TOP MUSIC COUNTDOWN The October 2009 issue of Top Music Countdown from Cornerstone Media is now available online.  If you have not yet subscribed to this resource, it is a great family connect tool as well as a planning resource for all youth ministers. You can read reviews of 25 of the hottest songs on the charts (including links to song lyrics and videos), along with professional articles to help you minister more effectively to your young people.  You can also access a printable poster of the Top 25 Review to display for your young people, as well as a complete meeting design using a song from this month's Top 25 Review. And remember, your subscription (only $45 per year) gives you access for your entire school or church!  So once you have subscribed, you can provide it as a resource for all your parents, staff, volunteers and youth. For more information about Top Music Countdown, or to order a subscription: Visit the Cornerstone Media website or call Cornerstone Media at 707-431-8336. Posted 10-9-09

REV. MSGR. LARRY J. DROLL SCHOLARSHIP FOR THE CATHOLIC LAITY Catholic Life Insurance is pleased to announce that the Rev. Msgr. Larry J. Droll Scholarship Fund for Catholic Laity is now accepting scholarship applications. The Scholarship Fund, which was started in 2002, is designed to assist Catholic laymen and women pursue degrees that might qualify them for professional positions in parish and diocesan ministry. Please click here for details and the application. Posted 10-9-09

YAM JAM 2009 Helping Hands Gleaning Ministry will host the 2009 Yam Jam on Saturday, October 17th in a field off highway 69 in the Emory/Alba area of east Texas.  Volunteers will gather at the field to pick up sweet potatoes left behind after harvest to donate to agencies that provide food for people in need.  At the 2008 Yam Jam, 278 volunteers gleaned 56,500 pounds of sweet potatoes and donated them for distribution to food pantries and outreach centers throughout north Texas. The day’s work provided over 42,000 meals to families of four. Founded in 2001, Helping Hands Gleaning Ministry is a 501 C(3)  hunger relief ministry whose mission is to utilize the services of dedicated volunteers to salvage food that otherwise would be wasted and give it to people in need of food.   To volunteer or for more information, please contact Betty Cordell, phone:  469/337-2576 or email:  hhgleaning@sbcglobal.net. Posted 10-9-09

SPANISH IMMERSION EXPERIENCE IN CUERNAVACA Are you interested in an immersion program to learn Spanish or build your Spanish language skills? Encuentros is a study abroad program in Cuernavaca, MX which Emily Lugo (youth minister at St. Joseph parish in Richardson TX) participated in 4 years ago. “I stayed in Cuernavaca for three weeks and took classes to learn Spanish to be able to better communicate with families at our church. The program was amazing and affordable – I even had a special class tailored to me that focused directly on church work and vocabulary/language that would be needed for my specific ministry. This is pretty much the only “formal” Spanish background that I have received – yet it has given me a very strong foundation to start from.” For more information about Encuentros, click on the link above or email Emily. Posted 10-9-09

SOULS IN TRANSITION “The Fate of the Spirit,” a Wall Street Journal article by NAOMI SCHAEFER RILEY is a review of a new book, "Souls in Transition," by Notre Dame sociologist Christian Smith. Examining the data from his vast longitudinal National Study of Youth and Religion, "Souls" uses statistics and face-to-face interviews to paint a picture —not necessarily a pretty one— of the moral and spiritual lives of 18- to 24-year-olds in America. Posted 10-9-09

EL PASO TO OFFER NATIONAL CERTIFICATE COURSES – CYCLE 2 The El Paso Diocese will be offering Cycle 2 of the National Certificate in Youth Ministry Studies for 2009-2010. Course dates are: September 26-27 – Justice and Service November 21-22 – Fostering the Faith Growth of Youth through Prayer and Worship February 27-28 – Pastoral Care April 24-25 – Evangelization and Catechesis For information and registration details contact Norma Valdez (915)872-8438 posted 8-21-09

