Gather4Good - New Ulm

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

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.

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.

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 Director’s View - Kathleen Moriarty’s Column

From the November/December Issue of the Fraternal Dispatch. Written by Kathleen Moriarty.

Delegates to the CAA Convention last August had the opportunity to view CAA’s newest video, “What’s in a Name?” The video includes interviews with a variety of people close to CAA and is now available on DVD to councils through the Fraternal Department or your Field Representative.

It is encouraged for members to discuss the updating of the CAA name with your councils. Catholic Aid's goal is to present a proposed name for approval by two-thirds majority of delegates at Annual Convention in August 2010.

Here are some key points and a time line for the process ahead as our Board of Directors, management and members move forward with name selection in 2010.

**An updated name places us in a position of strength against stiff competition from commercial and mutual companies.

**We need to eliminate the name confusion with similar organizations. In a recent survey of non-member Catholics, exactly 70 percent thought CAA was a charitable organization or a disaster relief group.

**Our name must describe who we are and what we do. It must have “Catholic” in the name, and must reflect that we are a financial services organization.

What are our next steps? Catholic Aid is gathering name suggestions from members and non-members through Jan. 1, 2010. Send your ideas to President Mike McGovern or to Kathleen Moriarty. Name options will be discussed at the Board and Constitution Committee meetings during the first quarter of 2010. We will continue to publish updates on this process via video, CAA Journey magazine, Fraternal Dispatch newsletter and at council events.

Kathleen welcomes your thoughts on this important issue. Feel free to call or send an email. Our member's support is essential to this process.

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Scholarships for World Youth Day 2011!

Catholic Aid will be offering scholarships for World Youth Day 2011!

Catholic Aid Association encourages young people in their Catholic spirituality and volunteerism. World Youth Day encourages these same values. Since groups are already forming for World Youth Day 2011, Catholic Aid wanted to announce that there will be 60 scholarships in the amount of $500.00 each for pilgrims. The scholarship recipients will be chosen randomly in a lottery style drawing. All Catholic Aid young people are encouraged to apply for this scholarship between now and November 2010. Please email Heather Vargo at hvargo@catholicaid.org if you would like a copy of the application and guidelines for this scholarship.

Catholic Aid is pleased to offer this benefit to our members. Please feel free to contact Heather Vargo if you have any questions about this scholarship opportunity. You can reach Heather by email at hvargo@catholicaid.org or by phone at 1.800.568.6670 ext 187.

CAA scholarship program reaches $2 million

by Susan F. Detlefsen, Staff Writer

In a legacy spanning 54 years, Catholic Aid Association’s scholarship program reached a special milestone this year. The program awarded $164,500 in scholarships to members in 2009, bringing the program’s cumulative award total to more than $2 million.

“We’re proud of our membership for having the vision to start this program five decades ago, and for supporting it for so many years,” said President and Chairman Michael McGovern. “This is truly a milestone worth celebrating.”

Establishing a scholarship legacy

The front page of the June 22, 1955, issue of the Catholic Aid News announced the first appeal ever for scholarship applicants. “Boys and girls” who were members of the Association and were high school graduates were invited to apply for teaching scholarships to any Catholic college in the Midwest.

Applicants had to demonstrate financial need, an interest in the teaching profession and have an academic record that proved they could succeed at college study.

The scholarships were renewable for all fours years a student was enrolled in teacher’s college, provided that their “scholastic record was satisfactory.” Demonstrating a need of the times, the program’s purpose was “to increase the number of properly qualified Catholic lay teachers for the elementary and secondary schools of this area.”

Dr. Gordon T. Tierney, president of the Men’s Council, recommended establishing a scholarship program at the 1954 annual convention. The original motion states that the program would award 10 to 15 scholarships to students graduating from high school in June of 1955. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved. Tierney also served as the chairman of the first scholarship committee, advised by Archbishop R. J. Connolle, superintendent of schools of the then Archdiocese of St. Paul.
Eight scholarships were awarded in August of that year to three men and five women: Francis Brawn of Glencoe, Minn.; Pamela Douglas of Cannon Falls, Minn.; Robert W. Skillings of St. Paul, Minn.; Bernetta Lieser of St. Martin, Minn.; Patricia Schwab of Comfrey, Minn.; Loretta Sieben of Hastings, Minn.; Dennis Wagener of Glencoe, Minn.; and Dolores Wagner of New Market, Minn. Photos of the winners were published on page seven of the August 22 edition of CA News, a tradition that continues 54 years later as you’ll see on pages 11 through 19 of this magazine.

The unanimous passing of the program at the 1954 convention demonstrated its popularity among Catholic Aid members, who then took active steps to make sure the program succeeded. Just two months after the first scholarships were awarded, the Catholic Women’s Union gave a donation of $1,000 to the fund, roughly equivalent to nearly $8,000 in adjusted dollars today. In the years to come, the scholarship fund continued to receive regular donations from members.

