PLUS

Silent Auction Presented by
St. Mary’s Youth Group
Friday April 30 – 4:30 to 7:00 p.m.
St. Mary’s School Auditorium
For Tickets Call:
Bernice and Brian O’Neill at 324-7098
Jim Callaghan at 324-7936
Wylie Suggitt at 324-0225
Larry McLaughlin at 324-9441
The Rectory Office at 324-4828
Admission:
$15 per person / $40 per family
(Tickets also available at the door)
Volunteers needed call 705-324-7098

VEYO is organizing a bus for those that wish to travel to the event for the cost of $12 per person.

We ask that you purchase your own tickets for the rally at Youth ($10) and Adult tickets ($19) which are available at www.lift-jesus-higher-rally.org, or pdkromer@rogers.com, or by calling 905-270-2510.

For more information contact the VEYO Centre at 705-749-0330 or email, veyo@veyopeterboro.org

They will be in St. Thomas Aquinas High School on Monday January 9th to give retreats for the grade 11 and 12′s and they will be giving a retreat for grade 7 students at St. Mary’s Catholic Elementary School on Tuesday January 10th.

We are excited to have this dynamic and engaging group of young people in our Parish for these two days as they enrich the spiritual lives of our young people using music, games, skits, prayer and personal testimonies.

Pope John Paul II did the first one and did an amazing job.

On November 12 at the 5:00 p.m. Mass, St. Dominic students and teachers will be doing the music and the ministries at the mass. T

his is a great way to help our parish faith community to grow together as one family.

Please invite your family and friends to this exciting liturgy.

Please continue to pray for our students, teachers and families.

Dear Members of St. Mary’s Parish,

It is a great and wonderful joy to be named the new youth minister for this parish. I look forward to the coming week and months to meeting and getting to know all of you.

Before we do, perhaps a few words about myself and where I come from and how I got here.

I was born and raised in Pickering, ON; a city famous mainly for its nuclear power plant and the fact you have to drive through it on the way to Toronto. I was by no means raised in a religious household. My mom took the summers off from mass and my dad was not even baptized until six months before his passing. No matter who we are or where we come from, God always finds a way to connect and as I grew older I found myself becoming closer to God, with the help of some great spiritual mentors.

Eventually I felt that God was calling me to become a priest. After completing a degree in History and Sociology at Trent University, I enrolled in theology courses at St. Augustine Seminary with the ultimate plan of entering Holy Orders.

But, as they say, the source of all God’s laughter is plans.

Fairly soon I met a girl and fell in love. After much prayer and reflection, I decided to leave the path to the priesthood and search out other avenues to participate in the only plan that matters, namely, God’s.

I have since gone to teacher’s college at Queen’s and finishing up a Master’s degree in theology at the University of Toronto.

I truly believe it is providence that has brought me here to Lindsay, to work for Father Tom, a spiritual mentor for over ten years, and to continue Brad’s great work, a friend and colleague for eight years.

Going forward, as excited and full of energy as I am, I know that I cannot do it alone. One person does not a youth ministry make. It takes an entire parish, youth and adults alike. I truly believe that together we can make youth ministry at St. Mary’s something to be proud of.

I look forward to meeting all of you. If you see me around the Church or on the street, please do not hesitate to introduce yourselves, say hello and even have a chat.

In Christ,

Brian James

The candidate would be expected to formulate programs for four major groups – grade eight and junior high school, senior high school, college and young adults.

The person would be responsible for outreach, evangelization, catechetical and liturgical programs for youth and collaborate with schools, parish groups and staff.

The position would be open to candidates under 35, with a university degree and youth organizing and group dynamic experience. Salary is commensurate with experience.

Interested individuals can receive more information from Fr. Tom, and should apply with references to, the parish c/o Youth Coordinator Search Committee at the parish. Closing date is July 1