High School Youth Council Sponsored:

Advent Angel Tree Wrapping Party!

Who: Grade 6 – Grade 12

When: December 16^th 6-9PM

Where: St. Francis of Assisi Saint Clare Room

Cost: $5 (for pizza)

**Get advent angel off the tree in the gathering space, buy the gift and bring it to the party unwrapped with the angel you took off the tree. Wrapping paper will be supplied.**

We will be wrapping our presents, watching the movie Prancer, and eating pizza!!!

Fall Kickoff

On October 29th, fifteen people gathered in the Activities room for the annual Fall Kickoff. We started the event by decorating pumpkins, and touring the resource room. We learned whom the donations we had brought that evening were helping. After Father said prayer, we ate a meal of chili, and began bobbing for apples. Following many laughter-inducing minute to win-it games, the winners of the costume and pumpkin decorating contests were announced. Thanks for all who came-it was tons of fun!

Youth Ministry Change

 Dear Families of St. Francis Youth Group,

I am writing to you to today to let you know that I will not be returning to work after my maternity leave at St. Francis.  Tyler and I have thought and prayed about this decision and we have decided that it would be best if I stayed home full time to take care of our two boys.

This decision has not come easily and please trust that I will very much miss working with all of you in preparing your families for Confirmation.  Thank you for your participation and fellowship!

Blessings to you and yours!

Fall Kickoff

The St. Francis High School Youth Council (HSYC) will host this fall event for any youth interested in grades 6-12.  There will be pumpkin carving/decorating, costume contest, good food and snacks and minute to win it games!  Last year we had about 30 youth participate in this FUN event to kickoff the youth ministry year--lets have another great event this year!

Permission forms are available: Print form here.
Or pick up a form at the Parish Center Office or Church Gathering Space.

Well, the newest Crawford decided to make his way a little early! 

Joshua Aiden Crawford was born on Saturday, 9-10-11 
at 6:50 pm. 8 lbs. 2 oz. and 20 inches. We're all doing well!

School Supplies Drive: UPDATE!

And the winning team is...

Middle School!

The Middle School Team earned 33,995 points over the high school team bringing in 24, 931 points!!! Great job to both teams! The running start drive is now sorting and distributing all the collected supplies and will be distributing to families in need throughout the rest of the month of August. Here is what we collected:

2 backpacks

94 folders

103 notebooks

44 glue sticks and glue bottles

 319 pencils

 213 pens

52 Packs of crayons, markers, colored pencils and watercolors

That's not counting scissors, erasers, loose-leaf paper, rulers, binders, other supplies,

 and some very generous monetary donations!

Abigail Thompson helped to organize and pack up all the supplies before it was sent over to the Running Start Program at United Way. 

Thank you to all youth and adults who donated and participated in this program!

Did you know? We collected more this year than we did two years ago in 2009!  See the results here:

http://stfrancisyouthgroup.blogspot.com/2009/08/and-winner-is.html

End of Summer Party!

Bring a board game to share!

Print Permission Form Here.

Going to 'Meet the Teacher' at St. Francis School? 

Join us afterwards to 'Meet the Youth Minister!'    :)
Feel free to come a little before 6:00 pm if you are done early!

Last Movie Night of the Summer: The Empire Strikes Back!

Join us for the LAST High School Movie Night this Summer!

Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back
Monday, August 22nd    6-9:30 pm
Activity Room
(open to all youth entering grades 9-12)



Vanilla Ice Cream will be provided...bring a topping to share!

Movie Summary: Fleeing the evil Galactic Empire, the rebels abandon their new base on Hoth. Princess Leia, Han Solo and the droid C-3P0 escape in the damaged Millenium Falcon, but are later captured by Lord Darth Vader on Bespin. Skywalker and the droid R2-D2, meanwhile, follows Ben Kenobi's posthumous command and receives Jedi training by Yoda on Dagobah. Will Skywalker manage to rescue his friends from the dark lord?
Read a movie review here: http://parentpreviews.com/movie-reviews/star-wars-trilogy

FINAL Movie Night 2011: Toy Story

Join us for the FINAL Middle School movie night of the summer!

