Please join our parish in a novena to St. Catherine of Siena for the success of our Youth Ministry's trip to Catholic Youth Summer Camp Great Lakes in Michigan!
Why could we use prayers and support? Our parish Youth Ministry is traveling to Michigan for an amazing summer camp from June 16 to 21! Each year our summer camp trips provide life-changing inspiration to the teens of our area. The final deadline for parish registration for CYSC Great Lakes is April 30. Our parish has committed to 16 spots, and we've only filled about half of those spots so far. In the next two weeks, we need to do our best to fill the remaining spots before they are released to the general public. Because we have committed to these 16 spots, we are financially responsible for any that are not purchased by the general public. In other words, we need to do our best to fill these spots, both for the good of the teens of our parish and for the good of our parish budget!
Why is St. Catherine of Siena a great intercessor for youth? Catherine was a lay woman who was known for her spiritual gifts and her deep devotion to Jesus, but her holiness began in her youth. Even as a teen, she spent much time in prayer at home. She later became a lay Dominican and was renowned for her wisdom. Her most famous quote - “Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.” - is a beautiful reminder that the Lord has an important plan for every young person. St. Catherine's feast day is April 29, the day before our registration deadline.
What is a novena, and how can you participate? A novena is a nine-day period of prayer, patterned on the nine days that the early disciples spent in prayer between the Ascension of Jesus and the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. You can participate in this novena by setting aside time each day from April 20 to 28 to pray, asking St. Catherine to intercede for the teens of our parish and our preparations for CYSC Great Lakes. Here is a prayer that you could pray each day:
O God, who set Saint Catherine of Siena on fire with divine love in her contemplation of the Lord's Passion and her service of your Church, grant, through her intercession, that many teens in our parish may participate in Catholic Youth Summer Camp Great Lakes and may grow in love of Jesus Christ. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
If you'd like to receive a daily text reminder to pray the novena, sign up at https://staloysius20650.flocknote.com/signup/163830.
How else can you help? Please consider personally inviting a teen that you know to sign up for CYSC Great Lakes! A flyer for the camp can be downloaded here. Transportation to camp is always our biggest expense - Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to offset the cost at https://saintaloysiuschurch.org/youth.