Gather4Good - New Ulm

Catholic Aid's Gather4Good event was a great success in New Ulm. Check out our pictures here.

Gather4Good

Learn more at www.catholicaid.org/links/gather4good

May/June Edition of the Fraternal Dispatch

Hello, and thanks for looking to Fraternal Dispatch for news, updates and ideas for
Fraternal activities through Catholic Aid Association.

Click here to download the most recent issue of the Fraternal Dispatch.

Topics in this issue:

· 2010 Annual Convention Details and Schedule

· Scholarship Winner Highlight: Ryan Symanietz

· Salute to Youth Winners: John Kimlinger, Anthony LeClair, Brooke Matuska, Brandon Schaust. Honorable Mentions: Andrew Kueppers, Jacob Scott

· 2009 Fraternal Program Summary

· Nominate your volunteers of the year

· More youth news on www.catholicaid.org

· Get paid now! Find out how!

· A message from Director Kathleen Moriarty

If you have any problems with this download, email ads@catholicaid.org.

If you want to receive a paper copy of this newsletter, email cvoyda@catholicaid.org.

Thank you!

Your Fraternal Staff

Salute to Youth 2010

Congratulations to our Salute to Youth award winners! Salute to Youth is a national recognition program to honor high school seniors who give of their time, energy and talents to serve others and to improve themselves. The high school senior should be a member of the Catholic Aid Association, lead a balanced life, pay back to the community, and keep at least a 2.75 grade point average. Congratulations to John Kimlinger, Tony LeClair, Brooke Matuska and Buddy Schaust!

Learn more about each Salute to Youth winner here.

What's next for CAA?

by Jared Roddy, Editor

Spring is a time of change. The snows melt, the streams and rivers swell, the earth eases out a sigh of moist organic smells and the sky is once again filled with the song of birds. Out from their shuttered homes troop the stoic Upper-Midwesterners to sunny, 40-degree weather and declare winter officially over as snowbirds return from their winter escapes.

Like those that came before it for untold years, the spring of 2010 will tempt out the winter-weary, drop a few more inches of unwelcome snow, then bloom into the season of green. Unlike those of years past, Catholic Aid is in for some changes as well.

Nothing remains static, true of nature and the nature of business. Change keeps things fresh, allows an organization to adapt, and prevents the stagnation of ideas. So at a spry 132 years old, what’s new for Catholic Aid in this coming year?

Making It Count
The social and service aspects of a fraternal society are part of what makes our Association so different from commercial insurers.

In 2010, Catholic Aid will test a pilot-program seeking to involve more people in larger, region-wide celebrations and service projects. It is the hope of the company to organize festive gatherings this summer and fall, while in some way improving the lives of Catholics and the communities in which they live.

A change announced at last year’s Convention was the plan for a shorter, one-day business meeting in August this year. With the money saved by shortening the main convention, Catholic Aid hopes to throw two or three member celebrations across its territory. The focus of these will not be the business of the Association, but the business of fraternalism.

The idea at this stage is to offer members and non-members the opportunity to take part in a volunteer activity that would directly improve the community in which it takes place.

“As far as we know, this will be a first for Catholic Aid,” Fraternal Director Kathleen Moriarty says. “Organizing a community event, leveraging our membership base to improve a community, offering a chance to give back – we like to think that our Council events do all these things, but we’ve never done it on such a large scale.”

In 2011, there will be time to reflect on the success of this year’s member celebrations, which will likely offer a community picnic, children’s activities and service opportunities, capped off by an outdoor Saturday evening Mass. The goals of the program are to increase the visibility of Catholic Aid in the communities and Dioceses it operates in, to improve the community itself, to increase awareness of the company and its products, and ultimately, to increase membership rolls. These events are meant to involve members and non-members, and we hope to have a large turnout.

Participants will have the opportunity to do a good work, meet new people, and see the power of an organized Fraternal in action. For kids and youth, it’s another way to improve college applications and instill a culture of service; for adults and seniors, it’s a way to give back to the community and work together.

For everyone, it’s a chance to spend a nice day outdoors with family and friends. Though no firm dates have been established, a trial run is hoped to be offered in early summer, with another one or two in the early fall.

Once again, the name game
For most members and employees of the Catholic Aid Association, however, no change will be more monumental than the one the delegates will consider at the official one-day convention in August.

