News from ‘All Around:

OSAKA, JAPAN –  Natural disasters "help people feel closer, to create closer ties. I think that God wants to restore a sense of complete union among humanity, the unity that we are losing because of an increasingly competitive global society. Thanks for coming here to witness to this unity", said the auxiliary bishop of Osaka, Msgr. Michael Goro Matsuura, to a group of young South Korean guests of his diocese. The disasters to which the bishop’s refers are the Kobe earthquake of 1995 and the earthquake and tsunami of last year.

The initiative is part of the 18th Korean-Japanese Youth Exchange Meeting, an experience that the two Churches are trying to strengthen year after year. The theme for 2012 is in fact "Kizuna," which in Japanese means "bond of solidarity." Accompanied by Fr. Damian Park Myoung-gee, secretary of the Episcopal Commission on Youth, and Fr. Peter Kim Seok-ju, in charge of youth ministry in the Diocese of Cheju, Korea 20 young people spent a week in Japan. Read more from Asia News

TERRA GRANDE COLONIA, TX — Some area high school students have big plans for Spring Break 2012. They’re taking a trip to the Tierra Grande Colonia to clean it up.

Piles of trash, overgrown ditches and unfinished electrical outlets are just some of the problems St. Patricks Youth Ministries and Catholic Charities of Corpus Christi plan to fix this spring break.

"Right now we have 15 teens signed up, a few adults, we’ve got some other teens from other parishes who plan to participate during the day, so, its getting pretty big, pretty exciting," said the ministry leader, Eric Becker.

They plan to stay at a church in Robstown while working on the colonia each day. "A lot of people do mission trips in other countries, or even other states, like Louisiana, which is fantastic, but we have a need right here in our own city," Becker explained. Check out the video on KRIS TV

News from ‘Round Here:

Early morning start of the week with a Relevant Radio interview. For the pilgrimage, I got some significant paperwork done for the city and started on the worship aide. I completed an article for Slant 33 and had some good quality time checking up on the weekend activities of Margaret (Youth Council servant team training) ad Georgina (Hispanic Young Adult human sexuality training) from over the weekend.

A heavy division staff agenda was on tap Tuesday. I also edited video and set up the Bosco page.  We will release it in the newsletter Thursday and run clips throughout this week … see above

Wednesday, there was a meeting with the collage and university campus ministers.  It was fun to watch some natural areas of collaboration emerge amongst the group. Thursday started off with a personal delay but got off the ground just fine- The e-newsletter got out and other projects like the Annual Recognition Celebration were advanced along.

Friday was a morning spent at the Motor Vehicle Administration… really, enough said about that, right? The afternoon was down at City Hall doing pilgrimage permits (serious, take about a day waiting in line.)  A nice meal with crabcakes followed by a round of Hearts made for a great evening.  Saturday was a day of relaxed lounging but totally highlighted by an hour long phone conversation with my son stationed with the Army in Hawai’i.

Sunday was a day of catch-up blogging and then off to the Archdiocesan Scout Mass.  An errand on the way home led to an early dinner and a light evening.

Week five of my medifast diet paired up with a consistent schedule of workouts is in the books According to my scale this am, I’m down 2 pounds for a total of 18. I was not as good as I should/ could have been, especially on workouts and water intake (Average is supposed to be 3-5 pounds).  But I am but 6 pounds and 4 weeks away from my original goal.