12:51:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

What are you thankful for?

Hope you have a wonderful time with family and friends. I am so thankful for the community at St. Anthony's and all the awesome teens and their parents. See you all back in December for our last Youth Night of the year!

Heavenly Father, on Thanksgiving Day
We bow our hearts to you and pray.
We give you thanks for all you've done
Especially for the gift of Jesus, your son.
For beauty in nature, your glory we see
For joy and health, friends and family,
For daily provision, your mercy and care
These are the blessing you graciously share.
So today we offer this response of praise
With a promise to follow you all our days.

~Mary Fairchild

Youth Group Update

2009-11-09T12:16:00.001-08:00

Hey everyone!
Last night's youth group was awesome! Thanks for all who helped out and participated!

At the Edge night we had some special guests who were parishioners from St. Anthony's community. The middle schoolers got to hear some personal stories from the parishioners where they shared about their faith and why being involved in a church community has helped them grow closer to God. Then the teens got a chance to interview them about their lives and their faith. Finally, at the end of the night for a fun activity the teens got a chance to make popcorn balls with our guests! One of my goals for youth ministry has always been to connect the youth to the parish community because I believe that teens can learn and grow by getting to know the people in their community. Parishioners of all generations have a lot to offer our teens and we are all, as a church, called to minister to our teens.

The Life Teen night was called, "Poor Me" and was all about issues on homelessness and social justice. Some of our teens shared their experiences of immersion trips and service trips to Portland and how they've learned to be more compassionate and caring towards homeless people. It is amazing to see the growth and transformation in many of our teens! I challenged all of them at the end of the night to take action by helping others in need. By simply getting involved in service projects to help others they can change lives!

St. Anthony's Youth Group is starting a service project to collect socks, hats, and mittens to give out to the homeless in downtown Portland. See Portland Service Trip for the blog article on last year's experiences. If you can help out in any way that would help us greatly! Bring any new hats, mittens, and socks to the marked boxes at the Church or Office by December 6th. Thank you in advance for your kindness and support!

This holiday season your challenge is to make a difference in the lives of others. Remember that Christ calls us to serve and put others first. With the Advent season coming up I though I'd share this video which I found very inspirational and I hope you enjoy it!

All Saints Day

2009-10-28T14:57:00.000-07:00

This Sunday is All Saints Day. There are a multitude of saints who have inspired us to live as better people and to give our lives to Christ. Who has been your inspiration? If you have a favorite saint, email me who it is and why you admire them.

Personally, I have always liked St. Therese of Lisieux (above pic). I remember reading a story that told of her life as a young girl. She used to wear a bracelet of beads she called a "sacrifice bracelet." Every time she did a small deed or kind action in secret, she would move one of the beads over a knot in the string. Her goal was to move all the beads on the strand over the knot by the end of the day. Therese always believed in doing the ordinary, with extraordinary love. Often times, saints are depicted as super holy and perfect people, but St. Therese shows us that even doing the small things can make a big difference in our lives and the people around us.

Happy All Saints Day!

Cool Vid

2009-10-14T10:22:00.000-07:00

A cool video one of my friends posted on facebook.

website treasure hunt

2009-09-24T10:03:00.000-07:00

Hey Youth Groupies!

The first 3 people to email me the answer to this question will win a free pass to go ice skating at Lloyd center! Here's what you do: Go to the St. Anthony's website:

http://www.stanthonysforestgrove.org/

and click on the youth ministry tab. Check the calendar between the months of September-November for an answer to this question:

Where in the Bible can you find this verse?: "For our God is a Consuming Fire."

Ready...set...go!

"Fire of Love" Youth Group Kick-off

2009-09-22T16:45:00.000-07:00

Hey! Check out the photos from the Youth Group Kick-off!!!

Did you miss out on the fun? Don't worry, we still have plenty of cool things planned for this year. We'll see ya Sunday night!

Coming Soon...

2009-09-02T10:57:00.001-07:00

"Fire of Love"

Are you burning with with God's fire of love? What does that even mean? Come learn about God's "Fire of Love" this year at Youth Group. Our Edge and Life Teen Youth Group kick-off is September 20th at 7:00pm. Pizza, games, faith, friends and lots of fun!