Like a debate in Washington, this issue has been polarizing at times. One goal throughout the process, aided by this publication, has been transparency and due process. President Michael McGovern explains what has gone into this process so far:

“By last summer’s convention, we had committed to the name update enough to end our gathering with a video that explained why. After the convention, the real work began. We compiled names, sifted them against our criteria, checked whether they were legally available, commissioned a survey of members and non-members and compiled the results. There has been a clear winner, in all our surveys. And on Thursday, March 11, the Board voted to accept this name. The very next day, the Constitution Committee approved the name and declared the path clear for a vote at the convention. We’ll continue to accept feedback and hope to engage our members more than ever over the next few months to further understanding of why this name update is important to our organization.”

Before the Board vote, however, Lead Director Fran Barten spoke to her fellow board members and helped to crystallize exactly why she believes the update was necessary. “This is about our future, and our future members. If you Google ‘Catholic’ and ‘financial,’ we don’t even show up. Yet this is exactly what we do as an organization. We have to be able to be found by the current generation. They don’t look in the yellow pages, they don’t make the connection between ‘aid’ and ‘financial’ except in terms of college loans. Catholic is who we are. United is what we are. Financial is what we do. This name update is about our future, not our past. For those who, like myself, grew up with Catholic Aid, we have to remember that the most important element of our name, ‘Catholic,’ still comes first. It influences every decision we make, and so, like Catholic Aid, Catholic United Financial is Catholic first.”
The more things change

A yea or nay vote in August by the elected delegates of the Catholic Aid Association will determine what name the Association takes in the future. That control of this great Association is one thing that has not and will not change. We may try different ways of involving our members, or of holding our annual meetings, we may even change what we call ourselves. But none of those things changes who we are or what we do. And as always, the final decisions will rest in the hands of the members.

Originally published in the March/April 2010 issue of Catholic Aid Journey, the official magazine of Catholic Aid Association.

Meeting the Daily Needs of Our Seminarians...

by Susan F. Detlefsen, Staff Writer
This story originally appeared in the January/February issue of Catholic Aid Journey magazine.

The Monsignor Schuler Seminarian Charitable Trust was able to bless more than 100 seminarians with grants this year. The Trust gave out $25,200 in major awards and $11,500 in minor awards for a total of 109 grants and $36,700 total dollars awarded.

The numbers are high this year, but the most rewarding part of the grant program is receiving the moving notes of thanks and gratitude from the grant recipients.

Many seminarians said that the grants help them focus on their studies rather than fret about finances. “Time in the seminary is filled with many challenges, not least of which is the occasional financial challenge of books, travel and various other personal expenses. With your generous and prayerful support, it makes it possible for seminary to be a time to be concerned with the study of Theology, formation and especially to be growing in prayer,” wrote Jeremy Vidmar.

Lee Fortin of Watertown, S.D., agrees. “It’s scholarships like the Msgr. Schuler Trust that allows seminarians the time to focus on classes, discernment and formation. I encourage you in this giving because it is becoming ever more apparent to me that our God is never outdone in generosity.”

This is the fourth grant that Matt Wiering has received since starting his studies in Rome more than three years ago. “After my ordination, I will obviously no longer need the grant, but I will always remember the help the Schuler Charitable Trust gave me during my seminary years,” Wiering wrote to the Trust in a letter.

The grants helped seminarians travel back home for holidays. “Thanks to your generosity, I am able to get back to my Diocese for Holy Week to serve and celebrate with our Diocese at our Mass,” said Seth Gogolin of Brainerd, Minn. Gregory Haman of Fargo, N.D., also used his grant money to make a welcome trip home for the holidays.

The grant will help Deacon Alex Carlson travel to Ares, France, where he will prepare for ordination on May 29, 2010.For others, grant monies made sure that some unexpected bills weren’t a burden. “I recently had to replace my glasses; the Msgr. Schuler Grant paid for this unexpected expense,” said Aaron Kalmon of Superior, Wis. “Thanks to your gift I’ll be able to pay my car insurance and for some gas,” said Sean Mulligan of Grand Forks, N.D.

Grant recipient Elliot Huss of Coon Rapids, Minn., testified not only to the importance of the grant he received, but also to his fellow seminarians. “I can personally attest to the quality of men in the seminary currently and want you to know your hard work could not have benefited a greater bunch of young men. Please also know your generosity is greatly appreciated,” said Huss.

Donations to the Schuler Charitable Trust can be made online at: www.catholicaid.org/links/schuler. Click on the blue “Donate Now” button.

Read more about the Schuler Charitable Trust.
Download the photos and names of the 2009 seminarian grant recipients.
Donate now to the Schuler Trust (via www.razoo.com)

The Results are In...

