Catholic Teens 10-16-07

Hey All—

Some of you are getting closer to having to make college choices. It’s one of the biggest decisions you’ll make to this point in your life. Likewise, a college plays a big role in forming you—intellectually, socially, and spiritually. Here’s a nice article to give you some food for thought and some recommendations. Incidentally, the school my wife went too (Magdalen) and the school we got our Master’s degrees in (Ave Maria) are listed below.
20 US Colleges and 1 Canadian are North America's Most Faithful to Catholic Identity
MANASSAS, VA, October 3, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Today The Cardinal Newman Society announced the publication of a new comprehensive college guide for students and parents, The Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College: What to Look for and Where to Find It. Edited by Joseph A. Esposito, The Newman Guide will be officially published on Nov. 1, 2007.The culmination of two years of research and interviews, the unique Newman Guide recommends 21 Catholic colleges and universities which most faithfully live their Catholic identity and provide a quality undergraduate education. Each college profile examines the school's history, governance, Catholic identity, curriculum, student life and community.Those recommended represent the top 10 percent of Catholic colleges in the U.S. based on Catholic identity and cover a wide range of institutions in terms of history, size, location and academic focus.Colleges range from Mount St. Mary's University in Emmitsburg, Md., the nation's second oldest Catholic college, to Wyoming Catholic College of Lander, Wyo., which opened in Sept. 2007.Twenty of the colleges are located in the United States while one school, Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy, is in Ontario, Canada. Some were founded explicitly to meet the needs of Catholics seeking an authentic Catholic education while several have recently strengthened their identity and curriculum.The Guide's editor, Joseph Esposito, said, "These colleges and universities represent a unique perspective on higher education. They are all impressive institutions, offering a wide range of choices from a Great Books curriculum to a degree in motor sports management. But what sets them apart from others is the day-to-day living of their Catholic identity."This Guide will provide a valuable tool for parents and high school students seeking direction in the college-selection process," he added.Esposito, the Cardinal Newman Society's director of research, is a former Deputy Under Secretary for International Affairs at the U.S. Dept. of Education. He also has been a full-time writer for Catholic publications and an adjunct history professor.The recommended colleges are grouped into three categories: "Joyfully Catholic," "Born from the Crisis" and "Fighting the Tide." The first group is characterized by a Catholic identity that permeates all areas of campus life; the second includes institutions founded or expanded in the last few years; and the third group represents older colleges and universities that have succeeded in renewing and strengthening their Catholic identity.The "Joyfully Catholic" colleges are: Christendom College, The College of Saint Thomas More, Franciscan University of Steubenville, Magdalen College, Thomas Aquinas College, The Thomas More College of Liberal Arts, University of Dallas, and the University of St. Thomas (Houston, Tex.).The "Born from the Crisis" colleges are: Ave Maria University, Holy Apostles College & Seminary, John Paul the Great Catholic University; Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Academy, Southern Catholic College and Wyoming Catholic College.The "Fighting the Tide" colleges are: Aquinas College (Nashville, Tenn.), Belmont Abbey College, Benedictine College, The Catholic University of America, DeSales University, Mount St. Mary's University and St. Gregory's University.In addition to in-depth profiles of the 21 colleges, The Guide includes essays from prominent Catholic leaders. Among the clergymen are Archbishop Elden Curtiss of the Archdiocese of Omaha, Neb., noted writer and spiritual director Father Benedict Groeschel, C.F.R., and author and evangelist Father C. John McCloskey III.Prominent lay contributors are philosopher Peter Kreeft, Cardinal Newman Society founder and president Patrick Reilly and Eileen Cubanski, co-founder and executive director of the National Association of Private Catholic and Independent Schools.The Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College: What to Look for and Where to Find It will be available at bookstores nationwide beginning on Nov. 1. To order the guide:http://www.thenewmanguide.com/OrdertheGuide/tabid/347/Default.aspx

==================================================Intentions:

-For the students preparing for Confirmation.
-For a young man, Dale Cherney, recently injured in Iraq, who they do not expect to survive.
-For young people to be open to God’s Call in their lives.
-For peace in the world and an end to terrorism.
-For all the other intentions you hold in your hearts, we pray to the Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.



Announcements:

DTS High School Group! Plans are underway to begin an area-wide High School DTS group. (As some of you know, we’ve had a successful college-age group for about 6+ years now.) Now it’s your turn to get in on the fun!

Jeff Leslie, the new youth minister at St. Bronislava is taking a group of teens and adults down to the Madison area to observe a DTS group. After that, the plan is to start one here. The trip to St. Mary’s in Pine Bluff is scheduled for Wednesday night, Oct. 24th. Leaving at 445pm returning at 1115pm. Transportation is free and there are only a handful of spots left. If you’d like to go email me or call Jeff at 341-6706.
For more information on DTS go to www.DeadTheologiansSociety.com

You’ll be hearing more about this group in the near future!

