St. Cloud Diocesan Youth Rally

The St. Cloud Diocesan Youth Rally took place November 23, 2008 at St. John's University in Collegeville, Minn. The gathering had over 400 youth and youth leaders from throughout the St. Cloud Diocese.

Catholic Aid was glad to partner with the St. Cloud Diocese on this wonderful event. While at rally, Catholic Aid lead a workshop for teens titled, "Survival Guide: Your Cash, Your Credit."

Click here to see more pictures from this event.

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.

Project: Volunteer (Formerly Youth Parish Program)

We have doubled this benefit! This program promotes youth volunteerism in parishes among youth ages 19 and younger. A benefit of $2 per hour, up to $400 with a minimum of 25 hours required, will be paid to parishes. To receive this benefit, complete the Project: Volunteer Application and return it to the Fraternal Department by Dec. 31, 2009. Please note, parish liturgy services and volunteer work done in conjunction with other Catholic Aid youth programs like Project: Multiply do not count toward this benefit.

Purpose:
Combines youth volunteers and valuable assistance to the pastor and parish.
Encourages youth to become involved in their parish.
Promotes volunteerism.

Benefit:
$2 per hour worked by Catholic Aid youth (ages 19 and under) up to a maximum of $400.

Guidelines:
Complete the ‘Project: Volunteer Application’ and return to the Fraternal Department by December 31. (The application is a list of Catholic Aid youth, ages 19 and under, who have participated in service projects and how many hours of service were performed)
Minimum combined total of 25 hours is required to apply.

Not included in hours of service performed:
Parish Liturgy Services.
Volunteer work done in conjunction with other Catholic Aid youth programs like ‘Project: Multiply.’

Project: Multiply (Formerly Youth Grant)

We’ve increased the matching portion of this program from $100 to $500. Catholic Aid provides $25 seed money to help raise funds for the youth programs and provides 20% bonus on monies raised (minus the $25 seed money). Catholic Aid will match 20% of the monies raised up to $500 maximum per council. In addition, the Fraternal department will give two $100 awards annually to groups with the ‘Most Creative Idea.’ This replaces the random drawing that was done in years past. Creativity is judged by event publicity efforts and the unique attributes of the fundraiser. New forms for this program are required both before and after the event.

Guidelines to this program have changed as well, there is a ‘Project: Multiply Seed Money Request Form’ that must be completed six weeks prior to the event to request the seed money and to inform the Fraternal Department about the event. Also, after the fundraiser is completed, there is a ‘Project: Multiply Completion Form that must be filled out and sent to us after the event.

Purpose:
Fund raiser for local youth programs.
Increase awareness of Catholic Aid.

Benefit:
Provides $25 seed money to help raise funds for the youth programs
Provides 20% Bonus on monies raised (minus the $25 seed money) up to $500
Two $100 prizes will be awarded to councils for the 'Most Creative Idea.' Creativity is determined by the creativity demonstrated in publicizing the event and the creativity in planning a unique fundraiser.

Guidelines:
Before the Event: Complete the ‘Project: Multiply Seed Money Request Form’ six weeks before the event.
After the Event: Complete the ‘Project: Multiply Completion Form.’

Examples of Project: Multiply:
Grow Vegetables and Sell Them
Bake Sale
Brat Stand
Holiday Bingo
Ask Parishioners to Fill M&M Tubes with Quarters
Silent Auction
Mother’s Day Brunch
Plastic Easter Egg Sale
Valentine Card Sale
Valentine’s Day Dinner
Soup or Chili Supper

CAA Youth Member Making a Difference...

Catholic Aid member, Kelly M., is making a big difference as she is working on her Girl Scout Gold Award Project. The Gold Award Project is “the culmination of all the work of a Girl Scout. It is something that a girl can be passionate about in thought, deed, and action.” The project is intended to fulfill a need in the community and create change. The award has high standards which include getting 65 hours of community service and the individual earning the award must take a leadership role in the project showing that she can delegate tasks and motivate all who are involved. Through her Gold Award Project, Kelly is creating change in her community.

Kelly lives in Rogers, Minn. and attends Mary Queen of Peace Catholic Church. She sought the direction of her parish priest, Fr. Moriarty, who suggested that Kelly create a project that helps youth get more involved and senior citizens get the help they need. She created a phone line where senior citizens can call in and ask for help with a variety of projects like moving patio furniture, weeding, raking, and cleaning windows.

Kelly brainstormed and created task lists to get it all done. She said that “the hardest thing is staying on task.” Of course with being a senior in high school and having two Advanced Placement classes, and working; staying on task can be difficult!

Kelly worked with her Catholic parish, Mary Queen of Peace, and the Lutheran church across the street from her parish, Word of Peace and the phone lines opened up in Mid August. To get the word out about the project, Kelly addressed both congregations during the weekend of October 4-5 where she spoke at every service at both churches. She wanted to address the entire congregation of each church because she wanted to recruit volunteers for the service projects and she wanted to let the seniors know that there is a phone line they can call to get the help they need.

Service projects took place October 22, 25, and 29. Over 50 volunteers were involved in the projects and seniors got the help they needed. At the end of each service project there was a pizza party for the volunteers involved. The pizza was donated by a parishioner of Mary Queen of Peace.

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.