Merry Christmas!

Souper Bowl of Caring 2011

Souper Bowl of Caring will be here soon! Watch the video and think about how you can be a part of this movement to fight hunger!

 Collection Days: Saturday & Sunday, February 5th & 6th, 2011

Service Blitz: Saturday, February 5th, 2011

For more information about this national, youth-led movement please visit:

http://www.souperbowl.org/

Rochester Catholic Citywide Event for 6-12th Grade

Wednesday, December 29th, 2010

Departure Time: Noon from Pax Christi Lower Parking Lot

Return Time: 8pm at Pax Christi Lower Parking Lot

Cost: Ski Package - $62 (includes ticket, ski or snowboard rental, and $12 bus fee)
Rental Only - $35 (includes $12 bus fee)
Lift Ticket Only - $39 (includes $12 bus fee)
Beginner Lesson (ski/snowboard) - $15 (must know by Dec. 20th)
Transportation Only – $12

 Snowboard Renters (please read): Snowboard rentals require a credit card number as a security deposit. Parents/Guardians may place the card number on the lower portion of the rental equipment form or call Welch Village (651-258-4567 ext. 23) preferably 24 hours prior to the visit to leave a major credit card number on file for the deposit. You will be asked for the boarder’s name, group name (Pax Christi) and date (12/29/10).
Note: Bring money or sack dinner to eat in the Lodge. We have room for up to 2 adult to chaperone and ski for free. Contact Angie for more information.
Please return rental form, permission form and payment to
Pax Christi Parish Office by
December 20th, 2010.
Checks made payable to Pax Christi Church.

Permission Forms available in the Gathering Space kiosk.

January 8th Lifeline 2011

The next trip will be Saturday, January 8th (second Saturday due to Christmas break.) Bus loads at Holy Spirit at 3:30PM and leaves by 3:45 PM. Return to Holy Spirit at approx. midnight.

Mass with Fr. Fred Gaglia and later that evening...
Dynamic Breakouts For High School Men & Women!
Make a determined resolution to be here for the first Lifeline of this brand new year! Plan on an excellent night to get energized and equipped in the Faith. Our evening features SONAR with excellent praise and worship, Mass, challenging sessions for high school men and women and… the 2010-11 NET Teams who will share the Gospel with over 60,000 Catholic teens this school year!
Breakouts include:
• “An Adventure To Live” For High School Men Only
• “AUTHENTIC Femininity” For High School Women Only


Cost is $10 for the bus payable to Holy Spirit.


Registration form and bus fee are due by Tuesday, January 4. Watch for permission forms in the Gathering Space soon!
(Other costs: $5 suggested offertory during Mass, $9 for pizza and pop after the event.)

Calling all artists!

From Joanne Markee at Interfaith Hospitality Network:

We are now in the planning stages for a new and exciting event for 2011. We are going to host a “BED RACE” – during Rochesterfest. We are looking for a creative innovative unique LOGO – for our t-shirt.  All entries must be in no later than January 31, 2011.  Please think about it – and help us to design a unique creative logo and TSHIRT for our event. More to come on this!

Send all entries to:

email: director@ihngr.org

or mail : 811 7th St NW, Rochester, MN 55901

More Information:
The bed race – will have teams of 5 people (four pushing and one riding) – racing down the city street! The bed must have 4 wheels – brakes – no motor…design and creativity will be rewarded! This is going to be a fun event…and we need a GREAT LOGO to go on the t-shirts!

Iron Chef 2010

IRON CHEF rescheduled to Saturday, December 18th.  Times and locations stay the same.  New teams now can register until Thursday, December 16th.  See Carol for Details.

 
Cost: $5 per person. Open to all youth grades 6-12. There will be separate winners for middle school and high school.

Students will sign up in teams of 2-4 people. The winning team will be awarded the coveted Golden Spatula as well as a gift card for each person.

 Each team will need one ‘host kitchen’ and one adult leader. The leader will be given the secret ingredient ahead of time. The secret ingredient will be revealed to participants at 10 am. At that time the students may begin planning and preparing their secret dish. Students have until 12:30 pm to finish their dish and get to Holy Spirit Church. (5455 NW 50th Ave.)

Teams will be judged in 4 categories: Appearance, Creativity, Taste and Difficulty. Points will be awarded 1-5. The team with the highest number of points will win. Local celebrity judges will be brought in to administer points.

Permission forms available in the Parish Center Office or Gathering Space kiosk. Or request a form be emailed to you from youthminister@stfrancis-church.org.

