Our Lady of the Lake Youth Ministry
Youth Voice
Volume 8, Issue 8
May
May 2015
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Charles
Matta
Youth Group Meetings
7:00pm DOYC
Monday Nights
May 4
William
Czupak
James
Robbins
Michael
Daggett
Gillian
Schuldiner
May 18
Mini Golf
Giancarlo
Visentin
Caroline
Chivily
William Evans
Timothy
Galdieri
Michael
Stanisci
Julianna
Chanley
Leah Ferrari
May 11
Devyn
Bevilacqua
Farewell to Seniors
Connor Silvia
Ed Oser
May 18
**Save the Date**
Romuald
Merluza
Bridget
Duggan
Julia
Cambreleng
Graduation Mass
(Open to all graduates and
families)
Saturday June 6
It’s hard to believe that May is already here!
5:30pm mass
We had a long winter, but spring has finally arrived and it has gone by very quickly. This
month is just like the other months and full of fun activities. We have a youth group
meeting to wrap up our parable theme for the year, mini golf (check inside for more details),
and Farewell to Seniors! It’s important for everyone to be at Farewell to Seniors to show
them our support as they embark on a new journey in their lives.
Mary, the
Mother of God
We are not done in May, though. June 6 at 5:30pm mass is the graduation mass for all
graduates of OLL and that is another time for the youth group family to come together and
support our seniors in prayer. Also, we have our planning meetings and preparation for our
mission trips. The week long mission trip will be in West Virginia this year. Pray for us as
we prepare to help those in need in Braxton County.
Spring is a wonderful season that allows us to be reminded of all of God’s renewal. We
often think of it as the end—the end of school, the end of organized activities, the end of
homework. However, spring is a season of beginnings and renewal! Take some time this
spring to enjoy God’s beauty that is around you—other people, nature, your blessings. This
is also the month dedicated to Mary! Inside you will find prayers dedicated to her as well as
some pictures. Pray to Mary that she will be there to untie the knots in your life!
Monday, May 11 will be our annual Mini Golf
Night. Permission slips are required. The
cost is $7 per person. We also go for ice
cream afterwards, so bring extra money if you
would like ice cream!
Monday, May 18 Come celebrate the senior
class! Join us as we send our seniors forth
with our love, prayers and support. It
wouldn’t be a Farewell to Seniors if there
weren’t some embarrassing pictures from
through the years! This is a night for
everyone, not just seniors!
Prayer to Mary, Undoer of Knots
Virgin Mary, Mother of fair love, Mother who never
refuses to come to the aid of a child in need, Mother
whose hands never cease to serve your beloved
children because they are moved by the divine love
and immense mercy that exists in your heart, cast
your compassionate eyes upon me and see the snarl
of knots that exist in my life. You know very well
how desperate I am, my pain, and how I am bound
by these knots. Mary, Mother to whom God entrusted the undoing of the knots in the lives of his
children, I entrust into your hands the ribbon of my
life. No one, not even the evil one himself, can take it
away from your precious care. In your hands there is
no knot that cannot be undone. Powerful Mother, by
your grace and intercessory power with Your Son
and My Liberator, Jesus, take into your hands today
this knot.
[Mention your request here]
I beg you to undo it for the glory of God, once for all.
You are my hope. O my Lady, you are the only consolation God gives me, the fortification of my feeble
strength, the enrichment of my destitution, and, with
Christ, the freedom from my chains. Hear my plea.
Keep me, guide me, protect me, o safe refuge!
Mary, Undoer of Knots, pray for me.
Amen.
Remember playing Hungry Hungry Hippos as a kid?? (Or maybe just
last week, no judgment here) We played a human version and it
was a blast!
DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY
JOHN 20:19-31
On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained.”
Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve,
was not with them when Jesus came.
So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”
But he said to them,
“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands
and put my finger into the nailmarks
and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
Now a week later his disciples were again inside
and Thomas was with them.
Jesus came, although the doors were locked,
and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands,
and bring your hand and put it into my side,
and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”
Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples
that are not written in this book.
But these are written that you may come to believe
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,
and that through this belief you may have life in his name.
Good Morning. My name is Alex Hardenberg and I am a member of the Youth Group here at OLL
This weeks Gospel reading is one that is very well known. The story of doubting Thomas. This story
is one that teaches a powerful lesson that Catholics are a prime example of. You must believe without seeing. This story has left a lasting impact on us thousands of years later. The reason why is because we live it ourselves. We believe in Christ without ever seeing him ourselves. This is exactly
what God calls on us to do. We have to cancel out the outside noise telling us what we follow is
wrong. This is where the seeds of doubt are planted. Many people have a hard time understanding
why we believe what we do. This is where they begin to question everything about us and we begin
to join in on the doubt.
Why do I follow these rules?
Why am I going to Church every Sunday?
Why am I even here?
These are some questions I have asked myself when I was in doubt of Christ. It was during 7th
grade when all of this was happening. For a while I did not fully understand the teachings at CCD
and didn't see the point in them. I questioned the whole idea of what we believe. Why are we following the teachings of a book? It is no better than any other one. I was filled with doubt. I didn't make
this apparent to my family because I figured they would not understand what I'm going through. This
constant doubt came to a screeching halt shortly after I lost my grandmother. That day I had to pitch
for my travel baseball team. I was so down but didn't play like it. It was one of the best performances
I ever had. As soon as the game was over. He came up to me and says "I'm proud of you. It's tough
to play with a broken heart but you pulled through it."
God was calling on me through him saying I am here with you.
I'm sure I am not the only one in mass today who at some point or another questioned God. This is
where the Gospel of doubting Thomas is so powerful. It's a story that is applicable today for so many
people. To question things is human nature. Thomas questioned whether or not they truly saw Jesus. I questioned his existence as well. It's a part of our faith. It is how we grow in our faith and relationship with God. The story of Thomas is one that is so important since it teaches the basic belief
for Catholics. Seeing isn't believing. Believing is seeing.
~Alex Hardenberg
OUR LADY OF THE LAKE CHURCH
32 LAKESIDE AVENUE
VERONA NJ 07044
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PI # 6894
Newark, NJ
Youth Group’s Mission
Community = Youth Group should provide a “place to be” for high school students,
something separate from home and school and “real” - unlike virtual escapes and
online communities. Youth Group should be a place for like-minded, faith-seeking
teenagers who can come to YG to make friends and/or spend time with friends. Most
importantly, Youth Group provides a safe environment for kids to be themselves and
maybe even discover a new piece of themselves.
Education & Spirituality = Youth Group’s mission is to both educate and help kids
tap into their spirituality by addressing fundamental questions such as Who is God?
How do we find him in the world? How do we function as Christians in the world?
How do we communicate with God? How do I pray? Who does God want for me?