The 2009 Catholic Aid Membership Drive results are in!

Catholic Aid's 'Nuts for New Members' contest offered prizes and incentives for councils and members who help Catholic Aid generate new member growth. With our member's help and their positive word-of-mouth, we worked together to add new members and make an even greater impact on the Catholic community! Click here for more information!

Salute to Youth

If you know a high school senior (including a student in your family) who has a balanced life, pays back the community, and keeps at least 2.75 grade point average, the student can be nominated for Salute to Youth, a national recognition program to honor high school seniors who give of their time, energy and talents to serve others and to improve themselves.

While Degree of Honor is the official host of Salute to Youth, Catholic Aid partners with them on this effort. Both Catholic Aid and Degree of Honor are fraternal benefit societies, societies that conduct fraternal programs, are not for profit, have a representative form of government, have a system of local lodges (Catholic Aid’s are called councils) and provide insurance, along with other member benefits.

Nomination forms should be submitted to Catholic Aid Association by March 12, 2010 at 3499 Lexington Avenue North, Saint Paul, MN 55126. Heather Vargo, the Youth Fraternal Liaison is available for questions or comments regarding this program. You can reach Heather by phone at 800.568.6670 ext 187 or by email, hvargo@catholicaid.org.

To download a nomination form, please click here. Please note that this link takes you to issuu.com.

Youth Volunteer of the Year Award Nominations

Youth Volunteer of the Year Award Nominations are due June 1, 2010.

The Youth Volunteer of the Year Award is an honor presented by Catholic Aid Association to recognize a young adult, between ages 16-30, within the Catholic Aid Association who, through example and accomplishment, provided outstanding volunteer service to his or her community and/or council during the past year. Please contact Heather Vargo for more information or to receive a nomination form.

Click here for a nomination form. (Please note: This link takes you to issuu.com)

.:: Catholic Aid Upcoming Events ::.

March 6 - Diocese of St. Cloud
All are invited to a Mini Retreat with Dr. Janet Smith, Chair of Life Ethics, Professor of Moral Theology. Dr. Smith is the author of Humanae Vitae: A Generation Later, Editor of Why Humanae Vitae was Right: A Reader co-authored Life Issues, Medical Choices, Questions and Answers for Catholics, and authored Right to Privacy. Over a million copies of her talk “Contraception: Why Not" have been distributed. The mini retreat will be held at St. Henry's Parish in Perham beginning with Mass at 7:30am, followed by continental breakfast, talk on " Contraception: Why Not", then Father Aaron Kuhn will speak on "The Sacrament of Reconciliation - A personal encounter with Jesus", then Adoration/Sacrament of Reconciliation, Lunch (included), with a final presentation on "The Right to Privacy" by Dr. Janet Smith.

The cost of the event is $20 in advance/$25 at the door. Tickets are available at St. Henry's Parish office at 218-346-4240. Questions please call Deb at 218-346-2467 or Joe at 218-346-5797.

This Mini-Retreat is co-sponsored by Catholic Aid Association and the Catholic Aid Association Foundation. Please attend this spiritually filled event.

March 6 & 7 – Diocese of St. Cloud
St. Mary Catholic Aid Council in St. Augusta, MN will host a Garage Sale from 9:00am to 3:00pm on Saturday and 9:00am to 11:00am on Sunday at St. Mary Help of Christians Parish Center. $1.00 a bag from 1:00 to 3:00pm on Saturday and from 9:00 to 11:00am on Sunday. For more information, please contact Field Representative Greg Gall at 320.229.0717.

March 7 – Diocese of St. Cloud
SS Bernard & Elizabeth Catholic Aid Council in Melrose, MN will host their Communion Breakfast with Mass at 10:30 AM; Breakfast to follow at St. Mary’s Church. For more information contact Field Representative Dave Ehlert at 320.836.2617.

March 7 – Diocese of St. Cloud
St. Mary Catholic Aid Council in Upsala, MN will host their Matching Grant Breakfast serving from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at St. Mary’s Church Basement. Menu consists of pancakes, with toppings, eggs, sausage and rolls. Adults are $6.00, Children 4 - 10 are $3.50 and children under 3 are FREE. For more information contact Field Representative Shawn Ehlert at 320.845.6612.

March 12 – SALUTE TO YOUTH DEADLINE
Honor an outstanding high school senior that you know with the Salute to Youth honor program. Nominations for this honor are due to our Fraternal department by today. Email hvargo@catholicaid.org for more details.

