Dear Parish Family,

During our recent five parish dinner meetings, many parishioners have expressed a desire for us to reach out much more to our young people in the parish—in particular to our Junior High and Senior High School Youth, (and maybe even to our College Age Young Adults).

IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF OUR PARISH, I invite you to be part of a study committee to look into possible youth ministry developments for the near future at Saint Joseph.  My goal is to work with AS MANY YOUTH AND ADULTS AS POSSIBLE in order to study the situation in a planned and timely manner over the next six months.  Our first priority would be for everyone to become very familiar with the Bishops’ document, Renewing the Vision: A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry, and how it should be applied to our parish situation.

We will evaluate our needs, do our homework and research together, look at the financial feasibility in deciding what kind of program we want and need, make monthly reports to the parish community; and come to a conclusion by Easter of 2005.

At this point, our agenda is open ended.  I SIMPLY WANT TO BRING TOGETHER SOME DEDICATED ADULTS AND YOUTH WHO ARE SERIOUS ABOUT YOUTH MINISTRY AND WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH ME IN EVALUATING OUR SITUATION. WILL YOU HELP?

If so, please come to our first meeting on THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 at 7 PM.  We will meet in the parish church hall.

Next Sunday, I will also outline some plans, as well as schedule a beginning meeting date for developing a PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL at Saint Joseph.  This seems to be the next order of priority coming out of our parish dinner meetings.  I am ready!  I hope you are also!

Sincerely in the Lord Jesus,

Fr. Roger Lascelle