Monday, August 8th
6-9:30 pm
Activity Room
(open to all youth entering grades 6-8)

Vanilla Ice Cream will be provided...bring a topping to share!

Movie Summary: Woody, Buzz and the whole gang are back. As their owner Andy prepares to depart for college, his loyal toys find themselves in daycare where untamed tots with their sticky little fingers do not play nice. So, it's all for one and one for all as they join Barbie's counterpart Ken, a thespian hedgehog named Mr. Pricklepants and a pink, strawberry-scented teddy bear called Lots-o'-Huggin' Bear to plan their great escape.

Read a movie review here: http://parentpreviews.com/movie-reviews/toy-story-3

Print a Permission Form Here: http://www.stfrancis-church.org/images/stories/Youth/movienightspermission2011.pdf

Steubenville North 2011: UPDATE!

Steubenville North 2011 was another great success!
 Our Rochester group boasted 48 youth including 11 from St. Francis Church--our biggest group yet!  We had a great group of youth this year from all over Rochester, Stewartville and Byron Kasson.  We also had 4 different youth participate in the LEAD program--a 5 day experience before the conference that teaches youth about Leadership and helps them to share their faith.

The conference included great speakers like Tammy Evevard and Sean Forrest.  Sonar provided great praise and worship music.  The highlight from many was the time of Adoration on Friday and Saturday nights.  There was also Mass each day and an opportunity to participate in the Sacrmanet of Reconciliation.

A conference like this is always coordinated by many people.  Thanks goes out to all the parishes and different Knights of Columbus groups who supported the group with fundraisers, scholarships and doantions.  We are especially grateful here at St. Francis to the St. Francis Knights, St. Joan of Arc Group and the St. Patricks Day Dinner group for their fundraising efforts and donations.

Thanks also goes out to Sandy Hocraffer who worked since this spring to arrange the money and paperwork for the entire Rochester group, helped youth get scholarships, and arrange details for the weekend!  Thanks, Sandy!

Thanks also goes out to Dave Hubka, Theresa Perters, Dominic Miron, Jackie Harrington, Mike Eckerman and Jes Brey who all shared their time, energy and faith with the youth  to serve as chaperones.  THANK YOU!

Service Splash 2011

We'll be working to help clean up the Resource Room and around the Church and School grounds. 

Afterwards we'll have water fun!

Bring a snack to share!

Please join us!

Permission forms available at the Gathering Space kiosk or Print Permission Form Here.

Middle School Movie Night: Tangled

Movie Monday: Tangled
July 18th 6-9:30 pm
Activity Room


 Please bring a snack to share.
Pizza, popcorn and lemonade will be provided!

Movie Summary:
After receiving the healing powers from a magical flower, the baby Princess Rapunzel is kidnapped from the palace in the middle of the night by Mother Gothel. Mother Gothel knows that the flower's magical powers are now growing within the golden hair of Rapunzel, and to stay young, she must lock Rapunzel in her hidden tower. Rapunzel is now a teenager has been in the tower her entire life. One day, the bandit Flynn Ryder scales the tower and  Rapunzel strikes a deal with the charming thief totake her on the most exciting and  journey of her life.

Print Permission Form here: http://www.stfrancis-church.org/images/stories/Youth/movienightspermission2011.pdf


Family Movie Review:
http://parentpreviews.com/movie-reviews/review/tangled#primary

Running Start for School

School Supplies Drive and Youth Competition!
July 2nd-August 10th

The Youth Group will be hosting a school supplies drive starting in July for the Running Start for School Initiative sponsored by United Way of Olmsted County. Supplies donated will help k-12 students in Olmsted County.

High school and middle school students will compete to see who can bring in the most donations. The winning team will celebrate with a party at the end of the drive!

