Sacred Heart Youth Ministry

YNIA Teen Reflections: Ashley W (Day 4)

By Ryan | June 25, 2009

Hola Amigos! This week has been quite an experience. I help out at the Unicorn Center, which is a place that helps people who are intellectually developmentally disabled. I bonded with a dude named Roy, who was in an accident a while ago. I teach him how to read, I help him with his addition, and then we color. Also this place has an hour of exercise time when people dance to Richard Simmons, or play basketball, or ride exercise bikes, or just lift weights. Then, everyday this week for about an hour straight, we would sing songs that the clients request. We only have one more day with these peeps, then we will hangout and head on back so see ya!

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YNIA Teen Reflections: Ashley O. (Day 4)

By Ryan | June 25, 2009

Hey People! Amen! It’s finally Thursday. It might sound like I want to go home, but I do, and kinda don’t. Today, I’m at the Unicorn Center, it’s okay. This day is going by fast! I can’t wait til break time! Ha Ha! So, it’s been fun! All my friends I’ve met are awesome. All from Oklahoma, and some from Massachusetts ( if that’s how you spell it). All I want is my Mississippi livin’ and my Gaither music, of course! Love you all, and see you Sunday. Bless you!
P.S.
Tell Wes I said, “What up Wes and family”! Also, same with David.

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YNIA Teen Reflections: Nikki M (Day 4)

By Ryan | June 25, 2009

I am at the Unicorn Center I am having fun I met a Oklahoma Boy his name is Derrick we talked all day yesterday but he is leaving after his work sites tomorrow so I am only going to see him this afternoon, tonight, and tomorrow I wish he can stay so I can talk to him all day I will write ya’ll tomorrow I love you all.
Love Nikki

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YNIA Teen Reflections: Nikki M. (Day 3)

By Ryan | June 25, 2009

Hey mom and dad plus family I helped make colorful flip-flop then I also made 150 sandwiches and when to the refuges I miss you guys tell my animals I said hi. I am going swimming Saturday. I will be home Sunday I will call you when I am close to Hattiesburg I love you all see ya’ll when I get home.
Love Nikki

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YNIA Teen Reflections: Elizabeth (Days 3 & 4)

By Ryan | June 25, 2009

It really doesn’t seem like we’ve been here almost a whole week now! Like Bethanie says, we’ve all made tons of friends both in YNIA and at the Unicorn Center. It seems like all Team Unicorn talks about now is what one of our Unicorn Center friends said or did today. We are all having a lot of fun as well as working. Yesterday’s cookout at the park complete with taking pictures of ducks and participating in a talent show was a blast! Thanks for all your prayers and support and please continue praying! Have a good summer!

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YNIA Teen Reflections: Day 4 (Josh)

By Ryan | June 25, 2009

I don’t know how a man with a glittery shirt, stripey short shorts, and a ‘fro could kick my butt. I’m pretty sure Richard Simmons could do it. The man frightens me. But the people we’ve been hanging out with love dancing to his videos. I’ve learned that they can do so much, including beating me at Connect Four. It’s a lot of fun just chilling with them and talking to them. I’m definitely enjoying this experience.

We’ll see you guys again soon.

Peace,
Josh

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YNIA Teen Reflections: Day 4 (Bethanie)

By Ryan | June 25, 2009

Wow… It’s already Thursday and it seems like the week has flown by. Not only are we making new friends through the programming but team unicorn is making all kinds of new friends at the unicorn center. It is super HOT here!! The people at the unicorn center are just awesome they are all so sweet and our group is totally blessed to have the chance to work with them. Keep us and all the people we are meeting in your prayers please. Love and miss y’all.
Mamma Bee

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YNIA Teen Reflections: Day 3 (Hunter)

By Ryan | June 25, 2009

Hey yall what’s up. I am having a lot of fun in San Antonio. I have met many new people here an have also helped a good bit of people! What I have enjoyed the most is helping the people at the unicorn center they are a real trip! I have also made my fair share of ham and turkey sandwiches. So I will talk to yall later. Take care.

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YNIA Teen Reflections: Connor (Day 2)

By Ryan | June 23, 2009

Even though this week has just begun, it seems very promising. After just getting back from a mission trip in Tennessee called SOS I’m very excited to see what I can get out of this trip. I’ve already made new friends from different groups and strengthened friendships within our own. The work we are doing is helping those who truly need it and there is no greater outcome than that.

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YNIA Teen Reflections: Ashley O. (Days 2&3)

By Ryan | June 23, 2009

Well, I am with the Mobile Loaves and Fishes group. It’s a pretty good group. Yesterday, it was ooey and gooey, b/c, I had to handle some pastries, which, duh, were pretty gooey. But, overall, seeing a little child look up at you, Wow! You can just imagine the emotion! The program was good too. Hearing all those prayers and praises, that was great! It was a great way to end the day. YNIA is awesome, it’s not what I expected.

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YNIA Teen Reflections: Ryan S. (Day 2)

By Ryan | June 23, 2009

I have already attended one mission trip this summer where we roofed houses for a week and that gave me hands on service. At YNIA I am working with Mobile Loaves and Fishes. It’s a different kind of service and it impacts peoples’ lives just as much. Making one peanut butter and jelly sandwich may seem so little to me, but to the eyes of a starving child that’s hope for a new day.

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YNIA Teen Reflections: Nikki M (Day 2)

By Ryan | June 23, 2009

I had a great day yesterday I made 100 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and helped gather refuge kids then I did a craft with a girl that has a vision disorder she could not see the crayon I gave her but she colored then I traced her foot and she colored a connect the dots page then I gave her a coloring book and a box of crayons.

