Summer Camp Registration Open!

Summer Camp Registration is open for all three camps this summer. If you have youth in your parish who have never been to summer we invite you and them to come to the CYO booth at Rally to learn more about Catholic Camping.

More information and registration is available at camping.seattleoyyam.org.

Social Networking

As many of you may be noticing OYYAM’s presence on Social Networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook has been slowly increasing over the past few weeks. We have embarked on a pilot program within the Chancery to outline new policies and procedures around the use of technology in a constantly evolving environment.

Pope Benedict the XVI addresses the priests of the world on this issue in his annual World Communications Day address with the following:
“Responding adequately to this challenge amid today’s cultural shifts, to which young people are especially sensitive, necessarily involves using new communications technologies. The world of digital communication, with its almost limitless expressive capacity, makes us appreciate all the more Saint Paul’s exclamation: “Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel” (1 Cor 9:16) The increased availability of the new technologies demands greater responsibility on the part of those called to proclaim the Word, but it also requires them to become more focused, efficient and compelling in their efforts. Priests stand at the threshold of a new era: as new technologies create deeper forms of relationship across greater distances, they are called to respond pastorally by putting the media ever more effectively at the service of the Word.” read more

We are working to answer the Pope’s challenge to put the media at the service of the World and hope to soon be able to announce a revised policy about Social Networking and social media. However, we would like to remind all of our youth ministry community that we are in a pilot program phase and ask that you remain within the existing policy until the time a new policy is communicated.

Rally - a few weeks away

Junior High Rally 2010

Dive Deep

March 6th

Highline Community College

Reminder Junior High Rally is just two and half weeks away and the first registration deadline is next Friday so be sure to send your parish/school registration in as soon as possible.

If you need your numbers for the "Whale of Deal" offer so you can offer more teens the opportunity to experiance Junior High Rally, please contact your region rep.

For more information about Rally go to http://seattleoyyam.org and click on the picture of Archbishop Brunett at Convention to go to the events page. Or use the drop down menu.

For questions about Rally email Britta Folden at britta.folden@seattlearch.org

Young Adult Lenten Retreat

We just wanted to remind everyone that the deadline for registering for the Young Adult Lenten Retreat is approaching. Because the deadline falls on a Saturday we are extending the early registration deadline to Tuesday, February 15th.

If you or a Young Adult from your parish is interested have them contact Bridget Harris to register or find more information under retreat ministry at http://seattleoyyam.org.

Debbie Fisher's Mom

I am writing today with a request for prayer. Many of you know our registrar, Debbie Fisher. She is the wonderful person on the other end of the phone who answers your questions about summer camp and helps you with all registration questions and needs for Rally, Convention, and retreats. Debbie's mother, Sheila, passed away suddenly last week. Understandably, this is a very difficult time for Debbie. She has asked for prayers from all in her OYYAM and CYO family including all of our collaborators in ministry to youth and young adults - that's you! Please join us in holding Debbie close in your thoughts and prayers at this time.

Thanks.

Peace,

Frances

Retreats this weekend

The third Confirmation Retreat of the year starts tonight as well as the first Marriage Preparation Retreat of the year.

Please keep the youth and young adult participants at both of these retreats in your prayers this weekend.

For more information about Marriage Preparation Retreats or Confirmation Retreats visit the retreat ministry section of http://seattleoyyam.org.

Ascend HD Date Change

Due to several school conflicts we have changed the dates of Ascend HD. Ascend HD will now begin one day later on June 23rd and end one day later on June 27th.
Go to the leadership development section of http://seattleoyyam.org for more information.