All parishioners are encouraged to donate. Choose a “team” (High School or Middle School) to award points to—or help both teams! Drop off items to the bins in the gathering space. See the Point System below. Get your items in right away so we can see the point totals adding up! Supplies can also be dropped off at the Parish Office Center anytime during the drive.




Points        Supplies Needed
2,000      Backpack - no wheels
1,000      Binder with zipper
75          Colored pencils - 12 count box non-short (points per box)
100        Crayons - 24 count box
50          Eraser - block (points per eraser)
75          Folder - two pocket
100        Glue - 4 ounce washable bottle
50          Glue stick - .21 ounce washable
50          Highlighter - variety of colors (points per highlighter)
100        Markers (thick washable) - 10 count box (points per box)
100        Markers (thin washable) - 10 count box (points per box)
5           Pen - Red (points per pen)
50         Pencil box - 8” x 5”
300       Pencil pouch - fits 3-ringed binder
75         Pencil sharpener - covered
5           Pencils - #2 (points per pencil)
5           Pens - blue OR black (points per pen)
25         Ruler (inches and centimeters) - 12 inch
100       Scissors - kids blunt tip
100       Scissors - kids pointed tip
25        Spiral notebook - 70 sheet wide-lined
25         Spiral notebook - 70 sheets college ruled
50        Paper - wide lined - 150 count loose leaf (points per pack)
50         Paper - college ruled - 150 count loose leaf (points per pack)
150       $1.00 Cash Donation (example: $10 donation will award 1,500 points)*



*Cash/check donations will be accepted. All mopnetary donations should be dropped off at the Parish Center Office. Please make checks to Running Start for School Initiative. Be sure to designate which “team” you’d like your donation to be awarded to: High School or Middle School.


Questions?  Please Contact Carol Crawford.

July HS Movie Night

Movie Monday: The Truman Show
July 25th 6-9:30 pm
Activity Room



No permission form necessary for high school movie mondays. Please bring a snack to share. Pizza, popcorn and lemonade will be provided!




Movie Summary:
In this movie, Truman is a man whose life is a fake one... The place he lives is in fact a big studio with hidden cameras everywhere, and all his friends and people around him, are actors who play their roles in the most popular TV-series in the world: The Truman Show. Truman thinks that he is an ordinary man with an ordinary life and has no idea about how he is exploited. Until one day... he finds out everything. Will he react?

Family Movie Review:
http://parentpreviews.com/movie-reviews/review/truman-show#primary

Iron Chef: Summer 2011

Are you up to the challenge?

Here are the rules below (See permission form for full details):

• 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 prize.
•  Each team will need one ‘host kitchen’ and one adult leader.
• It is permissible to use portions of a recipe that already exists. It is also permissible to accept help from adults. However, the majority of the planning and cooking must be done by the students. The secret ingredient must be included in the dish.
•  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.
•  Lunch will be provided for the students.

Click Here for permission form.

Join us!

6th Grade Welcome Event

All students entering 6th grade in the fall are welcome to join us!  Come to learn more about youth ministry this summer and get involved!

June Movie Night-Secondhand Lions

June Middle School Movie Night will be moved to this Wednesday, June 15th from 6-9:30 pm.  It will be held in the St. Clare and St. Francis Room.

Click on the link below to print your permission form.  Forms due by noon on Wednesday.

Movie Monday: Secondhand Lions

Please bring a snack to share. Hot dogs, popcorn and lemonade will be provided!

Click to view/print permission form here.

We'll begin our night with games and movie trivia. Afterwards we'll discuss the movie and share our reactions. Please join us to watch the movie and have a good time with friends!

