I like Messenger better, though

I guess I'm not the only one who thinks U2 songs are prayers! (click)

Turn down the volume

I’ve got my iPod on me all the time. I’ve got a commute into work, and so I count on it to keep me entertained when my drive runs a little long. I sometimes get into work early, before anyone else. It’s too quite sometimes, so I even listen to my iPod once I’m in work. Around 9:00, my boss usually shows up, so if I’ve still got those white ear buds in, I pop them out. I don’t want to be caught off guard. I don’t want my boss to come in, and ask me something, and my head’s just bobbing, and I completely miss her calling me.
I know that when I’m alone at work early in the morning, my boss, or a co-worker won’t call to me. But we’ve got to always be ready for God to call us, even after hours. I bet Bono from U2’s right, God’s there beneath the noise, calling to us. We have to make sure we don’t have the ear buds in, and miss out.

Listen carefully

U2 is a great band. So many of their songs are prayers. This is from "Miracle Drug." Sometimes there's so much going on in the world, we aren't listening to God, but he's always there, calling to us.


Beneath the noise
Below the din
I hear your voice
It's whispering . . .
"I was a stranger, you took me in"

Bowling Night

Bowling Night went great! We had a couple of rounds of guys vs. girls, we all got horrible reality TV nicknames, and Todd delivered when the pressure was on with the Pepsi Shot!
We even got to watch the AFC championship. I just reached up to a TV above our lane, and changed the channel from whatever was on, to football. It felt great to do that. I'm not that physically talented in many things. God didn't give me the ability to run very fast, or much physical strength, but he did give me long arms, so when I get to use my athletic ability to serve the youth group, great!
Thanks to all the parents who helped us get to the bowling alley!

-Vinnie

Jars of Clay, Flood

Well I think the CORE made a pretty awesome video for this song when we talked about addiction, but this one's okay, too. (and much less painful for Joe.)

Aaron Shust with My Savior, My God

He're one of our favorite artists performing live:

Drugs and Alcohol

Thanks to everyone for a great discussion last night about the dangers of drug abuse and addiction! If you ever want to talk, you know how to contact us!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We just wanted to wish everyone a very happy and healthy New Year!

Check out our website for the next few events we'll be having. We are very excited about our winter/spring 2007 schedule and we hope you will be as well!

Thank you to everyone who participated in LIFE TEEN in 2006- we had a great year!!

Why is Advent four weeks?

The first questions we got in Questions for the Core were great! This one was harder to find the answer to than we thought. After some research, though we found a nice explanation of the symbols and history of Advent. Enjoy!

Prayer to Pope John Paul I

Pope John Paul I's case for beatification had completed the diocesan phase gone moved the the Vatican phase. If the former Pope becomes beatified, he'll be a candidate for Sainthood! We've been blessed with many holy people, and the chuch is always identifying people's whose lives merit Sainthood. I've posted this prayer for the beatification of John Paul I.

"O Lord,
Be always near me. Rest your hand on my head,
but make me also hold my head under your hand.

"Take me as I am, with my defects, with my sins,
but transform me as you will and as I also desire."

"With these words your Servant Albino Luciani, Pope John Paul I, prayed to you.

"His desire for holiness was heard: he became your generous and faithful disciple,
and you willed that he be your Shepherd and Vicar for the universal Church.

"He had the grace to be an exemplary communicator to give us, in simplicity and joy, what is true, beautiful and good,

"Make me aspire to what you desire, also in the particular graces I ask for:

"Following the example of the Servant of God, make me communicate intensely with you and with my neighbor to receive and to give, with humility and simplicity, the light and love that radiate from You. Amen."

+ Giuseppe Andrich
Bishop of Belluno-Feltre

See the whole article:
http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=98101

No LIFE NIGHT this week!

There will be no meeting this Sunday, 11/26. As always, these will be mass, and we're always looking for teens interested in helping!

Our Next Event!

