ATTENTION PARENTS AND YOUNG PEOPLE:

Plan to attend one of the presentations on Comprehensive Youth Ministry for Our Lady of the Black Hills. What is Youth Ministry all about and what does it mean when we say we want to use the WHOLE PARISH FOR A CURRICULUM?

You are to attend either of these times:

• January 29 from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.
• February 2 from 9 a.m. until 10:15 a.m.

Watch for more information in the church bulletins and in the mail. You are welcome to call Pat Roe at 787-5168 for more information or Contact Pat.

CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE

June 16-20, 2003, at St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota.

This institute offers an opportunity for leadership development through an intense period of learning and community living. The program is an in-depth experience in community building, communication skills, and personal growth which will enable each young person to take a leadership role in parish or school youth ministry. The process includes skills development, worship and recreation.

Teams may consist of one adult and up to five youth. April 1, 2003, is the registration deadline.

Pat Roe took a team of four youth last year. It was a great experience! Pat is hoping to take two teams this year!

If you are interested in attending this camp (institute) please contact Pat Roe, Youth Ministry Coordinator, at (605)347-6291 or Contact Pat.

NATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR CATHOLIC YOUTH MINISTRY

On December 4 a group of 20 youth ministers and priests from the Diocese of Rapid City traveled to Denver, Colorado, to attend a conference on Catholic Youth Ministry. There were four from Our Lady of the Black Hills that attended this event: Fr. Mark McCormick, Brenda Czmowski, Pat Roe, and Heather Draine.

What an awesome event it was! There were over 2000 youth ministers from across the nation celebrating their ministry. Through attending workshops and other events for five days these people were encouraged and energized to continue their work with young people. The youth ministers were given:

• New ideas
• Better techniques
• New resources
• Catholic Theology refreshers
• Much more

Get ready OLBH because here we come! Thank you for your blessing on this venture!

LIVING NATIVITY SCENE

Hopefully you all enjoyed the Living Nativity Scene on January 5. The youth involved in the scene were:

Many thanks to these young people and to the following:

• Don Konechene for paying Grandma's Petting Farm to bring the sheep, cow, llama, and donkey. Also for hauling and assembling the hay and straw bails for the manger.
• Pat Pauer for the loan of the two miniature horses
• Tanner Quinn for his border collie
• Cathy Sass and Heather Draine for helping with the behind scene work

Photos

NATIONAL CATHOLIC YOUTH CONFERENCE

November 13-16, 2003, in Houston, Texas, there will be over 25,000 Catholic high school students from across the nation gathered for the next NCYC! Can you just imagine all of those young people gathered together in one place for 3 days to sing and praise the Lord! It is amazing! These young people will not only experience the bigger church but they will hear amazing keynote speakers, sing with awesome bands, attend moving and inspiring general sessions, and participate in fantastic liturgies. It is a trip of a lifetime!

There are 30 young people from Our Lady of the Black Hills that have expressed an interest in attending this event. The cost is $450.00 per person so we will be doing some major fundraising in the next few months.

Please support our young people in this endeavor not only by participating in the fundraising efforts but also with your prayers. It takes a whole parish to raise good Catholics. Your prayers and encouragement are so important to each young person in our parish.

SOUPER BOWL OF CARING

We believe that God is pleased whenever his children love one another even in the simplest way.

Beginning in 1990 with participants in just one city, the Souper Bowl of Caring has become an international grassroots movement that encourages people to give their time and money to serve others in their local communities. An estimated 15,000 churches across the country are joining the Souper Bowl team this year!

Look for the soup kettles in the narthex as you enter Mass on Saturday, January 25, and on Sunday, January 26. The young people of our parish are asking you to put in $1.00 for the needy in our community. All of the money will go to a local charity.

Although many people enjoy unprecedented prosperity in this country and will enjoy partying during the big game, others are still in great need. In the Untied States 31 million people - 12 million of them children, live in poverty.

Teens Encounter Christ

TEC is a three-day Catholic youth weekend. In a fun, Christian atmosphere, youths and adults encounter Christ in one another, through experiences in prayer, liturgy, informal discussions, spiritual talks and dialogue with peers and adults.

In TEC you experience:

• A new and different atmosphere, away from home and school.
• Meeting people from other areas.
• Reflecting and sharing with others how you feel, how you see yourself, your ideals, goals, and hopes.
• Finding a GOD you can believe in.
• Encountering Jesus Christ ALIVE today.

Who can experience a TEC?
Young people 16 and older, who are at least juniors in high school. College and trade school students, young adults.

What time does it begin and end?
9:00 a.m. MST Saturday morning 5:00 p.m. MST Monday evening

How much does it cost?
$35.00 pays for the entire weekend. Scholarships are available for anyone who needs one, however, each person is asked to contribute at least a portion of the fee.

Where will it be held?
St. Bonaventure Parish Center in McIntosh, SD

If you are interested in hearing more about registering for the retreat please call Pat Roe, Youth Ministry Coordinator at 347-6291 or Contact Pat.

The OLBH children's Christmas program was held on Sunday, January 5. The Pre-school - 5th Grade used song and symbols to bring the Christmas story to life. Baby Jesus, angels, gifts, candle, and star were the symbols used to tell the story. Students from the Wed. Youth Formation class provided instrumental music. The program was followed by a visit from St. Nick and refreshments in the church basement.