Catholic Bishops Review: Exceptional coming-of-age heartwarmer about an introverted boy (Haley Joel Osment) who grows up during a summer spent on the Texas farm of his two eccentric uncles (Robert Duvall and Michael Caine) after being abandoned by his mother. Directed by Tim McCanlies, the film hits all the right emotional notes, resulting in an enchanting yarn about family and the transmission of values as generations change hands. Some thematic elements, sporadic mildly crude language and some action violence. A-II -- adults and adolescents. (PG) 2003

June Movie Night-Life is Beautiful

Movie Monday: Life is Beautiful
June 20th 6-9:30 pm
Activity Room

No permission form necessary for high school movie mondays.    Please bring a snack to share.  Hot dogs, popcorn and lemonade will be provided!

We'll begin our night with frisbee/football outside, snacks then movie.  Afterwards we'll discuss the movie and share our reactions.  If you've never seen this film--please come and try it out with us.  You won't regret it!

Catholic Bishops Review:
Life Is Beautiful -- Bittersweet comic fable in which an Italian Jewish bookseller (Roberto Benigni) uses his imagination to convince his little son that their grim existence in a Nazi concentration camp is just an elaborate contest and that they are sure to win the grand prize. Also co-written and directed by Benigni, the story starts off as a slapstick comedy with the young man courting his future wife, then midway becomes a touchingly human story of a parent's irrepressible determination to protect his child from terror and misery. Subtitles or dubbed. Theme of genocide. (A-II) (PG-13) ( 1998 )

Youth Ministry Summer Calendar 2012

City-wide Valley Fair Trip in June!

Pax Christi Twins Game

Pax Christi is hosting a trip to a Twins Game.  Sign up if you're interested. 

Permission forms due at Pax by June 13th!

Print Permission form: http://youth.paxchristichurch.org/uploads/files/TwinsPostForm2011.pdf

Steubenville Youth Car Wash!!!

Congratulations, Seniors!

Last BREAK Night of 2011

Join us for the last BREAK Night of the year!  We'll enjoy some sweet treats at the end of the night.  Permission forms due Wednesday, May 18th!

NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE!

CLICK HERE to print Break Night Permission Form PDF

InterMission and Lock-In Update

The InterMission Night provided a great opportunity for youth and adults from in and around Rochester to worship with the band SONAR. Fr. Tom Melvin gave a great talk and we all had a chance to spend time in Adoration to end the evening. It was a blessed and spirit filled time for all!

 

After InterMission we moved over to the Pax Christ Youth Center where we began our Above All Lock-In. Zach Rawson, Pax Christi Youth Minister, gave a funny and inspirational talk about using the gifts God has given each of us and putting him first and above all.

There was a photo opportunity to win a prize for most creative photo—using our space theme for inspiration.  Lots of great photos!  Congrats to our winning duo!  (See below.)

Most Creative Photo Contest Winners!

 Trivia and dance lessons came next.  We filled the gym with volunteers willing to try out some new dance moves.

The youth enjoyed pizza and snacks in the church and later moved on to our service projects.  We filled over 100 ditty bags for the local women’s shelter.  We also built bikes for local children in need to enjoy this summer.  The PET (Personal Energy Transportation) was there once again and teens had the chance to test out this mode of transportation and learn a little bit about who this might benefit.

Inflatable jousting, sumo suits and relay races were available after midnight along with a showing of STAR WARS.  We ended the night handing out door prizes several winners.

A GREAT time was had by all who participated.  A BIG thank you goes out to all our volunteers, chaperones, youth ministers and Pax Christi for hosting the event.

Boredom Buster Week 2011

Boredom Buster Week was a great success! We had 27 middle school students and 6 high school volunteers participate over our week of events.  We had double the numbers from last year!

We kicked off the week with Pasta with the Pastor. We prepared our dessert before Fr. Reker arrived. Then, Fr. Reker showed us how to make a "straw and hay" pasta (green and yellow). The food was great and a good time was had by all.

Tuesday sent a group of us for bowling and crafts with Possabilities. We got to interact with Possabilities consumers with special needs. Then, we went back to their buidling and created a bright "Happy Spring" poster to be admired by all!

