Do you need something to kickoff a week of service? Do you need a basic beginner’s retreat dealing with Catholic Social Teachings and Social Justice? Our team has just the thing. A 2 hour program or a weekend retreat, give us a call! or drop me a line [email protected]

Need help figuring out how to put your own presentation like this together – Check out this great post on incorporating new technology into an old youth ministry! It’s like a step-by-step manual for creating awesomeness! By Brandon Weisenfels in Jonesboro, AR!

This weekend I got the opportunity to work with the great folks at Our Lady of Angels Parish in Allen, TX. Their Junior High students are getting ready to participate in a week long service event that goes on throughout the summer, throughout the entire diocese of Dallas. This event is called “Mission Possible” and was founded by our good friend Tammy Ammosson! We’ve been involved in Mission Possible for well over 15 years and are proud continue our involvement.

I was also blessed by the gift of the presence of my good friend Vince Lujan from the band Jesus Team A. The challenge for us was to get the young people excited about their upcoming week of service, prepare them for what’s coming and catechize them a little bit about justice, service and Catholic Social teachings.

We used this video to explain the story behind the Bible verse:

Having a gifted musician on-hand inspired me to use more music than I am usually capable of incorporating. We talked about the need to engage the head, the heart and the hands in performing acts of service and justice. To do this in the context of 1 Samuel 16:7b (Not as man sees does God see because man sees the appearance but the Lord looks into the heart.) we used these music videos:
Head –

We also used our set of Giant Tangrams. First, we asked each group to identify what was wrong with the world on their tangrams and share with the larger group.

Second, we played this video: Heart –

On the Giant Tangrams we then had them add one of the 7 Catholic Social Teachings on each piece of the tangrams set (we used the 7 CST version from the “Youthserve Retreat” by the Center for Ministry Development)

Then we moved on to this video: Hands –

Then, we asked the groups to replace the bad things they identified with their heads with good ways they could apply CST to the world around them. WE briefly explained each teaching and asked them to put the pieces together in the shape of a square while they continued to add their examples to the corresponding CST pieces. (One group got it on their own!) If they couldn’t get it, we showed them a picture of how they were meant to go together. Then we challenged them with 4 more “pictures” to create.

They did a great job, especially when we showed them pictures of the intended solutions.

Then Vince wrapped it up for us talking about how we can’t always see God’s plan, but thta God knows how the pieces fit together and how we are supposed to fit in. We just have to get out there and do something!

I can’t wait to hear about what the young people at Our Lady of Angels are doing this week! Hopefully they’ll be able to share some pictures and stories with us!

Here are the pictures of their “mountains” puzzles. And some bonus media!