Marie Schwantes, scholarship chairman and executive board member of the Catholic Women’s Union, wrote in the Dec. 22, 1955 issue of Catholic Aid News that “Catholics have a right to take pride in our schools and an obligation to demonstrate a desire and capacity to meet the major problems facing Catholic education. Therefore, the Scholarship Program, which we undertook at our Convention in September, is most worthy and necessary.”

Ten years later, in an appeal for donations in the April 22, 1965 issue of Catholic Aid News, President Tierney described the thriving program as “one of the most important projects to engage the attention of the members of our organization.”

Changing to fit into a changing world

Change is inevitable, and the scholarship program has changed over time to reflect the cultural, religious and education movements prevalent in Catholic and American society. The scholarship is no longer restricted to students intending to enter the teaching profession. Also, the scholarship has changed to a one-time only award, rather than a renewable scholarship.

One thing that has stayed the same for the last few decades is the scholarship amount. While the total giving amounts for the entire program have continued to go up steadily in the past 20 years [see graph below] the actual amount of awards has stayed consistent: $500 for students attending Catholic colleges and universities, $300 for those attending non-Catholic institutions. Considering the skyrocketing cost of post-secondary education these days, the amount of the awards has been revisited several times by the Fraternal department and Catholic Aid’s officers. Each time the amount has been reviewed, CAA has decided to keep the awards the same. Why?

“There are two reasons,” explained Kathleen Moriarty, director of the Fraternal Department. “First, we want to help as many members as we can through this program. We consider the scholarship program to be a member benefit, which means if you are a Catholic Aid member and you meet the basic criteria of the program, then you receive the benefit.

“Second, the program continues to grow almost every year. While the amount of the individual awards hasn’t gone up, the total amount of awards we give out has increased every year in the last 10 years. In 1999, we awarded 154 scholarships. This year we awarded 491, for a total of $164,500 awards given in 2009. That is an amazing number of lives impacted by this program.”
In the last 54 years, more than 5,700 Catholics have received a CAA scholarship to defray tuition costs.

Little-known facts about the program

There are aspects to the program that aren’t as well known. The average scholarship recipient is 18-years of age and has recently graduated from high school. While this is typical, scholarships aren’t limited to this type of student. There is no age limit in the application guidelines, which means a student of any age can apply and potentially receive a scholarship, just as long as they are enrolled for their first or second year in an accredited program with the intention of earning an undergraduate degree or certification.

Typically, most scholarship recipients are planning to attend a four-year school, such as a college or university. But again, the scholarship guidelines aren’t limited to just the big institutions. Students who choose to attend community colleges, vocational-technical institutions or job training are also eligible for a scholarship, as long as the program is accredited and the student is on track for a certification or undergraduate degree.

The future of the scholarship program

Moriarty says the scholarship program is going strong, and, like all Catholic Aid Fraternal programs, is under constant scrutiny to maintain the program’s effectiveness and continuity. In the future, Fraternal may add scholarships that will be awarded to students based on merit and Catholic service. Also, the Fraternal staff intend to keep in contact with scholarship winners and offer them guidance on several topics, including thriving in a college environment, maintaining a faith life through college and serving as a young leader to their Catholic communities.

“There is an enormous link between educational success and financial success,” Moriarty said. “We are proud to help provide some of the means to help our members get the tools that will help them be successful in their careers, which translates to a stronger Catholic community and a stronger Catholic Aid Association.”

This story may not be reproduced in part or in full without the express written consent of Catholic Aid Association.

Joe Annotti Comments on the Need for Younger Members in the Fraternal Industry

Check out this blog from Joe Annotti about the need for Fraternals to grow younger.

Who is Joe Annotti? He's the president of the National Fraternal Congress of America.

What's a fraternal? As a fraternal life insurance company, Catholic Aid Association has a special purpose -- recognized by the federal government with tax-exempt status. We provide our members with excellent insurance and financial products and we return our profits to our Catholic communities in the forms of grants, scholarships and assistance.

According to the National Fraternal Congress of America, fraternal benefit societies like Catholic Aid Association provide billions of dollars back to the American public in the form of volunteer hours, grants and scholarships.

Youth Volunteer of the Year is Outstanding Student & Servant

Youth Volunteer of the Year winner Kayla Yarusso is involved in so many volunteer activities that her accomplishments filled the entire award nomination form!

An active member of St. Jude’s Council in Mahtomedi, Minn., Miss Yarusso has been a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, Feed My Starving Children, JOIN HANDS DAY as well as many Catholic Aid fund-raising events at her parish. During the past year, she traveled to Guatemala to volunteer at a children’s mission, and she is a regular youth ministry and children’s ministry worker at St. Jude’s parish. An outstanding student and athlete, Kayla has been on the ‘A’ Honor Roll for the past four years.

Youth Volunteer of the Year Award is an honor presented by Catholic Aid Association to recognize a young adult member who, through example and accomplishment, provided outstanding volunteer service during the past year.

Recent News

Congratulations to Kayla Yarusso, Youth Volunteer of the Year award winner. Kayla was presented with this award by CAA to recognize her outstanding volunteer service to her community and council during the past year. More information about Kayla is on the way.