Wednesday was our game and movie night. We watched "Despicable Me", had good snacks, played board and Minute to Win It games.

Thursday we had fun at our Gym Jam night. We played with the big ball and scooters, dodgeball, and basketball. What a good way to burn off that extra energy.

We ended our week with the Photo Scavenger Hunt. Teams were formed and lists were handed out. Teams had a set of challenges to find or do and then take a picture of themselves completing that task or finding an item. We had fun at the end of the day with pizza and looking over the teams' photos. Our winning team was "Forever Tigers" composed of Miranda Hawkins, Abigail Thompson and Natalie McGlinch with high school volunteer, Hannah Friedrich.  All teams did a great job--Congratulations!

  

Thank you to all adult and high school volunteers who helped make this possible throughout the week. Special thanks goes to Fr. Reker for cooking dinner for us!

To see all pictures from the week click here: https://picasaweb.google.com/carolrcrawford/BoredomBusterWeek2011?authkey=Gv1sRgCKDDsbTz0K6tRA&feat=directlink

Boredom Buster Update

It looks like we will have less than ideal weather both Thursday and Friday this week. However, I have made no changes to the original schedule. Gym Jam will still take place on Thursday evening and the Photo Scavenger Hunt will still take place on Friday afternoon.

If the weather is not suitable on Friday for the scavenger hunt then we will have to postpone the event until a later date. If the scavenger hunt is cancelled on Friday I will call all families involved to let them know.







Thanks for your patience as we try to figure out and plan for our always unpredictable March weather!

InterMission and High School Lock-In: City-Wide Events!

InterMISSION is an evening of praise and Adoration. We invite you to join us, take a break from your hectic schedules and reconnect with Our Lord. Come to be refreshed, rejuvenated, and reconnect with Him who can only fill you up and bring you peace.

 If you’ve never attended a Steubenville North Youth Conference, this event also will give you a glimpse into what that experience is like. InterMISSION will have many elements of a Friday night at a Steubenville Youth conference.


InterMISSION is open and welcomes all youth in grades 8 through high school seniors. We invite you to join us.

NEW!

All youth in Grades 9-12 invited to attend the first ever high school area-wide lock-in! It following the Intermission Event on Friday, April 15, 2011 from 10 PM Friday-6 AM Saturday! Get to know others as you play games, do service projects, play video games, show your stuff at the trivia contest, play volleyball, eat food and spend some time considering how to, Above all, honor and serve the Lord.



Cost:
InterMISSION Event ONLY - $5.00
InterMission Event PLUS Lock-In - $20.00


There is one registration form for both InterMission and the Lock-In.  See carol Crawford or visit the Gathering Space Kiosk or the Parish Center Office to sign up.  Forms are due Wednesday, April 6th.

Click here for permission form.

Boredom Buster Week 2011

Don't be bored this Spring Break--join us for BOREDOM BUSTER week!  Permission Forms available in the Gathering Space kiosk.  Open to all in grades 6-8  and friends are welcome!

Boredom Buster Week 2011

Boredom Buster Week
Come once or come each day---it’s up to you!

Monday, March 28 – Friday, April 1

Open to all students in grades 6-8. Friends welcome!

Cost is:

$3 per day or

$12 for four or more events

(Family max of $20)



Monday, March 28th: Pasta with the Pastor 4-7 pm (St. Clare Social Room)
We’ll meet in the social room and Fr. Reker will teach us how to make an authentic Italian meal—and we’ll get to eat it together! All ingredients and supplies will be provided. Take the recipe home and cook for your family!

Tuesday, March 29th: PossAbilites Bowling and Crafts 8:30 am - 12:30 pm
(Activity Room, Rec Lanes Bowling, PossAbilities at 2530 Broadway Ave N)
Join us Tuesday for a fun and unique experience. We’ll be doing activities with some of the people with special needs at the PossAbilities program. We’ll start with a game or two of bowling at Rec Lanes and then move over to the PossAbiliites building to work on a craft project. Afterwards, we’ll head back to St. Francis for lunch and games. Participants need to bring a sack lunch and an additional $2 for bowling shoe rental. Parent drivers are needed! See Carol to help!