 

Wrapping Party:Update!

As an incentive to bring friends to this youth group event, a deal was made. If 15 kids signed up then Carol would wear an elf costume to the Wrapping Party. Well, they did it and so Carol dressed accordingly!

 The kids were busy right away wrapping their gifts for families in need. There were dolls and books to gloves, towels and lotions. In total, we wrapped about 30 gifts for the Advent Angel Tree!
 

Then we had a building contest with mini marshmallows, spaghetti noodles, and frosting. Needless to say, it got a little messy! After a wash of the hands and the tables we did a couple minute to win it games!

The kids enjoyed some food and settled in to watch ELF. Almost everyone came with 'festive dress' for the night.  Costumes ranged from giant christmas packages (big enough to hide a 7th grader inside!) to roaring fireplaces complete with stockings and reindeer antlers to elves and christmas trees!

Our ‘most festive dressed’ winner was Kathryn Heimer (Christmas Tree) who took home the award for the THIRD year in a row! The vote was very close and Caitlyn and Lauren Salinas (elves) came in as the runner up!

Kathryn Heimer--3rd time Winner!



Caitlyn and Lauren Salinas--Runners Up!



Thank you to all the youth who came early to help decorate!  Thanks also to the parents and youth who stayed to help clean up!

Cardboard Box City 2010: Update!

A group of us from the St. Francis got a picture in the article the Post Bulletin did about Cardboard Box City this year!  Read the article below and visit the link to read more and see all the pictures from the event.

Post Bulletin article:

Main Event: Group members spend night in boxes

By Sarah Shonyo

The Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN

The ordinarily vacant stretch of lawn at Soldiers Field Park was recently the site of a dramatic — albeit temporary — urban development venture.

Nearly 300 participants and 40 volunteers braved the plunging temps on Oct. 22 to take part in the sixth annual Cardboard Box City.

The event, which is generally geared toward kids and young adults, raises awareness of homelessness in and around Olmsted County and raises funds to support homelessness efforts by the Salvation Army and Interfaith Hospitality Network... (read more)


Cardboard Box CIty posted it's own pictures, too!  See all the event photos here:
http://cardboard-box-city.org/2010_Event_Pictures.html

TrutH Teen Mass

Teen Mass: Once a month on Sunday evenings at 6:15pm at Pax Christi Church in Rochester, MN.  The next Teen Masses are Dec. 12^th, Jan. 23^rd and Feb. 20^th.  Open to all ages, but geared towards teens.  For more information contact Angie Slattery 507-282-8542 x107.  TrutH (Teens receive unity through Him) is a teen organized mass devoted to bringing Christ into the lives of youth in a fun and relatable way.

Raking Day 2010

Here's a photo from our Raking Day 2010 at the start of November. Dave and Gwen were the winners again this year at the Fall Festival. We had lots of support from youth and adults this year and a beautiful morning to rake! What a great service activity!

 

Thank you to everyone who helped out and to Gwen and Dave for being such wonderful hosts!



Wrapping Party 2010!

Invite your friends!

If there are more than 15 youth signed up for this event by Wednesday, December 1st then Carol will come dressed as an ELF!  But only if we have enoughyouth--invite your friends for a great time!

Permission Forms due Wednesday, December 1st.

Forms available in the Parish Center Office, Gathering Space or request a form be emailed to you from youthminister@stfrancis-church.org

LIFELINE

Lifeline Road Trip

Saturday, December 4, 2010

All Rochester Catholic youth in Gr. 8-12 are invited to go on the Lifeline Road trip!
Bring your friends and join Catholic youth from the greater Rochester area for LIFELINE featuring
music and worship with SONAR, a vibrant Mass, and great speakers.

Date: December 4th.   Mass with Fr. Tom Wilson and later that evening, Tony Melendez in Concert!

Time: 3:30 PM- 11 PM We will travel by coach bus to the NET Center in West St. Paul. Bus loads at
Holy Spirit at 3:30 PM, departs at 3:45 PM. We will be returning to Rochester immediately following
the event. We will return to Holy Spirit at approx. 11 PM.

Cost: $18 per person for the bus and concert ticket is payable in advance. All are encouraged to
bring $5 for the offertory during Mass.

To register: Turn in completed form with $18 fee payable to Holy Spirit Church by Thursday, November 18, 2010. Ticket order will be placed on Friday, November 19.  Forms available in the Gathering Space kisok.

