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!