DALLAS OFFERING CYCLE 1 OF NATIONAL YOUTH MINISTRY CERTIFICATE CLASSES Registrations are now being taken for the Cycle One courses in the Center for Ministry Development’s National Youth Ministry Certificate Program. Each course will be offered both during the week and on the weekend. All courses are held on the campus of the University of Dallas in Irving TX. To register contact Susan Dorfmeister (214)379-2843 with the Diocese of Dallas or click here for informational brochure. Courses for Cycle One include: ?        PRINCIPLES OF YOUTH MINISTRY September 23-24 or 26-27, 2009 CMD Faculty: Don Boucher ?        PRACTICES OF YOUTH MINISTRY November 11-12 or 14-15, 2009 CMD Faculty: Dcn. John Ashmore ?        FOUNDATIONS OF MINISTRY LEADERSHIP January 20-21 or 23-24, 2010 CMD Faculty: Mary Harrison ?        SKILLS FOR CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP March 17-18 or 20-21, 2010 CMD Faculty: Ann Marie Eckert posted 7-24-09

FASHION ME A PEOPLE Fashion Me A People 2010, a three day conference exploring the beauty, power and possibilities of the Word of God for All Ages, will be held January 7-9 in Orlando, FL. If you’ve heard of “Fashion Me A People” and would like to know more, you are invited to a free 30-minute webinar on Tuesday, August 4 at 1 p.m. Central Time. All you need to attend is a computer, internet access, and either head phones or speakers. Click here to register. posted 7-24-09

POPE BENEDICT PUBLISHES LATEST ENCYCLICAL On June 29 Pope Benedict published his new encyclical, “Caritas in veritate”, (Charity in Truth). This encyclical is known as a  “social encyclical,” one which applies the consistent, traditional moral teachings of the Church to the social and economic challenges of the current day. In his introduction the Pope recalls how "charity is at the heart of the Church's social doctrine". Yet, given the risk of its being "misinterpreted and detached from ethical living", he warns how "a Christianity of charity without truth would be more or less interchangeable with a pool of good sentiments, helpful for social cohesion, but of little relevance". Click here for the full text in English. Click here for a summary. Click here for a link to all three encyclicals of Pope Benedict XVI. posted 7-24-09

LIFE TEEN WEBSITE NOW OFFERS FREE RESOURCES In an effort to continue and broaden their mission of serving youth ministers with training, resources and support, Life Teen has announced that you no longer have to log in to download resources from the “Free Resources” section of their website. posted 6-17-09

LIFELONG FAITH Announcing a new resource website for all those interested in Lifelong Faith Formation. Go to www.lifelongfaith.com. posted 6-17-09

BRINGING LEARNING TO LIFE: A SERVICE-LEARNING PODCAST "Bring Learning to Life: A Service-Learning Podcast" is a series of podcasts presented by Learn and Serve America's National Service-Learning Clearinghouse about the theory, practice, and research of service-learning. Podcasts feature guest speakers and group discussions on critical themes for k-12, higher education, community-based, and tribal service-learning. posted 6-17-09

MEDIA NEWS AND REVIEWS Here are some links to current movie reviews that offer Catholic, Christian and/or family perspectives. Crosswalk Films and Faith US Conference of Catholic Bishops Movie Reviews Common Sense Media Plugged in Online (from Focus on the Family) The Dove Foundation Movie Reviews posted 6-17-09

CARE FOR CREATION, CARE FOR THE POOR Thanks to a grant from the Catholic Coalition for Climate Change, and hard-working task group members, the NFCYM is able to unveil our latest website: Catholic Youth: Care for Creation, Care for the Poor. Accessed from the home page of the NFCYM website, this new effort focuses attention of the Catholic Church’s emphasis (from popes to the U.S. Catholic Bishops) on responsible stewardship of the earth and solidarity with the poor. As Pope Benedict XVI stated at World Youth Day 2008, “My dear friends, God’s creation is one and it is good. The concerns for non-violence, sustainable development, justice and peace, and care for our environment are of vital importance for humanity.” posted 6-17-09

Vatican new Youth Web site The Vatican is set to unveil its newest Web page this week. Called Pope2You.net, the site aims to bring the words and messages of Benedict XVI to the youth. posted 5-21-09