TrutH Teen Mass November 2010

TrutH Teen Mass (Teens receive unity through Him)

 Sunday, Nov 21, 2010 at Pax Christi Church in Rochester, MN.  Mass at 6:15pm in the Church and a concert by Christian Crossings following Mass.  Open to all ages, but geared towards teens.  For more information contact Angie Slattery 507-282-8542 x107. 

TrutH is a teen organized mass devoted to bringing Christ into the lives of youth in a fun and relatable way.

Lifeline Road Trip November 2010

Lifeline Road Trip

Saturday, November 6, 2010

All Rochester Catholic youth in Gr. 8-12 are invited to go on the Lifeline Road trip! Bring your friends and join Catholic youth from the greater Rochester area for LIFELINE featuring music and worship with SONAR, a vibrant Mass, and great speakers. Whether you are new to Lifeline or a "regular," plan to have your faith awakened, strengthened and renewed as a young apostle of

Jesus Christ!

Jesus said: “If they persecuted Me they will persecute you.” Persecute me?...Wow, I don’t know if I can handle that?

What does it mean to be a true disciple in today’s world? What does God want me to do and be to those around me? Does it really have to cost me everything to be a follower of Christ?

Rarely in the history of the Church has it been as important to know and weigh the call and cost of being a true follower of Jesus! No longer will lukewarm Christianity be tolerated as our Catholic beliefs are attacked on a daily basis. So what are you to do as young person who’s been called to be the hands and feet of the one true God? What is your cost of discipleship?

Michael Hoffman is back to bring focus to the role of your discipleship and the meaning you have as one CALLED by God Himself. In this fun and interactive session with professional speaker Michael Hoffman you’ll walk away with a new sense of calling for your life and ready to step up to the cost of discipleship.

Topic: God is Calling You to be the Hands and Feet of the One True God. The Cost of Discipleship.

Who: All students in grades 8-12.

Date: Saturday, November 6th, 2010

Time: 3:30 PM- Midnight. We will travel by coach bus to the NET Center in West St. Paul. Bus loads at Holy Spirit at 3:30 PM, departs at 3:45 PM. and approx. return time is 11:45 PM-12AM.

Cost: $10 per person for the bus payable in advance. All are encouraged to bring $5 for the offertory during Mass. Please bring approx. $8 for pizza and pop following the event.

To register: Turn in completed form with $10 fee payable to Holy Spirit Church by Wednesday Nov 3, 2010.

Permission forms can be found in the Gathering Space kiosk, Parish Office or request an emailed copy by emailing: youthminister@stfrancis-church.org.

Donations Needed

DCYC Service Projects:

Donations Needed!

A service project for DCYC: Operation Christmas Child brings joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes and the Good News of God’s love. Since 1993, more than 61 million shoe boxes have been packed, shipped, and delivered across the globe.

**Donate the following items to the bin in the Gathering Space:

TOYS small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, small Etch A Sketch®, toys that light up or make noise (with extra batteries), Slinky®, etc.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES pens, pencils and sharpener, crayons or markers, stamps and ink pad sets, writing pads or paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books, etc.

HYGIENE ITEMS toothbrush, toothpaste, mild bar soap (in a plastic bag), comb, washcloth, etc.

OTHER Hard candy and lollipops (please double bag all candy), mints, gum, T-shirts, socks, ball caps; sunglasses, hair clips, toy jewelry, watches, flashlights (with extra batteries)


A PERSONAL NOTE In a separate envelope, you may enclose a note to the child and a photo of yourself or your family. (If you include your name and address, the child may write back.)


DO NOT INCLUDE: Used or damaged items; war-related items such as toy guns, knives or military figures; chocolate or food; out-of-date candy; liquids or lotions; medications or vitamins; breakable items such as snow globes or glass containers; aerosol cans



Monetary Donations

Monetary donations are needed to send boxes overseas:

• Shipping for Operation Christmas Child Boxes

• Shipping for Operation Thank You Soldier Boxes

• PET--Personal Energy Transportation. PET is a faith-based, volunteer-powered, humanitarian, and world-wide organization which seeks to reflect the love of Jesus Christ by bringing mobility and dignity to those in developing countries who are unable to walk. A PET vehicle will be available to youth at DCYC to test out and see firsthand how these vehicles can be life changers to those who need mobility. Each PET costs about $250 to make.

 To donate, use the envelopes near the collection bin and include in the offertory or drop off donations at the Parish Center Office.
We will collect through Wednesday, November 10th.