Sunday, November 12, 2006
7:15-8:30pm
Parish Center


LIFE NIGHT: The Image of God

We will be discussing what it means to be made in the image and likeness of God and how we can more completely fulfill our responsibility to God.

As always, there will be great music, snacks and games! All 8th-12th graders are welcome!! Try to join us for the 6pm LIFE TEEN Mass immediately preceding the LIFE NIGHT.

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 5-NOTICE!

We will not be hosting a LIFE TEEN meeting this Sunday, November 5th, because St. Luke's Parish in Stratford is hosting a multi-parish youth group event. Here's the details:

What: FEAR FACTOR NIGHT!
When: Sunday, November 5, starting at 4pm
Where: St. Luke's in Stratford, NJ (Warwick Road) (Directions available on our website: www.stagneslifeteen.com)
Who: Any 8th-12th graders!
How (much): $5/person
Details:
4pm teen mass followed by pizza dinner followed by Fear Factor. Bring a change of clothes that you don't mind getting messy!!

We will of course have our 6pm Life Teen Mass as scheduled, just no meeting afterwards.

Great Game Night!

Thanks to everyone who came out for Game Night last night. We had a great time playing pictionary. It was a great battle of the sexes, but we will definitely have to have a rematch, because the guys got easy cards!!

We'll definitely have another game night soon!!

Need Service Hours?

We will be starting to coordinate a few service projects for those students who need service hours and are interested in getting involved with LIFE TEEN. We have a few ideas so far:

-Nursing Home Visits
-Soup Kitchen Volunteers
-Events for Parish Kids
-Habitat for Humanity
-Various Parish Ministries that are Community Service oriented.

If you want to get involved with any of these projects, please email us at stagneslifeteen@gmail.com so that we know how many people we are planning for.
Since most high school students need about 4 hours/marking period, we'll make this a recurring thing if we have the interest.

Next Event: LIFE NIGHT

Come join us Sunday October 22, 2006 at 7:15pm in the Parish Center for our next LIFE NIGHT. The topic will be "The Virtues."

We'll have interactive discussions, skits, and time for prayer. All 8th-12th graders are welcome to attend.

Also: We are looking for help at the 6pm Mass! We are looking for readers, ushers and people to hand out bulletins at the end of Mass. If you're interested- stop by and see Vinnie or Alison before or after mass. (Want to know what we look like? CLICK HERE for our photo from the website)

We hope to see you all at our LIFE NIGHT!!!

Great Time at Basketball Night!

Thanks to everyone who came out for basketball last night! We all had a great time and got some exercise in the process!


The music featured at last night's "tournament": POD-Testify. You can learn more about POD by visiting their website: CLICK HERE

Rosary Links

For those who attended the Rosary making night, here are some links to help you finish your rosaries, and once you've made them, a link on exact instructions on praying the Rosary.

Here's the directions on how to make them!


Here's how to pray the Rosary!

If you want to bring your Rosary to our next meeting, we can finish them together.

Our Next Event!

COME JOIN US FOR OUR NEXT EVENT!



SERVICE NIGHT: CASSEROLE PROGRAM
7:15-8:30pm PARISH CENTER
Sunday, October 8th


We will be cooking for the Casserole Program at St. Agnes. Help us help those in need!!

Pope Benedict to altar servers: Good Job!

Recently, Pope Benedict XVI addressed altar servers in St. Peter's Square. He pointed out how important and inspirational a ministry it is, and how great it is to have a ministry at such a young age! Here's a part of it:

Dear Altar Servers, you are, in fact, already apostles of Jesus! When you take part in the Liturgy by carrying out your altar service, you offer a witness to all. Your absorption, the devotion that wells up from your heart and is expressed in gestures, in song, in the responses: if you do it correctly and not absent-mindedly, then in a certain way your witness is one that moves people.

The Eucharist is the source and summit of the bond of friendship with Jesus. You are very close to Jesus in the Eucharist, and this is the most important sign of his friendship for each one of us. Do not forget it.