In the meantime you can check out this song "Consuming Fire"

Steuebenville NW 09

2009-08-10T17:32:00.000-07:00

Last week I went with 3 adults and 11 of our teens to an awesome spiritual and inspiring Youth Conference called Steubenville NW. The first part of our journey started with a fun-filled day at Silverwood Theme Park with roller coasters, water slides, and cotton candy. Later that evening we ended the night with some praise and worship with a few youth groups from the Portland area. The next day we headed to Gonzaga University where Steubenville NW was being held. Throughout the weekend we heard from inspirational speakers, went to men’s and women’s sessions about chastity, had some cool entertainment, went to workshops, sang lots of praise and worship music, celebrated Mass and experienced Adoration.

That first night at the Conference, seeing over a thousand people praying, singing, and worshiping God was incredible to behold. When the monstrance was brought out for Adoration, it was a beautiful and amazing spiritual experience. Teens and adults alike were encouraged to encounter God through prayer in a deeper way than ever before. The second night built on the first, moving from more upbeat praise and worship music to more reflective prayer and singing. This time, the priest carrying the monstrance moved around the entire arena slowly, giving people near the monstrance a chance to reach out to Jesus in adoration, worship and prayer. Deeply moved by the grace and love that God gives us through the sacrifice of His son, I felt in awe of the presence of God in that room. Later that night, our group had a chance to reflect and share our experiences of that adoration time. Many teens felt renewed in their faith and had encountered God in a way they had never experienced before. Some teens also felt the call to change the way they lived their life. The Holy Spirit was working within us that weekend and I hope will continue to guide our teens to a deeper conversion to Christ.

If you didn’t get a chance to come with us, we’ll be going again next summer! Don’t miss out on an amazing fun and faith-filled trip!

Vacation Bible School

2009-07-09T15:54:00.000-07:00

This has been an awesome week for me. There has been a great group of teens helping out this summer at Vacation Bible School. They've been leading the songs, skits, and helping with games, crafts, snacks, etc. It has been amazing to see the excitement and enthusiasm they bring, making the camp so full of energy and fun! If you helped out at VBS this summer, THANK YOU! I have gotten so many compliments and praises about all the teen leaders. I am so proud of everyone! Here are a few pics and videos to get a glimpse of the week so far. For more pictures, check out St. Anthony's website:

http://www.stanthonysforestgrove.org/

Bored?

2009-06-30T12:51:00.000-07:00

Are you bored this summer and have nothing to do? You can always come hang out at the Youth Office at St. Anthony's. I'll find something fun for you to do!

This week we are practicing for VBS on Tuesday and Thursday from 4-6pm, and on Wednesday we are having a Youth Center Cleaning Party from 2-5pm. There will be snacks, music, and fun. You won't even notice you're cleaning ;)

See the past post about Vacation Bible School and get involved in the action. We have a lot of fun throughout the entire week. Just send me an email or give me a call and I'll fill you in on the details.

Catch ya later!

How's Your Summer?

2009-06-30T12:21:00.000-07:00

Aloha!
Hope you've been enjoying your summer so far!

For the last two weeks I've out of the office, first at a teen leadership camp called CLI and then last week I was in Hawaii. Hawaii was awesome!!! If you ever get the chance to go you should definitely do it. Here's a pic of me at the top of Diamond Head overlooking the island of Oahu.

And CLI (Christian Leadership Institute) is an amazing experience for all the teens who attend!!! This year we had several teens from youth group who went. They learned various leadership skills, learned how to plan prayer services and liturgies, grew in their faith, and developed lasting friendships with teens from all over Oregon. These pics were from a challenging obstacle course that required a lot of teamwork and effort.

Throughout the week all the teens grew more confident in their skills, and felt empowered to go back to their churches and use the gifts they have been given to serve God. Thanks to the teens who went to CLI. You are Awesome!!!

Help With Vacation Bible School

2009-05-28T15:14:00.000-07:00

Vacation Bible School is a kid's summer camp. This year it will be from July 6-10th. If you haven't been involved in this event before, this is a "must do" activity for the summer. Teens and adults alike come together for a week to help kids grow in their faith and love for God. There's Bible stories, games, snacks, crafts and of course lots of fun songs and skits.