March 12 - Diocese of St. Cloud
The Catholic Aid members of Holy Family council in Perham, MN will host a Lenten Fish Fry at St. Henry’s from 5:00 PM to 7:30PM. Dinner includes delicious deep fried fish, coleslaw, baked potato, buns, beverages and desserts. Contact Kathy Hemmelgarn with questions at 218.346.5797.

March 14 – Diocese of New Ulm
St. Joseph Catholic Aid Council in New Ulm, MN will host their Communion Breakfast and 50 year Recognition at 8:00 AM at Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. For more information contact Field Representative Bob Skillings at 507.354.7593.

March 14 – Diocese of St. Cloud
St. Joseph Catholic Aid Council in Wadena, MN will host their Annual Breakfast after the 8:30 AM Mass at St. Anne's Parish. For more information contact Field Representative Ryan Schmitz at 218.445.5296.

March 14 – Diocese of St. Cloud
St. Paul Catholic Aid Council in Sauk Centre, MN will host their Communion Breakfast after the 8:30 AM Mass at Holy Family School - Cafeteria. For more information contact Field Representative Cindy Heveron at 320.554.7579.

Name Update: Your Submissions

In the last 2009 issue of CA Journey magazine, we asked for your ideas. The Board of Directors has decided to update the name of our Association, and you are helping us do it!

We received 97 name ideas from 32 contributors. The list will be narrowed down by vetting names for availability, and comparing them to our criteria for our updated identity (some points listed below, full criteria available online.) After the list has been narrowed, members and non-members will be surveyed to give the Board direction in selecting a final candidate.

The Board has followed your guidance and decided that an updated name is vital to the future growth of our company. Our new identity will have to meet the following requirements. It will eliminate name confusion with similar organizations (Catholic Charities); will better reflect and describe who we are and what we do; will be distinctive and original; and will reflect our Catholic tradition and our vision for the future.

Updating our identity is something we’ve done before, but we need your support for such an effort to be successful. We’re doing everything we can to keep you informed and involve you in the decision.

List of Submitted Names:
Catholic American Financial
Family Tithes Catholic Financial
Catholic Financial Services
Catholic Modern Life
Catholic Virtues Finance
Catholic Financial Life
Catholic Financial Partners
Catholic Fraternal Life & Financial
Catholic Family Financial
Catholic United Financial
Catholic Family Life
Kingdom Life for Catholics
All Saints Catholic Life Insurance

Once again, we’re asking for you to talk to us. Visit www.catholicaid.org/links/nameupdate to register your feedback, let us know your favorite new option, and keep tabs on our progress. Thank you for your submissions!

Who Reigns? Christ Reigns at NCYC 2009

There’s a palpable energy when a sports team fills its arena to capacity, but when it’s God who’s drawing the crowds, Catholic Aid members who attended the National Catholic Youth Conference will tell you it’s a whole new ballgame.

The experience of singing and celebrating the Lord among 21,000 other proud, young Catholics was a singular opportunity that youth members of the Catholic Aid Association took part in Nov. 19 – 21 at the 9th Biennial National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) in Kansas City, Mo.

The theme of this year’s conference was the ways in which Christ reigns this world: in, among, and through us. Each session explored aspects of this theme while workshops helped participants explore the concept further between sessions.

“NCYC changes lives,” wrote David Bursack of Canby, Minn. “No different with me. On this trip I came closer to God just knowing I can pray and be religious around these people freely…The effect on my life is that I will be willing to show my faith around my friends and if they look at me differently, I now know that at least 25,000 other people have my own same beliefs!”

Catholic Aid’s Fraternal Youth Liaison Heather Vargo and Fraternal Director Kathleen Moriarty worked through 2009 to make these scholarships a fraternal benefit available to eligible members.

“Like World Youth Day, we felt this was a unique opportunity for our young members to get out and meet others like them,” Moriarty says. “You can’t practice your faith in a vacuum, so we wanted to provide chances for our young Catholics to see they’re not alone out there.”

The National Catholic Youth Conference is orchestrated by the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM) and according to that body, the conference is the single largest gathering of Catholic young people in the United States.


With special emphasis on the general sessions that addressed the entire multitude, the conference ran for three days. Between the general sessions, the participants broke out into group leader briefings, daily liturgies, concurrent sessions and workshops. Between sessions and workshops, youth could attend Eucharistic Adoration, the thematic park, confession or just hang out with other young Catholics from around the country.