Wednesday, March 30th: Movie and Game Night 6:00- 9:00 pm (Activity Room)
This night will be all about fun and games. Bring a cozy blanket to watch “Despicable Me” by Disney. Before the movie we’ll play board and card games, have snacks and get to know each other! Participants should bring a blanket to watch the movie and a board game to share with the group. (The US Catholic Bishops have rated this movie: A-I – general patronage. (PG))

Thursday, March 31st: Gym Jam 6:00-8:00 pm (School Gym)
Join us in the school gym for music, sports, and games! This is the perfect night to get out some of that extra spring break energy! We will have some large group games and some open gym time. Basketballs will be provided. Water and lemonade will be provided. Please eat dinner before you come.

Friday, April 1st: Photo Scavenger Hunt 1:00-5:00 pm (Activity Room)
Join us in the activity Room to begin the HUNT! Sign up in teams of 2-4 people. Each team should dress in a team color and will be asked to come up with a team name. Clues will be given to help teams in their search and one team will be awarded the grand prize. After the hunt we will spend the rest of the time playing games in the Activity Room. Cheese pizza will be provided after the scavenger hunt, please eat lunch before you come.



Permission Forms for Boredom Buster Week are due Thursday, March 24th

Checks can be made out to St. Francis of Assisi Church
Questions? Please Contact:
Carol Crawford• Youth Ministry Coordinator at St. Francis of Assisi Church
289-2427•youthminister@stfrancis-church.org•1114 3rd St. SE Rochester, MN 55904

March Lifeline Roadtrip

Saturday, March 5th
3:30 pm-12:15 am

Youth in grades 8-12 are invited to join us and bring your friends! Plan on an excellent night to get energized and equipped in the faith. The event features SONAR with praise and worship music, Mass, and Fr. Mike Schmitz as celebrant and speaker.
When: Saturday, March 5 3:30 PM- 12:15 AM, Bus leaves from Holy Spirit Church.
Cost: $10 for bus, plus money for offertory @ Mass and money for pizza and pop
To Register: Complete a permission slip and turn in to your youth minister or get to Holy Spirit before deadline.
Registration Deadline: Wednesday, March 2
Adults welcome to attend as well!
Questions: Contact your youth minister or Mary Nowakowsk iat youthministry@holyspiritrochester.org
Permission forms available in the Gathering Space kiosk or request an e-copy from youthminister@stfrancis-church.org.

Steubenville North Informational Meeting

For those who missed the Steubenville North Youth Conference Meeting at St. Francis earlier this month…here is another opportunity! 

Resurrection Church will be hosting another informational meeting this Sunday, February 27th at 3:30 pm at Resurrection Church.  Sandy Hocraffer (Rochester youth Group Leader for Steubenville past 3 years) will lead the meeting and answer any questions you may have about the conference.  

If you know you’d like to sign up for the Conference on Sunday, please bring a $50 deposit check made out to St. Francis of Assisi Church (“Steubenville” in the memo).

If you are unable to attend the meeting but would like to register, please contact Carol Crawford at 289-2427 or youthminister@stfrancis-church.org.

InterMISSION

Friday, April 15th
Pax Christi Church, Rochester

If you’ve never attended a Steubenville North Youth Conference, this event will give you a glimpse into what that experience is like. InterMISSION will have many elements of a Friday night at a Steubenville Youth
conference. There will be a talk based on the "ROOTED" theme of the Conference, Adoration and praise& worship music by SONAR!!

InterMISSION is open and welcomes all youth in grades 8 through high school seniors. Come to be refreshed, rejuvenated, and reconnect with Him who can only fill you up and bring you peace. Join us for the City-Wide High School Lock-In to follow that same night at Pax Christi youth Center!

Watch for registration materials coming soon!