Calling all Teens!!!
If you like working with kids you will love being a VBS Teen Leader. You can help out in many ways including leading songs, acting in skits, being teacher assistants, helping with snacks or crafts, decorating and much more! Last year was tons of fun for all the teens involved. Don't miss out! Sign up today!

Plus for all the teen leaders, we have a special lunch and game time after each day of the VBS week. We hang out in the Youth Center from noon-1pm.

Check out a video of some of our teens leading the kids in a fun song:

Here comes summer!!! (almost)

2009-05-21T14:35:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone!

Yes I know it's been awhile since I've posted. Spring is a busy time for Youth Ministry. Here's what we've been up to: High School Beach Retreat, Fundraising for Steubenville NW, youth yardwork days, Decade Dance, volunteering at Blanchet House (soup Kitchen in Portland), and of course finishing up with our year long Confirmation Program. We had 23 awesome teens Confirmed this year. Congratulations to those teens on their commitment to their faith and lifelong journey with Jesus. Don't forget to keep on using those gifts that you have received from God to help serve in the parish and the community.

As we near the end of the school year we come to a close with our regular Sunday Youth Nights. However, our program doesn't stop for the summer! We have activities and events all summer long for you to participate and build relationships with other teens at the Church. We welcome incoming 7th graders through graduating seniors at all our summer youth events. You are always more than welcome to bring a friend as well! Check out the summer calendar to find out how you can get in on the action!

http://www.stanthonysforestgrove.org/Youth%20Group%20Home/YouthMinistry.htm

And if you enjoy reading this Blog, you should think about becoming a youth group blogger. I will be looking for teens and parents to write articles throughout the year. Let me know if you'd be interested!

Deborah

Easter Greetings

2009-04-09T18:19:00.000-07:00

Have a wonderful Holy Week and a Blessed Easter!

For those of you who use facebook (or at least know what facebook is), check this out. What if Jesus had a facebook page?

http://eugenecho.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/facebookpassion.pdf

Spring Retreat at Newport

2009-04-08T15:26:00.000-07:00

We headed to Newport, Oregon last weekend to stay at the retreat house at Sacred Heart Parish (a much requested retreat spot by the teens!). The theme for the retreat was "Unstoppable." Teens learned about the conversion of Saul, later named Paul, and his life story and mission for God.

Teens listened to talks by leaders, discussed their faith in small groups, sang praise and worship music, experienced Adoration, and were given an opportunity to participate in the Sacrament of Confession. The retreat ended back at St. Anthony's with the Life Teen Mass. Throughout the weekend teens learned what it means to be unstoppable in our faith, as well as how God is Unstoppable in His love for us.

This was a great retreat for me. It is an awesome experience to get to know the teens more, share my faith with them, and (hopefully) make a difference in their lives. Thanks for all the leaders who helped out this weekend and to all those that were praying for us!

May you always be unstoppable in living out your lives for Jesus Christ.

Immersion Retreat

2009-03-10T15:37:00.000-07:00

Immersion Retreat 2009

Last weekend the Youth Group went on an Immersion Retreat in Portland. We got to learn about issues on homelessness and what it’s like to be homeless and living in Portland. We ate at a place called Blanchet House where they serve free meals daily. We socialized with homeless people and got to hear their stories. Many of us were very nervous to talk to the homeless because we were unsure of what to say or if we would have anything in common, but after talking with many homeless individuals throughout the day we were all able to get over our fears and feel more comfortable speaking to them. Many teens reflected on the fact that the homeless are people too, and that they deserve the same respect and dignity that any human being needs.

Here are a few teens who wished to shared their experience:

“I thought the Immersion retreat was a great heart reaching, eye opening experience, I learned that everyone is the same no matter where they come from, we are still the same on the inside as we are on the outside. We shouldn’t judge because in the end these people are great people and they're so nice and welcoming no matter what they’ve been through, they still have self dignity and are happy to be who they are.”

“On the Immersion retreat, I learned that the people who are homeless and on the street cannot be stereotyped. They are all different. You can't say that they are all homeless because of ongoing addictions to drugs or alcohol, as we met people who, if they had made that mistake, wanted to correct it. There were also people who did have these addictions, however, so you can't say that homelessness was a cold turkey diet from their addictions. But, they are all people, just like you and me.”

