| From My PC... Mike Reinhart Parish Youth Director Home Phone: (217) 253-4006 Cell Phone: (217) 369-4002 E-mail: mike_reinhart@hotmail.com NOTE: If you phone me, please phone my cell & leave a message. I'll return your call as soon as I can. If you send an e-mail (and you haven't e-mailed me before), please place "YOUTH" or "FORTY MARTYRS" in the subject line (your message will likely be sent to my "Junk" folder and I MAY miss it). |
|
Sunday, January 27th - our Junior High youth (5th - 8th graders) will visit the U. of I. Ice Arena. We'll leave from the Church Hall at 1:00pm sharp. The skate-session is 1:30 - 4:00pm & costs $5 per skater. Forms are available at PSR, in the Vestibule, and just before we depart. We'll visit a restaurant of the group's choosing afterward and likely return to the Tuscola-area around 6:00pm. For all 5th - 12th graders & their parents - the annual Valentine Parish Appreciation Breakfast is an opportunity for all of us to "show off" what our 5th - 8th graders can do! Help (youth + some supervision) is needed from 1-4pm on Saturday, Feb. 9th - and from 8am (earlier is OK too) to about 11am on Sunday, Feb. 10th . |
|
Regarding
TEC (Teens Encounter Christ):
To
our Forty Martyrs Parish "Family",
Thank you for the financial, prayer, and practical/logistical support you've provided to help our young people to experience TEC. I feel that TEC is THE MOST important ministry effort within our Diocese. I believe we offer nothing more profound or complete - and that I have seen young people "grow" YEARS in their Faith - in just three days! -Mike Reinhart Forty Martyrs Youth Director TEC 200 Adult Candidate TEC 201 Adult Team Member TEC 203 Adult Team Member / Assistant Lay Director TEC 204 Wheat Team Member TEC 209 Adult Team Member TEC 210 Adult Team Member TEC 211 Adult Team Member / Assistant Coordinator |
| Updated: 8/8/06 TEC To the Parents of our Juniors & Seniors, If you have questions about TEC, please feel free to contact Fr. Barry or myself -- or, better yet, one of our NINE young and VERY enthusiastic TEC-veterans: Amber, Katie S., Katie B., Katie F., Mallory D., Kyle O., Shane, Eric, or Jeremy (HE'S BACK from his deployment!). IF you attended a Mass at Forty Martyrs on that weekend in early February, you heard from someone who has experienced a TEC retreat. At the very least, you heard my comments, some written comments from one of our young people, and some very sincere comments from Fr. Jeff Stone - who presided at all Masses (and is becoming a TEC-veteran). If you were fortunate enough to attend one of the Sunday morning Masses - you heard the comments of either Katie S. or Eric. (I AM proud of them!) As I stated at each of the three Masses, I believe that TEC is the BEST we have to offer our young people. I KNOW the effect such a retreat has had for dozens of young people from other parishes as well as our own nine. I've seen (and experienced) the depth of Christ's influence at TEC - and it's something I simply feel compelled to SHARE with all the young people I know. I will say here what I said at that Mass in February - I CANNOT care about our young people WITHOUT insisting that EACH attend a TEC retreat! As I have urged - and as Fr. Jeff Stone urged, PLEASE ENCOURAGE your sons and daughters to participate in what I describe as a "walk with Christ". If they cannot "find" the time, perhaps you can help them "make" the time. I feel that TEC can be the most important 54 hours of their teen years! Additionally, some of you heard Jeremy's letter to our parish as it was being read by his sister, Alyssa, at the Valentine Breakfast. In short, Jeremy stated that he credits his TEC experience with much of the confidence he has that God will protect him - now, as he serves in Iraq. Please look for Jeremy's letter on the Senior High Page. The "Faces of TEC" can be found on the following webpage (see if you can find "our" young people): -Mike |
| 12/13/05 @ 7:00am Parish YOUTH webpage tips: 1) I'll try to update each page as soon as new information is learned or provided. The "Updated" date (now, at the top of each "table" or section) will let you know if an update has been added recently - and indicate the exact age of the information provided. 2) The UPCOMING EVENTS PAGE will, of course, be used to inform everyone of upcoming events - even when the same information appears on the age/grade-specific page (this should continue). 3) I TRY to proofread & edit each page thoroughly. IF you believe a mistake is present OR I've written something that confuses you, please phone me or e-mail me and let me know. It helps. 4) NEW - I made some minor changes in each page's appearance recently but, more importantly, I changed my method of "dating" the information. Instead of "dating" an entire page, we're now indicating the date of EACH TABLE or section. (I'll also try to highlight "new info" when possible - as I did with THIS addition. In some cases, a "headline" notice may appear at the top of a page.) - Mike |
| 12/17/05 @ 6Pm To: All Adult Parishioners It was recently suggested to me (again) that I ensure the presence of an "extra" chaperone for all events. So, I'm making the request AGAIN (THIS is an OFFICAL request) - For ANY event - for any age group - anwhere - anytime - PLEASE consider attending as an 1) Extra chaperone, 2) Driver, 3) Observer, 4 Interested Party" (take your pick). You will NOT be required to sign anything stating you will "enlist" as a Future Youth Minister at a future date. THIS is NOT how "veteran youth ministers" typically recruit NEW youth ministers. Really! How DO we RECRUIT? I'll give that up a little farther on in this text... Protecting God's Children Workshop: If you have attended a Protecting God's Children workshop - GREAT! If you become a "repeat" driver or chaperone, it's mandated by our Diocese that you attend such a workshop. Even if you're "just" a parent - a PGC workshop IS a worthwhile expenditure of YOUR TIME! You will learn something of value. I did a couple of years ago when I attended such a workshop. Then, even with 25+ years of law enforcement experience, 20+ years of parenting-experience, and 14+ years experience with parish youth - I learned some facts I did NOT know. YOUR Involvement: PSR teachers, parents, & other interested persons are welcome to join us to participate & observe. For parents - DON'T believe your child when he or she claims not to want you to participate. For PSR teachers - YOUR participation in a "fun" activity can break down barriers you may be experiencing in interacting with your class. For others curious about getting involved with youth ministry - With 16+ years of personal experience in our parish & diocese, many hours of course-work in Youth Ministry (with the Center for Ministry Development), and a lot of networking-experience with fellow youth ministers (locally and nationally), I can probably provide some answers to some of your questions - or guide you to someone who can provide the answers. Suggestion: If you are the parent / guardian / warden of a 5th/6th grader, a 7th/8th grader, or a Senior High-age young person, consider chaperoning a group of a DIFFERENT age. IF you don't feel comfortable DRIVING a vehicle full of young people, you COULD serve as a chaperone. The Forty Martyrs Parish effort for youth ministry should NOT be the equivalent of a "one-man band". Consider becoming involved - or becoming MORE involved. Because... In my 52 years - my involvement with parish youth has one of the most REWARDING parts of my life! Our parish has been & IS BLESSED with wonderful young people who will enrich YOUR life - as they have mine. Individually - and collectively - they are fantastic! (See my comments above in the white box.) OK - THIS is how we (the veteran youth ministers) RECRUIT new youth ministers - We simply find ways to EXPOSE you to our YOUNG PEOPLE ! - Mike |
Diocesan Youth Days 2007
The Junior High
Event is Saturday, March 24th.
The Senior High Event is Sunday, March
25th.
Forms & Information will be
available before the above dates.