Scholarships applications are in for the National Catholic Youth Conference 2009. More information is on the way!

Event: College Information Session

Meet other college students who are going to college for the first time! We’ll take a look at the basics of what to expect when you are going away to college. College students will be at the session to answer your questions and offer advice to first time students.

The workshop will address the following questions:

:: What Can I Expect the First Year? ::
How Will the Relationships With My Parents and Friends Change?
Lisa Schulte, Assistant Director of Housing Programs at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

:: Who Am I and What Do I Believe? ::
Building a Catholic Identity.
Fr. Tim Biren, Director of the St. Thomas More Newman Center at Minnesota State University - Mankato

:: Who will I Surround Myself With? ::
Surrounding Yourself with Good Friends and Connecting with Other Catholics.
Father Peter Williams, Pastor of Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Vocation Director

:: Student Panel on the Practics ::
Important Advice from Other College Students!

$10 registration includes materials and lunch, payable to Catholic Aid Association. Online registration available June 15 at www.catholicaid.org.

Date: Saturday, August 8, 2009
Time: 8:45am - 12:00pm
Location: The University of St. Thomas
Street: 2115 Summit Avenue
City/Town: Saint Paul, MN

Theology on a Stick Fundraising Gala

Theology on a Stick is returning to the State Fair this summer with a series of presentations, music and the popular “Grill the Priest” question-and-answer forum. Events will be held Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays of the fair. Theology on a Stick is presented by the Cathedral Young Adults (CYA) together with the Archdiocese of Saint Paul-Minneapolis, hosted by St. Bernard’s Bulldog Lodge and sponsored by Catholic Aid Association.

CYA is very pleased to announce our first annual...

LATIN NIGHTS: A Theology on a Stick Fundraising Gala. Please come for an evening of food, music and dance!!!

When: Saturday, May 30, 2009
Where: Galtier Plaza, 380 Jackson Street, 10th floor, Saint Paul, MN.

- KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Archbishop Emeritus Harry J. Flynn
- Marshall, radio personality from Cities 97, will be the MC for the evening!
- Catered by Boca Chica!
- LIVE salsa dance music by SALSA del SOUL!
- Dinner & Dance: $50 includes drink. ~ 5:30pm to Midnight.
- Dance: $20 (in advance) includes refreshments/ $25 (door). ~ 8:30pm to Midnight.

Ticket purchases can now be made online for the Gala! Go to www.cathedralyoungadults.org.

Questions? tos@cathedralsaintpaul.org.

More Information About the Young Adult Advisory Team

The Young Adult Advisory Team will consist of young adults and youth ministers who will help Catholic Aid on their youth/young adult initiatives. Catholic Aid has realized that we need youth and young adults to be active participants in the initiatives. We need your help!

There will be a stipend for those who are on the committees (One committee will be in St. Cloud, one in St. Paul). We haven't determined the amount yet, but think that the stipend would be helpful for young adults in college.

Some of the topics we would like to discuss in the young adult advisory are:

Who is CAA and Why Have This Panel?
What does CAA Offer Youth and Young Adults Currently?
What can CAA Offer Youth and Young Adults in the Future?
Explore the Possibility of Social Networking/Volunteer Events?
Explore the Possibility of a Leadership Speaker Series.
Explore the Possibilities of our Scholarship Program
Explore the Ideas for the Annual Convention: How to Get Youth & Young Adults Involved in Convention?
Once a Year We Would Have a Fun Event and a Volunteer Event.

Heather Vargo, Youth Fraternal Liaison, is hoping that the Young Adult Advisory Team will help Catholic Aid better engage youth and young adults in the organization and in their spiritual lives. Also, she hopes that Catholic Aid can offer more volunteer opportunities for youth and young adults (perhaps offer regional service projects).

If you are interested in participating in the Young Adult Advisory Panel, please email Heather Vargo at hvargo@catholicaid.org.

NCCYM: National Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry

I just spent the last week and a half in Cleveland, OH. I was there for Thanksgiving with my family, I was also there for the The National Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry (NCCYM). The conference is the largest adult conference for Catholic youth ministers in the country; this year was almost 2500 participants. The next conference is in New Orleans in 2010. Here's a couple pictures from Cleveland. See more pictures on Facebook.

Winona Diocesan Catholic Youth Conference

The Winona Diocesan Catholic Youth Conference (DCYC) took place November 22-23, 2008 at the Holiday Inn, Mankato, Minn. The gathering had over 370 youth and youth leaders from throughout the Winona Diocese. Catholic Aid was glad to partner with the Winona Diocese on this wonderful event.

While at DCYC, Catholic Aid lead a workshop for teens titled, "Survival Guide: Your Cash, Your Credit."

Catholic Aid supported the Kids Against Hunger Service project where 10,000 meals were bagged.

Over forty Thanksgiving Day Baskets were created and distributed to needy families in the Mankato area. The home office of Catholic Aid, along with parishes in the Winona Diocese collected canned goods for this service project.

Click here to see more pictures from this event.

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.