Financial Seminar for Teens, A Survival Guide to Finances!

As part of the ongoing support of youth and young adults, Catholic Aid will be partnering with the St. Cloud, MN Diocese and the Winona, MN Diocese for their Annual Youth Rally and Youth Conference.

The St. Cloud Diocesan Youth Rally will take place at St. John's University on November 23, 2008.

The Winona Diocesan Catholic Youth Conference will take place at the Holiday Inn - Mankato November 22-23, 2008.

Catholic Aid Association Credit Union President Nicholas Jaeger will give a financial workshop at each of the events. Organizers say the St. Cloud Diocese event alone could attract more than 600 youth. The purpose of the diocesan gatherings is to encourage 9th through 12th graders to think of their Catholic teachings in their everyday lives. Jaeger will present, “Survival Guide: Your Cash, Your Credit.” Discussion will help teens learn ways to start managing finances. Teens will leave with practical ideas about debt management, credit cards, debit cards, and savings.

If you are interested in a financial seminar for teens at your parish, contact the Youth Fraternal Liaison, Heather Vargo at 1.800.568.6670 ext 187.

Bringing B16 to your Inbox on Xt3…

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has decided to use Xt3 to send a message for youth and young adults (marking the 50 day WYD08 reunion). Just imagine, checking your inbox on Xt3 to find a message from the Pope!

Everyone that is registered with Xt3 will receive a special message from the Holy Father today, the 8th of September. Why not log on and invite your friends so they too can receive this historic message and share the journey on Xt3.

In other news, Xt3 is off to an incredible start, with tens of thousands of young people already registered! There are awesome debates going on in our newly improved discussions and over 1000 groups, the new mega ’Prayer Wall‘ is already popular, and thousands of you have been enjoying free podcasts and video from WYD and beyond. Xt3 is still growing and improving - watch this space and don‘t forget to invite your friends!

Also, if you didn't know, Xt3.com has been chosen as the first ever official social networking platform for World Youth Day. The name ‘Xt3’ comes from bringing ‘Xt’ (Christ) into the 3rd Millennium. Xt3.com is a modern, slick and easy to use social networking platform similar to Facebook and Myspace etc. You have the opportunity to network with peers who share your interests, beliefs, values and desires to make the world a better place. Each diocese will have a network, plugging you back into what’s going on in your area.

Catholic Aid Council Youth Liaisons

What’s a good way to involve the youth and young adults of your parish in Council events? Recruit a Youth Liaison. This position is not required, but recommended for every council. This person maintains a connection with the parish youth group, confirmation class, school and religious education coordinator. The person in this position also has a hand recruiting project team leaders, and acts as the liaison between youth project teams and local council officers.

The Youth Liaison does NOT have to be an officer or a member of Catholic Aid. The youth liaison can be a young leader who is in high school or college. Also, the youth liaison can be an older individual, perhaps a youth minister, or confirmation class teacher. We encourage you to choose a Youth Liaison who is a younger person in touch with the younger members of the council and parish. If you need help recruiting for this position, give me a call. I’d love to help.

Here are some ways we can connect:
-Let me know about your council events that are focused on youth and young adults, because I’d really like to come and connect with your young leaders.
-If you are meeting with a priest or a school principal, I’d be happy to come along to explain our youth programs to them.
-If you are interested in adding a council youth liaison to your council, I’d be glad to talk with your council and the potential youth liaison to increase understanding of the council position.

Call to Action: Remember 9/11 at myGoodDeed.org

Catholic Aid is dedicated to volunteerism, here is a great way that we can all log our good deeds and volunteer together for a great cause. Let's continue to remember the victims, families, friends, and heroes of 9/11.

9/11 is increasingly being recognized as a day of service and an act of memory. For volunteers, 9/11 remembrance offers a unique way to give back by getting involved.

Check out myGoodDeed.org, an organization that is leading an effort, to strengthen the tradition of citizen service during a time of year many of us look inward. Founded shortly after the terrorist attacks to honor the victims, family members, and survivors, myGoodDeed has been a leader in the national movement to honor the victims and heroes of 9/11 with a day of giving back.

The organization asks visitors to observe the week of 9/11 as a period of voluntary service by logging voluntary "good deeds" on its Web site, and the organization is working to make 9/11 an annual event and season of service.

To log your good deeds, create a profile at www.mygooddeed.org. VolunteerMatch.org provides more than 54,000 active opportunities and is a great place to find ways to make a difference.

Source: Volunteer Newsletter - August 2008, VolunteerMatch.org

Theology on a Stick

Theology on a Stick was a great success! The Most Holy Father (the life-size stand-up edition) came to the event on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday (August 27, 29, 30) and was greeted warmly by volunteers, priests, and fair-goers. The life size stand-up of the Pope helped lighten the atmosphere and made Theology on a Stick more approachable to fair-goers. You can see pictures of the event here. More event photos will be uploaded on the Catholic Aid website by September 8 at www.catholicaid.org/life.