Checks can be made to St. Francis of Assisi Church.

Thank you for your generosity!

Cardboard Box City 2010: Update!

St. Francis took 12 youth and 3 adults to Soldier’s Field this year to spend a night in the box! 

We had fun constructing and decorating our shelters. The weather turned out to be pretty pleasant and the rain held off for the most part!

There was food, entertainment, and games throughout the evening.  Three of our young men won the treasure hunt this year and took home the $50 prize!  One of our girls’ teams was hot on their trail!  Congratulations to Riley Orr, Gavin Popp and Braden Delaney.

Some of our kids got to do some drumming and play a couple games!

Gavin Popp was interviewed by KAAL Channel 6 News.  Gavin fundraised over $600 by himself and received the award for raising the most funds by an individual! 

In the morning we worked on blankets for the Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN).  Each person receives their own pillow and blanket during their stay at IHN—this can be a great comfort in a time of transition for these families. 

By the end we were all pretty tired...

 

Thank you very much to our two chaperones who ‘braved the elements’ with us: Justin Peters and Steve Dickes.  Thank you also to all our adult helpers including Steve and Mike Delaney, Rhonda Orr, Michelle Larson, and Gen Smith.  These adults helped with transportation, constructing our shelters, cutting and tying blankets, and providing us a wonderful breakfast!  Another thank you goes to Warner’s Stellian for providing many of the boxes!

Cardboard Box City 2010: Update

Click the link to see the video coverage of Cardboard Box City 2010!  Our group is shown and Gavin Popp is interviewed!



St. Francis Youth on the News:
http://kaaltv.com/article/stories/S1804828.shtml?cat=10151

Steubenville North Video 2011!

The Steubenville North Youth Conference video is here!  Check out the video and get ready for an awesome experience at Steuebnville North 2011!  All current 8th gradeers-high school seniors  are invited to join us--right here in Rochester July 15-17 at the Mayo Civic Center.



Partnership for Youth has a new website as well--check it out!  Registration for the conference opens November 15th!

http://www.partnershipforyouth.org/

TrutH Teen Mass

Open to EVERYONE! 

This Mass will be geared toward teens but all are welcome to participate!

Mass this Sunday at Pax Christi.

Raking Day

Help needed for the RAKING DAY!

Saturday, November 6th

10 am- 12 pm

During the Fall Festival, parishoners were able to bid on a day of raking from St. Francis youth!  As you may know, the money raised from the fall festival benefits the parish and so this is a great service project for our youth.  Now we need your help!  If you are able to help rake on Saturday, November 6th we would like your help!

Items to bring:
-Warm clothing
-Gloves
-Rake


I will be there to help you rake. We will work until the yard is finished and all leaves are picked up (about noon). I will provide lawn bags along with juice and donuts when we stop to take a break.

Please let me know if you have a vehicle in which you could help carry lawn bags to the recycling center. If you have a truck or trailer---that would be a great help! We’d like to get rid of all the leaves for this family!

If any parents, siblings or friends would like to come along to help in our efforts please invite them to join us! The more people we have, the quicker we can work!

Again, this is a good service to the church and this family!  If you're able, consider joining us in a morning of service!
If you are able to participate, please contact Carol Crawford by email at youthminister@stfrancis-church.org or phone at 288-7313.

Fall Kickoff Update!

Our Fall Kickoff was a great success! A total of 28 middle and high school students joined us for a night of food, fun, and games!  What a GREAT turnout!

 

We started off with our pumpkin carving contest. Individuals or teams were asked to carve pumpkins and a winner was chosen among the entries. There were so many great carvings, but our overall winner was Riley Orr who took home a prize pack! 

 

 Next Linda Baltes joined us to share a little about the Resource Room. Each student was asked to bring at least one donation to the Resource Room. Linda gave tours and answered any questions the kids had about this important ministry.  Then it was time to bob for apples! This was a hit—we even had people who wanted to go 2, 3, 4 times! Especially with our recent warm weather this game was a lot of fun!

Next were our minute to win it games. We played ‘Junk in the Trunk’, ‘Noodling,’ and ‘Joker’s on You!’ We all had a great time and we’ll definitely have more minute to win it games in the future!

Finally, we ended the night by announcing our costume winners.  Gavin Popp took home the 'best overall'  and Molly Kiley won for 'most creative'.

 

Thank you to all who participated. Special thanks to our adult volunteers as well as Linda Baltes for taking us through the Resource Room! Thanks for making the kickoff such a great time!