There's always money....

...in the lemonade stand.

This weekend is the annual St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish Polish Festival. The youth group will be running a lemonade stand, and a cotton candy stand. All the proceeds will be going to offset costs for the March for Life.

Not only will you be able to get some great lemonade and cotton candy (alright, so I have no idea where this stuff is coming from; nor have I ingested any so as to make any claim or representation as to its yummy-ness.) and support the youth group, and their mission to make their voices heard in Washington, D.C. this January!

Also, if you stop by Thursday or Friday, you can see yours truly!

If you don't live in the Great Lakes Bay Region (i.e. you're an Alaskan reader) please keep our youth, and all the youth in your prayers.

The 'Traditional Mass' as an element of re-Christianization

The following is the Q&A of Father Goodwin, an FSSP Priest. Have to give a Sword-dub (h/t) to NLM for this article. (Emphasis mine.)

ZENIT: Why do you feel that following the traditional Roman rite is vital to "re-Christianizing" our world?

Father Goodwin: The Traditional Mass is a very important element in the re-Christianization of the world because it so clearly and fully embodies the faith of the Church. The whole notion of Christ's sacrifice is the central point of the Mass.


Of course, the primary objection that's most often offered to it is "Why would you want to celebrate the Mass in a language that people don't understand?" But that makes the assumption that the relationship of people to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is primarily one of comprehension; that the Mass is a piece of information to be learned and understood.


Today, Mass is most often celebrated in the world where people can see everything that is going on and understand everything that's said. Can we honestly say that the result of this has deepened their appreciation for what's going on? When pollsters tell us that 80% of Catholics under the age of 59 have a non-Catholic idea of what the Blessed Sacrament is, the whole communication thing may not be so successful. That should not be the primary goal. The primary goal is the worship of God.


The Mass is not a bunch of jumbled elements that we put together or we construct in order to make something that is meaningful to us. The Mass is something that exists in itself, to which we conform ourselves, so that we can more perfectly unite with God.


I think that's what young people find in the Traditional Mass. They're not looking for an explanation; they're looking for the presence of Christ. This is, in a very primary way, about reverence, piety and devotion.

The answer that he gave to the above question, succinctly explains the nature and appeal of the Usus Antiquior. In his final statement he explains why young people are drawn to the Extraordinary Form. An attraction, that for years, modernist leaders in the Church said did not exist.

The argument was always, "We need to make the Mass relevant to the youth." Fr. Goodwin explains that just the opposite is true: that the youth are reverent, pious, and devoted and look for Christ, so that they may conform themselves to HIM in order to more perfectly unite with him.

Late Night Adoration

I supervised a youth lock-in this past weekend. Here are a few snapshots of our 2:30-3:30 Adoration:

Posted by: Brian

Our Future

Yesterday, I had a really great idea for a post, but then I had to do other stuff and I forgot what I wanted to blog about. So now you get to read about something likely just as important.

I recently got involved in my parishes youth group. It is one of the better "organized" ones that I have seen. (although, I do admit that I have not seen that many) The parish is very willing to get kids involved, and has many monetary and property resources to do so. For example, the kids have access to a nice gym, a "game room" as well as class rooms, computer labs, and social halls. That's not to mention the fact that they can have access to the church when they want for prayer.

Despite all that, there are still things holding the youth group back from what it really could be.(phenomenally great) A lot of that has to do with the fact that there just aren't that many Catholics that want to be involved in youth group. Compounding the issue is the fact that for some of the well-meaning adults that get involved don't know much more (if anything) than the kids.

These problems stem from way back (the long-time Bishop in my diocese was nationally outspoken for things like women priests, protestant-esque churches and the like). So many people that grew up here never had the faith formation that they really deserved. Now with people living such busy lives, they don't have the time to go to classes to learn how to minister properly to our youth. Now, with two great Bishops in a row (maybe we are making up for other "deficiencies"?) the diocese has put together all sorts of opportunities for the faithful to properly learn their faith and spread that faith to our youth.

My role so far has been limited in the youth group. I have more or less simply been an adult figure that has a little more knowledge than what these kids are used to. However, with the opportunity (that is, as long as the parish priest decides that is the capacity he would like me to undertake) to obtain a deeper understanding of the faith, and more young adults that want to be involved in these kids' lives and faith formation, I feel that the youth group could become something more than just a better atmosphere for kids to get together, but a solid foundation to shape their lives and carry out the faith.

So my question is: what do you feel makes a youth group great? Is it deep discussions about the faith? Or maybe trips to see seminaries? Time for prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament? Let me know how you think our future needs to be shaped.

Posted by: Brian

Acting, Baseball, Hockey and Our Youth...

Today, I went with my parishes Youth Group to a hockey game. Unfortunately it wasn't the Red Wings, but it was fun to at least get out to a hockey game.

Anyway, before the game there was a youth rally the Diocese sponsored. The Bishop - a really great guy from Philadelphia - came to speak to the kids and told us about something he noticed while watching baseball games. Acting.

You see, if you watch closely, you will see many baseball players go through a little routine before stepping to the plate, and even in between pitches. Now, although every player has a different routine that they do, be it checking their distance from the plate, adjusting their batting gloves, spitting, kicking dirt, or checking their bat for cracks there is one little routine a lot of players have in common. The sign of the cross.

What's interesting about (some of) those players, is that they like to make sure that people see them bless themselves. They then step up to the plate, maybe swing a few times, let a few balls go by, then hit the ball. They run down to first base as the ball is picked up and hurled over to the bag; it's a close play; and the batter is out. Well, what's the first thing that that player usually does? Goes over to the umpire, gets in his face, and argues. Using some...chioce words. And of course you can see exactly what they are saying. All this after they just got done letting the world know they "believe and follow Christ." So now we have to wonder what the point of blessing themselves was? Was it a true act of faith, or some sort of act that benefits them professionally?

The point of the story was that far too many of our youth (and adults!) act like Christians when it may benefit them. Now, you have to remember (and this was part of the Bishops point) that it isn't necessarily that people are hypocrites, or bad people, just not perfect. Like those baseball players (indeed, not just baseball, but many sports players) we as Catholic adults need to make sure that we are setting a good example for our youth by living out our faith in all that we do, and not "follow the crowd."

We need to make sure that our faith is not something that we show only when it is convenient, or beneficial to us, but rather the opposite. We must show our faith when it is difficult and non-conforming to the norm. Luckily, it isn't hard to see some of the fruits of good Catholics, and the way they live out their faith.

This weekend, my parish is sending over 40(!) youth to Washington, D.C. to walk in the March For Life. Certainly, in today's Culture of Death, standing up in front of your nation for the unborn is very uncomfortable and hard. I know that our youth face ridicule even in their circle of friends for taking a stand for life. So I just want to acknowledge all youth who, unlike many athletes, live their faith when it is difficult and hard to do. Please keep all those traveling to D.C. this weekend, and the unborn in your prayers that they may inspire a Nation to heed the call of Christ and do what is not easy, but what is necessary.

-Posted by: Brian