Blazer Game and Concert!

2009-02-18T13:03:00.000-08:00

St. Anthony's Youth Group is going to see a Blazer game!!! Woo hoo!!! There will also be a special concert afterward by Christian artist Aaron Shust.

We'll be going Friday March 13th. If you want to go, get a permission slip at Youth Group. Cost is only $15/person and we have a limited amount of tickets so turn in your forms today to get a spot!

Check out this You Tube video for a sample of Aaron Shust's music

Steubenville NW...Don't miss out!!!

2009-02-04T10:10:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone!!!
Our Youth Group will be traveling to Spokane, WA this summer for the Steubenville NW Youth Conference on July 29th - August 2nd. This trip is open to graduating 8th graders - graduating seniors. Save the dates and get ready for an awesome trip full of fun, friendship, and getting excited about God and your faith. Check out this promo video to get a taste of what the weekend will be like.

We will also be traveling to an awesome theme park called Silverwood. Check out the cool rides and water slides!

http://www.silverwoodthemepark.com/

Don't miss out on this great adventure! Hear more details at Youth Group or attend a parent informational meeting on February 8th from 4:45-5:15pm in the Youth Center.

Youth Group New Years Kick-off!

2009-01-05T12:05:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

The year 2009 is upon us. Time to catch up on holiday stories with good friends, eat some good food, and enjoy a night of faith and fun. Don't miss our Youth Group Kick-off for the New Year on Sunday, January 11th from 7-8:30pm in the Youth Center.

PIZZA! GAMES! FUN! FAITH! FRIENDS! PRIZES!

2008 Recap

2008-12-30T13:52:00.001-08:00

St. Anthony’s Youth Ministry Program has been very active this year! As summer moved into Fall, the Youth Group kicked-off this year with the theme, “Rooted in Christ.” With the Life Teen Program for High School and the Edge Program for Jr. High School the Youth Center is always packed with teens on Youth Nights! And of course this program could not happen without the help of the Jr. High and High School Leadership Teams. To all the leaders of youth group, thank you so much for your dedication. It is such a blessing!

Our Youth Ministry Program includes several retreats throughout the year. These Retreats are opportunities for teens to become closer to God, grow in their faith and build community with other Catholic teens. Last January the teens attended a Fire and Ice Retreat in the beautiful Retreat Center in Mt. Angel. In the Spring was a 14 mile Pilgrimage from Holy Rosary Mission to Mt. Angel. Later in the Spring we had a Lock-in where teens stay up all night long doing activities including a teaching Mass, guitar hero, praise and worship, group games, a talent show, and plenty more throughout the night. This Fall we had a High School Reach Retreat and a Jr. High Ropes Retreat. The Reach Retreat was put on by a team of Catholic young adults that travel all throughout the US. The Ropes Retreat was held at Camp Yamhill and helped teens build community with each other in a faith environment doing activities such as an outdoor obstacle course.

Steubenville NW, a Youth Conference with dynamic speakers, praise and worship, Adoration, workshops, and fun games, was the highlight of the year for many teens. As the Steubenville NW trip drew closer, many of our teens worked hard to raise money. Some of the fundraisers included the Youth Yard Work Day, a dance, as well as a pop can drive. Their hard efforts paid off and they were able to pay for a substantial amount of the costs! The trip was a powerful experience for all that went.

Summer time can be just as busy as the school year! Some of our fun summer events included roller skating, bowling, games nights, movie nights, guitar class, and a beach trip. Also during the summer some of our teens attended a Christian Leadership Camp where they learned leadership skills and came back with a burning desire to become more involved at the parish. This year many teens have stepped up to help out with activities at youth group. It’s a wonderful thing to watch their confidence grow in using their gifts to serve God. And there are plenty of opportunities for teens to become involved in the parish community. The rummage sale, Mexican Dinner, Bazaar, Advent Event, Italian Dinner and Vacation Bible School are all events that teens have had fun volunteering at. Teens have also taken roles at Mass such as Servers, Lectors, Ushers, Greeters, Eucharistic Ministers and Musicians. Kudos for getting involved in your Church!

