Good Afternoon Pax Christi Youth Ministry,
Check out this week's update. We broke things down into Middle School, High School, and Parents, plus a few other sections for you.
We hope all is well with you this week. We are praying for your health and wellbeing. We miss seeing all of you!
Please let us know if there is anything more we can do.
Peace,
Zach Rawson
Virtual Proof - Wednesday 7-8 pm
Join us for a study and discussion on the Sunday Mass Readings using Summit from Life Teen.
For more details about the video call scroll to the last section of this note.
Blog: Time Well Spent During COVID-19
Life right now seems like a weird movie with so many things being closed and canceled. With more time at home, it’s tempting to binge Netflix or Hulu, or get a little stir crazy; but it’s also a chance to get creative and even pump up your prayer life. While our daily routines are up in the air for now, do your best to have fun, remain healthy, and invite the Prince of Peace Himself into your daily life. For some inspiration, look no further than… right here:
High School Small Groups
Various Days and Times
Most of our high school small groups are hosting virtual small groups. Dana and/or your small group leaders have/will be sending out information about how and when to join your small group.
If you have any questions about how to connect with a small group contact Dana or Zach.
Blog: Canceled Proms and Postponed Graduations
I’m glued to my phone, looking for updates. How many cases? How many deaths? I get an email notification with COVID-19 in the subject line and my heart skips a beat. Then I roll my eyes. “Texas Roadhouse wants you to know we’re taking extra steps to avoid spreading COVID-19.” Thanks, Texas Roadhouse. I really appreciate it.
Every store and restaurant I’ve ever been to has sent me an email this month describing their new handwashing policy. It’s a little annoying, but it’s been great for purging my inbox. Why am I getting emails from Old Navy in the first place? Unsubscribe. When did I give my information to Sephora? I don’t remember shopping there.
My students, on the other hand, have had their hearts broken by notifications.
Apr
2
Parent Discussion & Prayer
Thur Apr 2nd, 6:30-7:30 pm
Video Call Hosted by Zach & Dana
Are you going?
Yes
No
Maybe
going.
not going.
might be going.
Blog: Naming Loss & Gratitude with Young People
What a difference a week can make. Or even a few hours.
Many of us are looking back at the not-so-distant past and remembering what little time we had to prepare. The flood of information. The contradictory decisions. In my community, our school district decided to stay open—and then reversed within the span of 18 hours. Our kids started the school day with no warning that by the end, they’d be sent home for an indefinite quarantine.
We are feeling it in our household, as I'm sure you are too. For my middle schooler and two high schoolers, the novelty quickly turned into sadness, anger, anxiety, and questions that can't be answered...
General Updates/Reminders
- Our "Disciples at Home" web page has an archive notes sent with resources for you to use at home; this way you don't have to dig through your inbox for details from past emails.
- Be sure to stay up-to-date on parish announcements by visiting our "Spiritual Response" web page.
- Don't forget, Pax Christi will continue to rely on your generosity, now more than ever. Please consider supporting the parish financially during this time. Click on the banner for more information on how to do this online and through text messaging.
- Anchored is a digital faith formation series for middle and high school students presented by Life Teen. Click on the image below for more information.
Stay connected to the Mass and read Scripture while at home. Check out these resources:
Individuals - Study & Pray
Small group and family discussions are great. Ascend is for those looking for something a little more personal. It's still focused on the Sunday readings but written more for the individual. You can use it even if you participate in a small group or family discussion.
Summit Lectionary Study
Take some time to form a small group with your peers and/or use this resource together as a family.
Sunday, Sunday, Sunday Podcast
Join Mark Hart, popular Catholic speaker and evangelist, for a 5 minute study on the Sunday Readings every week. If you've never seen or heard Mark Hart you are in for a treat. There are few better than him at breaking open Scriptures for teens and adults alike.
Missing the Music?
Checkout this Spotify playlist filled with music aimed at helping you reflect on the Sunday Mass Readings. Zach will also e sending playlists for you using Apple Music and Spotify. Do you have any suggestions?
Pray with the Scriptures
Life Teen offers a pretty sweet live stream every Wednesday at 5 pm CST on YouTube called "Lectio Live." They'll guide you through the scriptures using a prayer method called "lectio divina" or divine reading. Try it, you'll like it! There is an archive of past weeks as well!
Live Stream Mass at Pax Christi
Everyday at 8 am one of our priests will be celebrating Mass and streaming it live. On Sundays the plan is to have music as well! Don't worry if you miss it live, it will be recorded and added to our YouTube Channel archive.
Live Stream w/Fr. Mike Schmitz
Fr. Mike is the chaplain at the University of Minnesota Duluth and the Director of Youth Ministry for the Diocese of Duluth. He also hosts a popular apologetics series on YouTube with Ascension Presents. He'll be streaming his Sunday Masses.
Live from Bishop Barron's Chapel
Bishop Barron is an Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. He's also the creator of many video catechesis programs' including the popular series "Catholicism." As founder of "Word on Fire" Bishop Barron has become a leading figure in Catholic Evangelization.
Video Call Details
We'll be using a web based app called Jitsi, jitsi.org, for both of the video calls mentioned in this note.
If you are using a computer you will NOT need to download anything. All you need is a working web browser (Google's Chome works best).
If you are using a phone or tablet you WILL need to download an app. While in your app store search "Jitsi" and it should be the first option.
Here are the url's for the video links:
- Virtual Proof: meet.jit.si/proof
- Parent Discussion & Prayer: meet.jit.si/paxparent
Make sure you allow Jitsi to have access to your microphone and camera, I recommend having your browser and/or mobile device "ask" you for permission each time you open/use the app. This seems to be the most secure.