Hello All!
Can you believe it is already May? Spring is underway and it is certainly welcomed! Please keep all of the youth of our parish in your prayers over the next months. There is nothing so helpful as your fervent prayers.
Spring has seemed to bring out the best in the parish youth groups. Each youth group has seen an increase in members coming out, which is very exciting. The grade 6-8’s have been faithfully attending evening Mass on Wednesday each week and also helping to serve during the celebration. The monthly sports nights are still extraordinarily well attended. The high schoolers have been attending Thursday evening Mass monthly, and helped with Stations of the Cross during Lent and Holy Week. They have also helped make young boy’s shorts to be sent to Haiti for children who are in need of new clothes. The Young Adults Group is only one episode away from finishing Fr. Robert Barron’s Catholicism Series. We have all found it immensely helpful for the increase and deepening of our faith.
Recently the youth of the parish hosted another pancake breakfast as a fundraising initiative. There were 16 of us out, ranging from elementary school through to postsecondary age for the event. We made a profit of over $400! Thank you to all the parishioners who continue to support this ministry within the parish.
I would like to give a special thank you to Joanne Hough, Annette Watson, Wayne Klein, Adele Hopkins and Audrey Johnston for helping me over the past semester by making weekly soup lunches for students at Fleming College. I hope I did not miss anyone. These individual’s culinary talents were the reason for my success at Fleming.
Throughout the year I have been making monthly class visits to the Elementary schools and weekly visits to St. Thomas interacting in classes, giving lessons, visiting with students and getting to know the youth. Please pray for me, especially in these moments, that the Holy Spirit might guide me to have the correct message, right answers, and charitable approach to the students I am interacting with. This part of my ministry has by far been the most challenging, rewarding, and enjoyable part of my work. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Youth groups are continuing as normal, however the high school youth group on May 9th is cancelled because most of us will be at the March for Life in Ottawa. A quick reminder, if anyone is looking for bus ride there and back called Fr. Craig or Ben Lukow at the VEYO Office in Peterborough (705.749.0330) to reserve your spot. $20 for students, $30 for adults. I’m sure you could work out a family deal as well.
The next Sports Night for the grade 6-8 is Wednesday May 15th from 6:30-8:30pm in St. Mary’s gym.
Finally I would ask that you keep the studies of all our youth in your prayers as they begin to approach the end of their school year and in many cases their graduation.
God Bless you and yours! FRANK