Thanks to all the teens for a great year! Thanks for your enthusiasm and fun energy! You are awesome!!!

And thanks to all the parents and parishioners that are so supportive of our Youth Ministry Program!

Have a blessed new year that’s full of laugher and smiles!

Deborah

Portland Service Trip

2008-12-10T17:08:00.000-08:00

Walking around in our Ugg boots, Vans, Air Jordan 1 sneakers, or whatever favorite shoes happen to be warming our feet today, there’s probably something we don’t think too often about…the socks that keep our feet so cozy!

How many would consider socks to be a valuable item?

Last Saturday, several teens and adults from St. Anthony’s walked the streets of Portland to deliver care packages made by the Youth Group the previous week. These packages consisted of many items including toiletries, snack bars, hats, socks, scarves, and gloves. (Thanks to the Parish for so many generous donations!) Toting a red wagon full of brightly colored packages and carrying several shopping bags of presents as well, we set off to hand them out to anyone that wanted one.

Our encounter with the homeless was almost immediate. As people eyed our packages we offered them happily with a “Merry Christmas!” as we gave several away. They were so grateful and pleasantly surprised that we had come just to give presents to them.

We met various types of people on our trip. Some we visited with at their “dwelling”; a bed of blankets on the sidewalk. Some we chatted with at the Blanchet House (soup kitchen), or the Sisters of the Road Café (café that serves inexpensive meals). Others we met on the streets as we made our way around Burnside. Everyone had their own story to tell and it really hit home the message which we sometimes forget: the homeless are regular people too and they deserve as much love and dignity as anyone else.

All of us who experienced this trip came back with a deeper understanding of Jesus’ call to help those in need. After seeing several of the shelters and soup kitchens in the area, many teens wanted to come back to volunteer some time at these places.

With everyone we met, the one question they kept asking was, “Do you have any socks?” By the third or forth time this was asked I began to realize how important socks were to a homeless person. How come I never realized that before? Socks are used everyday and can get worn out fairly fast. Socks keep the feet warm which keeps the body warm. Socks are a big deal!

Sometimes we take the littlest things for granted. Sometimes we want so many materialistic items that we loose sight of how much the little things in our lives give us so much comfort. So don’t forget to thank God for all the wonderful blessings in your life! We have much to be appreciative of!

Lord help us to live simply, so that others may simply live.

Advent!

2008-12-02T12:31:00.000-08:00

It’s that time of year again for Christmas cookies, caroling, cocoa, and good holiday cheer! Anyone brave the crowded shops on Black Friday? Although I didn’t wake up at 4am to rush to the Mall, I did go shopping later on during the day. Everywhere I went there were all types of people starting their Christmas shopping. Long lines were inevitable!

And although it’s fun to enjoy the holiday hustle and bustle, sing Christmas songs (finally!), and maybe enjoy a warm Starbucks drink, we also have to remember that this is not only the start of the Christmas shopping season, it is also the start of Advent season.

What is Advent?
Advent is the season of waiting and preparing. We are preparing ourselves for the birth of the Son of God. Isn’t that amazing? Sometimes I don’t think we stop to realize what that means. After all, God, the all powerful and awesome King of the Universe, has taken on the form of a lowly, humble, human being. God humbled himself for our sake! And Advent is all about preparing ourselves to meet our God! How much time are we spending to prepare ourselves to come face to face with God?

In our daily lives we prepare for a variety of things: school, work, trips, parties, dates, etc. And with each of these things, if we are really excited or care enough about it, we take great care to fully prepare for it. How many of you have ever bought a new outfit for a party or maybe a date because you wanted to look your best and make a good impression? Well God has a date with us, and we know neither the day nor the hour that He will be coming. So we’ve got to prepare ourselves now for when He does come.

So don’t forget to find time for prayer and reflection this busy season! Christmas shopping is fun but remember that your presence can be a wonderful present too! Spend time with the people you love and help each other grow closer in Christ.

Happy Advent!

Busy Busy!!!

2008-11-12T14:05:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone!!!
Sorry it's been awhile since I've posted. There's been a lot going on in the past few weeks! We just had our High School Reach Retreat two weeks ago, and last week was our Jr. High Ropes Retreat. Both were awesome to attend!