Shawn Polman of Cottonwood, Minn., says, “I realized that when I go home, I know there is that girl way over in California that is praying to the same God…After NCYC, I will know that the Catholic Church isn’t just here in Minnesota, but all over the U.S. and the world too…When I face an obstacle, it will give me the strength that I am not alone. God is with me.”

In addition to the sessions and breakouts, hundreds of displays, interactive and experiential exhibits populated the “Reign Forest” thematic park in the Kansas City Conference Center. Youth were able to talk with Catholic colleges and universities, learn about service projects, play games, check out the technology lounge and learn about vocations. The Reign Forest was open prior to and throughout the conference, but even with three days to work with, pilgrims had difficulty making it to all the booths in the 200,000-square-foot space.

The general sessions were held in the cavernous and state-of-the-art Sprint Center and filled every seat with more than 21,000 exuberant youth spilling into overflow seating. Following the general sessions, a mass exodus of youth poured out of the Sprint Center, engulfing entire streets in downtown Kansas City.

The number of participants and their enthusiasm left a lasting impression on the 17 scholarship winners from Catholic Aid.

Andrea Mayer of Stacyville, Iowa, wrote, “They helped me understand better what it means to be Catholic. They all knew we were there to strengthen our faith and that made it so much fun, that they all wanted to be there and explore their faith.”

The Catholic Aid participants are already looking forward to NCYC 2011 in Indianapolis and until then, they’ll try to hold on to that feeling of community and kinship they described, and the pride they felt among the multitude.

“The most memorable moment was when everyone left the general session and walked together while praising God,” Rachel Kollar of Canby, Minn., says.

“It had a huge impact on me, personally, to be among so many youth open to praising Him for everyone to see. It opened my eyes to see that it’s okay to let your faith show in all aspects of life, not just while at church.”

Copyright 2010 Catholic Aid Association. Content and photos in this story may not be republished in any medium without the express, written consent of Catholic Aid Association.

The Catholic Aid Association Foundation and Haiti Relief

The Salesian Catholic Missions in Haiti is an organization that The Catholic Aid Association has supported financially for over 20 years. The missions operate orphanages, shelters, hospitals, clinics, nurseries, youth centers, parishes, and schools.

If you are interested in making a financial contribution to the Salesian Missions, please donate by cash, check or credit card directly to the Catholic Aid Association Foundation, Attn: Haiti Relief. The check from the Foundation will be sent to Fr. Mark Hyde and the deadline for donations is February 5, 2010.

The Catholic Aid Association will match up to $1,000 in donations to the campaign.

For more information, please contact Paul Naumann, Executive Director of the Catholic Aid Association Foundation at 651.765.6548 or 877.275.7145 or pnaumann@catholicaid.org.

Catholic Aid Youth and Young Adults Update

World Youth Day Scholarships:
Catholic Aid is offering scholarships for World Youth Day 2011! Attached is a flyer. Catholic Aid is offering 60 scholarships in the amount of $500 each. More information and applications are available online at www.catholicaid.org/links/wyd2011. Also, you can join the Catholic Aid group on Facebook by searching “WYD 2011: Catholic Aid Association.”

Post High School Tuition Scholarships:
Scholarship applications are due February 15, 2010. For more information on our Post High School Tuition Scholarships, check out www.catholicaid.org/links/scholarships.

Salute to Youth:
If you know a high school senior (including a student in your family) who has a balanced life, pays back the community, and keeps at least 2.75 grade point average, the student can be nominated for Salute to Youth, a national recognition program to honor high school seniors who give of their time, energy and talents to serve others and to improve themselves. This award is not monetary; students and their guests attend a dinner in Saint Paul on Tuesday, April 20, 2010 and receive a plaque and recognition at the banquet.

While Degree of Honor is the official host of Salute to Youth, Catholic Aid partners with them on this effort. Both Catholic Aid and Degree of Honor are fraternal benefit societies, societies that conduct fraternal programs, are not for profit, have a representative form of government, have a system of local lodges (Catholic Aid’s are called councils) and provide insurance, along with other member benefits.

Nomination forms should be submitted to Catholic Aid Association by March 12, 2010 at 3499 Lexington Avenue North, Saint Paul, MN 55126. Heather Vargo, the Youth Fraternal Liaison is available for questions or comments regarding this program. You can reach Heather by phone at 800.568.6670 ext 187 or by email, hvargo@catholicaid.org. The Nomination Form is attached to this email.

