Tell The World...

Just practicing a new skill... uploading a video clip :)

Here is a snippet from Traditional Division's performance at the Chula Vista retreat in Wisconsin Dells. The theme of the retreat was "tell the world." If you listen carefully, you'll be able to pick out those words here as well.

You can tell by the crowd gathered that the band is a big hit!



Untitled from Emily Revak on Vimeo.

Immersed in Faith @ Chula Vista!

We had a great weekend at Chula Vista in Wisconsin Dells as we joined over 470 youth from the Diocese of La Crosse for the Immersion Retreat.

We ran into one of our "hometown favs," Alice Heinzen, who spoke to us about the importance of human dignity. Jeremy Stanbary of Epiphany Productions performed his one man play Alessandro & later spoke to the youth. We danced (jumped?) and sang along with Traditional Division and basked in some prayerful silence during Mass, Adoration & Reconciliation.

And of course - there was plenty of time for Waterpark fun.

We had a great group of 8th-12th graders from St. Joe's, Elk Mound, Eau Claire & even Eleva :) Thanks to Chris Rogers & Jen Mickschl for all of the work you put into making this a great experience for our youth, and thank you to the youth for making it a spectacular weekend for Pam & I :)

Check out some pics from the weekend:

Giving Tree

Giving Tree service project information was handed out last night during the Confirmation session... groups have contact information for the organization they will be working with this year, as well as all of the details about what needs to be accomplished.

If you were unable to be at the session, please contact someone from your group to find out when they'll be meeting to create the tags for the Giving Trees.

Here are the requirements:


1. Contact the organization you will be working with to learn about what they do. Get their input and make any needed changes on the wish list.

2. Write a short “blurb” for the bulletin about your organization - what they do, who they serve, etc. Include a description of the ornaments you have designed for the tree so that people know which to pick (try to keep it to one paragraph).

3. Create ornaments for the Giving Trees - include the name of the organization, and the wish list item on each tag (please include instructions to place gas cards/phone cards/scrip in the collection baskets).

4. Complete the bonus task on the bottom of your organization’s sheet.

Completed ornaments need to be dropped off @ St. Joe’s office, and “blurbs” for the bulletin need to be e-mailed (or dropped off) by Monday, November 23rd…

NOTE: IF ORNAMENTS ARE NOT HANDED IN BY NOVEMBER 23RD, PLEASE PUT THEM DIRECTLY ON THE TREES IN THE CHURCH.

And of course, candidates, please remember that this is a service project for your sacrament preparation, not your mentor’s!!! It is important that you participate fully in this service project.

Thank you for your work to continue this service project! The organizations in our community count on and are appreciative of all the support St. Joe’s gives during the holiday season.

We meet quite late in January this year, so I will be sorting the gifts and they will be grouped (with a sign to indicate which organization gets which gifts) and ready for delivery to the organization by Monday, January 4th.

Blessed is the influence of one true, loving human soul on another.

George Eliot

It's Been A Long Time...

Almost a month has gone by since the last post. Luckily that snow is long gone, and we've already had session #3! Time moves swiftly.

Thanks Fr. Tom for sharing your time with us on Sunday... maybe we can't experience God's love by simply taking a pill, but hopefully in this beautiful fall weather, or in sharing laughter with a friend, or time with family, we'll recognize God's love this week.

A Whole 'Lotta Firsts!

We've had our first Confirmation session... we've had our first snow... a lot has been accomplished already this year!

Watch for Small Faith Sharing Group information in your e-mail inbox later this week, and please let me know if you have any questions at all. Either leave a comment here on the blog (it will be automatically e-mailed to me), call, or e-mail.

Have a wonderful week!

Blogging 101 :)

Welcome candidates, parents and mentors...thank you for visiting the blog!

Here are a few hints about photos, comments, subscribing, and searching on the blog - a lot to cover, but it's all very easy to do!

PHOTOS:
See a photo you like on the blog?

Maybe you're IN a photo & you want a copy?

Well, if it's on the blog, it's yours! Right click on a picture (or a flyer or form) to save it to your computer and/or print it!

Is the picture too small to see?

Click on it to enlarge it in a new window.

SEARCH:
Are you looking for something in particular? Enter a search term and "search this blog" for related entries.

COMMENTS:
Comments - I LOVE comments!!! Click on the "comments" link under any post to write a question - leave a remark (also known as a comment!!!) - or just say hello!

And this concludes the lesson - remember to keep watching to see yourself on the blog!

Confirmation Calendar 2009-2010

Fall Festival & Catechetical Sunday...

St. Joe's parish is a hoppin' place this weekend!

Fall Festival Activities start up at 4:00 today with the Liturgy with the Lima Polka Choir. The KCs will be serving a pork dinner from 4:30-7:30; there will be entertainment in the "big tent" after the mass with the Lima Polka Choir immediately after mass, followed by Ranger Rudy and the Swingin' Wingtips from 7:00-10:00 PM.

There will be cake walking, chalk drawing, scarecrow building, veggie racing, movie watching, bingo playing and MUCH MORE, so come down and check it out tonight and tomorrow!

At the 10:15 Mass on Sunday, we will call forward all catechists and teachers of the faith for a blessing at the mass as we celebrate Catechetical Sunday. If you see a catechist or a teacher or a mentor out and about this weekend (and all year), please thank them for the wonderful work they do in forming our youth in faith.

I'll see you at the Festival!

TIME CHANGE for Candidate, Parent, Mentor Meeting...

Candidates, Parents & Mentors, join us on Tuesday, September 22nd at 7:00 PM in Charles Hall (Church Basement). This is an hour later than originally scheduled to give Tuesday's Table time to finish serving and clean-up. Come to:

• Get information on Confirmation session dates
• Find out retreat dates and registration information
• Get information on what to expect in the Confirmation preparation year
• Pick up your Candidate & Mentor Handbooks and expectations
• Sign up for a Small Faith Sharing Group

And MUCH more!

Can't be there on Tuesday? Let Emily know ASAP & make arrangements to get the information at our first session (September 27th @ 5:00 PM in Charles Hall).

See you on Tuesday!

Fun and Faith at Action City in Eau Claire!

Thank you to all of the St. Joe's youth who attended the 2nd Annual Eau Claire Deanery Rally at Action City! And a GIANT thank you goes out to the parents who provided transportation and even stayed for the event. St. Joe's was very well represented on Friday!

The pizza and soda were delicious and refreshing... the band "rocked the house," and Pat Brueggen shared an excellent message. And of course, the go-karts, maze, mini-golf, bumper cars, rock-climbing wall, laser tag and other games were a BLAST!

If you weren't able to be there this year, don't worry! We'll see you there next year!

Watch the Catholic Times for an article on the event, and keep checking the blog for some pictures from the event :)

1st Confirmation Session Sunday, September 27th

The calendar of session dates for the 2009-2010 Confirmation preparation year is still under construction, but I can reveal the date of the first session (drumroll please!)...

Sunday, September 27th!!!

We will meet from 5:00-8:00 PM, attending the Newman Mass together at 7:00 PM. Candidates and mentors are asked to attend this first session, which will be led by Alice Heinzen.

Questions? Send an e-mail to Emily, or leave a comment on this post (it will get sent to my e-mail as well).

Watch for packets and further information in the coming weeks - and let me know who your mentor is (or if you need help finding a mentor).

Have a blessed beginning of school :)

Emily