The High School Retreat was put on by REACH: a team of young adults that travels around the U.S. to giving great Catholic Retreats. Retreats are always a great way for teens to make new friends and build relationships with others who share their same faith. Check out this video to get a glimpse of the weekend.

The Jr. High headed to a ropes course at Camp Yamhill where they worked on team building skills as well as mastering fears and helping each other reach their goals. They battled the rain to complete an obstacle course, solved puzzles together, and climbed trees and telephone poles (harnessed to a rope of course!). One girl at first refused to climb a tree, but after persuading her to at least put the harness on and climb a few steps, she climbed all the way to the top...all 120 feet!!! Anything is possible! Check out this video on the trip.

Corn Maze Trip

2008-10-28T14:57:00.000-07:00

What a perfect day for a Trip to Sauvie Island!!! We had a lot of fun getting lost in the Maze (ok maybe it was a little frustrating) and picking out pumpkins from the pumpkin patch. And of course, the caramel apples and elephant ears are always a plus!

World Youth Day

2008-10-28T14:52:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was World Youth Day. What better way to celebrate the youth in our parish than to have a night of fun games and activities!

In the Jr. High we played several games including a movie trivia game and another one called "Confusion," which turned out to be more chaos than confusion. But my team totally rocked the house with the movie trivia game! Oh yeah!

High school had a fashion design contest to design traditional costumes from around the world. Sound fun? The challenge was that the only supplies to be used were newspaper, tissue paper and tape. A fashion show was held at the end to display each team's creations. Watch out fashion world! These designs are gonna bring on the competition!

Free Rice

2008-10-16T14:31:00.000-07:00

As a tribute to last year's night on Social Justice, I'm posting the link to the free rice website all of you couldn't stop talking about. This is a website where you can improve your vocabulary skills by playing a game...ANNNNND at the same time you earn rice that will be donated to countries in great need.

http://freerice.com/

Try it! It's addicting!

Bowling Night!!!

2008-10-07T20:28:00.001-07:00

This summer we went bowling and had an awesome time. Here's a slide show of some of the pics. Enjoy!

Community Night

2008-09-30T17:23:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday both Edge and Life Teen spent a night on Community. So what did we do? We built community of course! Life Teen even did a blindfolded scavenger hunt (pics coming soon!)where teens had to guide their blindfolded partner to collect objects. It was all about building trust and forming friendships.

One of the best things I remember about high school was having a community of friends who had the same faith and values as I did. I loved coming to youth group because I felt like they were my second family. I felt a deeper connection to my friends at church than my friends from school.

Here at St. Anthony's we want you to feel at home and comfortable. This is a safe place to share your faith and grow closer to God. After all, the theme for this year is, "Rooted in Christ." So let those roots grow deep!

Have a great week!

Youth Band Practice

2008-09-29T17:02:00.000-07:00

Here's a little clip of Youth Band practice. These are awesome teens who use their musical gifts to serve at Church. Wanna join the Youth Band? They play every fourth Sunday at the Life Teen Mass. Contact Deborah if you are interested.

Kick-Off...check

2008-09-22T14:44:00.000-07:00

It was great to see everyone who showed up yesterday for an awesome Life Teen and Edge Kick-Off!!! Come back next week for a fun night entitled, "Community." What does that mean exactly? You'll just have to find out! In the meantime, check out this computer game from the Life Teen website:

http://www.lifeteen.com/default.aspx?PageID=GAMES

Have fun! See ya next Sunday!

Youth Group Rocks!!!

2008-09-17T16:43:00.000-07:00

If you're new to Youth Group come check us out! Bring a friend if you want. Be sure to bookmark this blog to check back for updates and cool posts.

Welcome to St. Anthony's Youth Group!!!

2008-09-10T17:06:00.000-07:00

You have reached the blog for St. Anthony's Youth Group. Our Youth Group has two programs. The EDGE is for Jr. High (7-8th grade), and LIFE TEEN is for high school (9-12th grade). On this blog you'll find updates on events that are happening during the year, cool music videos, stories from youth nights, etc. Feel free to comment or send me ideas of something you want to put up on the blog.