Youth Financial Workshop:
The financial literacy of high school students has fallen to its lowest level ever. About 75 percent of young American adults are likely to lack the skills needed to make beneficial financial decisions.**

Catholic Aid offers a financial workshop for teens. The workshop covers the basics of spending, saving and budgeting. Heather is happy to work with youth ministers to do a one-time workshop in your parish. Contact Heather for more information.

Theology On Tap:
Catholic Aid is sponsoring two series of Theology On Tap. Theology on Tap is a great opportunity for young Catholic adults to meet in a comfortable setting to explore faith and how it affects their lives. Upcoming dates for Theology on Tap:

Saint Paul Theology on Tap is on the corner of Lexington and Energy Parkway at Gabe’s Roadhouse. 991 North Lexington Parkway, Saint Paul, MN. The evenings begin at 7:00pm, with a speaker from 7:30-8:45pm and the rest of the evening for further discussion and fellowship.

January 13th - Prof. Faith Pawl
Will & Grace: Human Willpower and God’s Grace

January 20th - Fr. Thomas Wilson
Men in Black

January 27th - Fr. Joseph Johnson
Grill the Priest

February 3rd - John Crudele
Young Adult: From Young to Adult

February 10th - Bishop Lee Piche
Is God txt u? His mssg to u via SS- the Sacred Scripture

Robbinsdale Theology on Tap is at the Eagle’s Nest Lounge at 4106 Lakeland Ave., Robbinsdale. The evenings begin at 6:30pm with a speaker starting at 7:00pm.

January 18th - Jeremy Stanbary, Actor
Using the Media to Engage the Culture

January 25th - Dr. Arthur Hippler, Theology Chair Providence Academy
Engaging Atheism

February 1st - Drs. Catherine and David Deavel, University of St. Thomas
What is marriage? How to defend marriage with natural law!

February 8th - Dr. William Stevenson, Director of Theology Providence Academy
The Church , the Modern World, and the Whole of Reality.

February 16th - Grill the Priests– Q & A with Priests of Local parishes!
Have a question about the faith? Come get an answer?

Catholic Mavs Day at MSU Mankato:
Catholic organizations and religious orders will be at Minnesota State University (Mankato) on February 1 in the Student Union. Catholic Aid will be there and students will have an opportunity to get their picture with the Pope from 10:00am to 2:00pm!

**National Jump$tart Coalition Survey of High School and College Students

For more information contact Heather Vargo, Youth Fraternal Liaison, Catholic Aid Association at hvargo@catholicaid.org or 651.765.6540.

Updates From Your Youth Liaison @ Catholic Aid

Youth Financial Workshop:
About 75 percent of young American adults are lacking the skills needed to make good financial decisions. One fifth of the students with credit cards are carrying more than $10,000 in debt. Some students are “refinancing” their credit card debt with student loans, leading to an average of $20,000 in college loan debt.* Catholic Aid has a solution for your youth and young adults! Our financial workshop will help teens learn ways to start managing their finances with practical ideas about checking accounts, debt, credit cards, and savings.

Here are some suggestions for a successful workshop:
• Contact me at (651) 765-6540, or email hvargo@catholicaid.org to schedule a workable date and time.
• The workshop is designed for students in grades 9-12, but the content can be tailored to young adults, ages 18-30, as well. Parents are also invited to attend.
• The workshop is about 1½ to 2 hours in length. Providing refreshments is appreciated.

Young Adult Advisory Team:
The first meeting of the Young Adult Advisory Team was Nov. 14, 2009 and the group was ambitious and engaged. The team consists of Reba Bisciglia, Vinnie Floeder, Abby Huebsch, Paula Minell, Jorden Taveirne, Gabriel Walz, and Cari White. The meeting was facilitated by Heather Vargo, Youth Liaison. The group covered a lot of material, including Catholic Aid’s name update, youth programs, and youth financial workshop and scholarship programs. The team’s primary purpose is to explore how Catholic Aid can increase visibility, promote volunteerism and spirituality, and to look at how young people can assist Catholic Aid councils in strengthening relationships with youth.

World Youth Day Scholarships:
In 2008, Catholic Aid helped young adults attend World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia, by providing nearly $34,000 in grants to 70 young members. While the next World Youth Day is less than two years away, groups are making plans and gathering funds to attend World Youth Day in Madrid, Spain, on Aug. 15-21, 2011. Catholic Aid will again offer young adults $500 scholarships to aid in their travel expenses. Potential pilgrims can apply for one of 60 grants that will be given out in 2011. More information is available at www.catholicaid.org/links/wyd2011.

*Source: National Jump$tart Coalition