Vocations: Come & See Days for girls in Grades 7-10 at Mater Redemptoris Convent in LaCrosse (awesome group of sisters!) Nov. 30th-Dec. 2nd. For info contact Sr. Stephania at snewell@dioceseoflacrosse.com


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God bless you!
Phil Lawson

For more information on St. Peters check out the parish website: www.saintpetercatholic.com

Catholic Teens is a weekly email from Phil Lawson to Catholic Teenagers. To receive these weekly reflections, send an email to lawsphil@gmail.com. On the other hand, if you’d like to be removed from this list, please send an email indicating that.

Catholic Teens 10-2-07

Hey All—

It sure seems like Pope Benedict is spending a lot of time talking to young people. I certainly don’t think that’s a bad thing! J In a recent gathering of 500,000 youth in Loretto, the pope challenged young people to be “daring” in following the Truth. It’s easy to just go with the flow and do what everyone else is---but that’s not the way to Heaven, nor is it the way to following Christ. When you look at your world, and all the garbage that’s out there…especially on TV---do you want to be a part of that? Or do you want to be a part of something better?

I remember seeing a survey of preteens some time ago….they were asked what they wanted in life. A majority mentioned to “be famous”. And what does the pope have to say…”be humble”. Quite the opposite! Want proof? Compare the humble Mother Teresa with the “famous” Brittany Spears. Who changed the world for the better?

As the pope alludes too, the world needs you to be courageous, daring, and humble, in following Christ.
Don't Be Seduced, Benedict XVI Tells Youth
Says World Needs Daring ChristiansLORETO, Italy, SEPT. 2, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI invited half a million young people to go against the current in a world seduced by violence, despotism and "success at all costs."The Pope's appeal resounded at the closing Mass today in Loreto, where the Holy Father arrived Saturday for an encounter with youth from Italy and around the world."There are so many messages, above all through the media, that are being directed toward you! Be vigilant! Be critical!" the Pontiff exclaimed.Most of the young pilgrims had spent the night under the stars or in large tents. There were 150 bishops and 2,000 priests who concelebrated the Eucharist with the Pope.Benedict XVI spoke to the youth a few kilometers from the Italian national shrine, where, according to tradition, Mary’s house was carried stone by stone from Nazareth. He explained to the young people that the humility that they heard about in the Gospel passage read at Mass ("Whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted," Luke 14:11) is not "the way of renunciation but of courage."Under a scorching sun, the Bishop of Rome told the young people: "The message is this: Do not follow the way of pride but the way of humility."Go against the current: Do not listen to the interesting and seductive voices that today from many parts propose as models lives of arrogance and violence, of despotism and success at all costs, of appearances and having, of harm to being."Media influenceSpeaking of the enormous influence that media desire to have on young people, he told them: "Do not follow the current produced by this powerful attempt at persuasion."Do not be afraid, dear friends, to prefer the 'alternative' ways indicated by true love: a sober way of life attentive to others; affectionate relationships that are sincere and pure; an honest commitment in study and work; deep interest in the common good.”The Pope encouraged them to not be afraid "to appear different and be criticized for that which might seem foolish or unfashionable.""Your fellow young people, but also adults and especially those who seem the farthest from the mentality and values of the Gospel, have a profound need to see someone who dares to live according to the fullness of humanity manifested in Jesus Christ," he said."The way of humility, dear friends, is therefore not the way of renunciation but of courage,” Benedict XVI emphasized. "It is not the result of a defeat but the outcome of a victory of love over egoism and of grace over sin."

==================================================Intentions:

-For the students preparing for Confirmation.
-For the victims of the car crash on Hwy 10 this past weekend.
-For those who are persecuted for their faith.
-For young people to be open to God’s Call in their lives.
-For peace in the world and an end to terrorism.
-For all the other intentions you hold in your hearts, we pray to the Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.




Announcements:

DTS High School Group! Plans are underway to begin an area-wide High School DTS group. (As some of you know, we’ve had a successful college-age group for about 6+ years now.) Now it’s your turn to get in on the fun!

Jeff Leslie, the new youth minister at St. Bronislava is taking a group of teens and adults down to the Madison area to observe a DTS group. After that, the plan is to start one here. The trip to St. Mary’s in Pine Bluff is scheduled for Wednesday night, Oct. 24th. Leaving at 445pm returning at 1115pm. Transportation is free and there are only a handful of spots left. If you’d like to go email me or call Jeff at 341-6706.
For more information on DTS go to www.DeadTheologiansSociety.com

You’ll be hearing more about this group in the near future!

Vocations: Come & See Days for girls in Grades 7-10 at Mater Redemptoris Convent in LaCrosse (awesome group of sisters!) Nov. 30th-Dec. 2nd. For info contact Sr. Stephania at snewell@dioceseoflacrosse.com


*************************************************************************************

God bless you!
Phil Lawson

For more information on St. Peters check out the parish website: www.saintpetercatholic.com

Catholic Teens is a weekly email from Phil Lawson to Catholic Teenagers. To receive these weekly reflections, send an email to lawsphil@gmail.com. On the other hand, if you’d like to be removed from this list, please send an email indicating that.