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YNIA Teen Reflections: Ned (Day 2)

By Ryan | June 23, 2009

I have been on mission trips before, but I am really enjoying YNIA especially. I am with Mobile Loaves and Fishes. The feeling of feeding a family in need is unexplainable. One thing that I have never done before is make 200 sandwiches; this feat I previously believed not to ever accomplish. All in all, I am very happy I am able to attend YNIA and be a representative of the Sacred Heart Youth Ministry.

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YNIA Teen Reflections: Elizabeth (Day 1&2)

By Ryan | June 23, 2009

I have learned at least one thing: not to try to predict anything on this trip. Our 9 ½ hour journey from Hattiesburg to San Antonio quickly turned into an 11 hour trip because of traffic. When we arrived, we found out that we were sleeping on the floor of a school without any air conditioning. Despite this, no one had trouble falling asleep because it was already 1 in the morning. After surprising a group of Jesuit volunteers by using their showers and attending Mass, we finally were able to go to St. Mary’s University and join the YNIA group. Somehow all the girls got split up and I’m rooming with three people I don’t know, but it’s all right because they seem nice. I also was extremely surprised to meet a second-cousin I didn’t even know I had!

I’m working at the Unicorn Center, a place for adults with intellectual developmental disabilities. There I got to paint nails, teach people handwriting, fix puzzles, play games, and was “volunteered” to lead the people in singing, which didn’t turn out too badly. All in all, I’ve had a very good experience and hope this trip continues to go well, despite all the surprises.

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San Antonio

By Ryan | June 23, 2009

We made it here safely and have had quite the adventure so far! A few of the teens have written short reflections and updates that I will post in the morning. -Ryan

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Website crash…

By Ryan | March 14, 2009

Well, it seems that there was a database crash that caused a lot of posts to be deleted from our website. This is especially sad to me, because most of them were by teens. Brianna’s posts are always especially well-thought-out and I want to apologize to anyone who didn’t get a chance to read them. I’ll be backing up regularly from here on out…

I should have the new-and-improved site up soon which will allow parents to download all necessary forms, volunteers to sign up for events, and teens to keep updated at all times.

Also, look forward to more posts by Peer Ministry Team members. My goal is to have at least one member write on the website a week following the April retreat.

AND, for those that went to convention, here’s Jesse singing “Open My Eyes” on some news show. Boy, what a blessing to hear his stories and songs!

Jesse Manibusan - Open My Eyes

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Axis :: Pop! :: Most Memorable Moments

By Briana | October 28, 2007

Since Ryan already covered what we did on the 24th (because of my late blog), I’ll do what I’m going to call: “Briana’s MMM” (Most Memorable Moments).

First there was Leah’s leaping to answer any question that involved the Video Music Awards. Then she freaked out because no one else had watched the awards.

Also, none of us will ever forget Mary Beth Wolverton’s wonderful poetic reading of the song “Promiscuous.” Ryan’s intention was for us to realize some of the terrible things in the media. Mary B pulled that off perfectly, mumbling some parts of the song and skipping some parts entirely out of embarrassment.

And Kevin’s point system for our pop culture trivia game must be included. Ryan stated in the rules that Kevin would give points based on the difficulty of the question, how he felt about that question, and just how he felt in general at that moment. As a result, we got points like 2+5 and 249.99 (which was awarded to the team who answered ipod, because that is the price of an ipod). Eventually, Ryan started saying how many points a question would be worth before he asked it. However, this was not much better. Ryan’s numbers jumped up a few thousand each time he asked a new question.

Yet another MMM. During our poetry slam, all the food in the room decided to become acrobats. There were ketchup packets soaring across the room. Star Crunch(es?) were hitting people left and right as they tried to stay serious while reading their “poetry.” It was pretty crazy. The craziest part is, to this day, no one knows where the ketchup packets came from.

Then there’s one from Sunday (the 21st). We discussed whether or not Mary Beth would have cried had she been there. We watched Stranger Than Fiction, which is supposed to be a funny movie, but the end is kind of sad. The final decision was yes, she would have.

Hope you enjoyed my MMM, I may (or may not) do it again next week!

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Christian music that breaks the mold (of consistently being less-than-great)

By Ryan | October 26, 2007

OK, so after our talk about pop music, my good buddy Kevin LaPorte said he felt like I shortchanged “Christian” music, and he’s probably right. The slightly ironic twist on my taste in music, being that I’ve recorded and traveled around the country writing and playing “Christian” or “Catholic” music, is that I generally can’t stand to listen it. Maybe I’m a snob, maybe I’m just bitter because I don’t have Michael W. Smith knocking down my door begging to sign me, or maybe it’s because I’ve been disillusioned by my stint “on the inside.” More than anything, I think it’s the feeling I get that the vast majority of Christian stuff is akin to those fake colognes you see in the gas station that promise to smell “just like” the real thing. This is most evident by a quick Google search that will find you a virtually unlimited number of “comparison” lists to help you kick the habit of listening to the devil’s rock and roll.

Any way you shake it, it’s worth mentioning that there are bands out there that have Christian members and songwriters that are creating great music. Most of them aren’t signed to a label that’s a member of the Gospel Music Association, many of them aren’t signed to a major label at all, but they are in fact out there. This list will probably be more worthwhile to the Joshes, Zehras, Alexes, and Charleses of the group, and I don’t mean to discourage any of you guys that are into some more mainstream Christian bands from listening to them. Everyone’s got their own tastes, and that’s what makes us beautifully and uniquely human. That being said, here’s the list of some of our brothers and sisters in the faith that are creating great music.

See? Let it be known and spread across the land that I have given you a good list of bands that are composed of believers. The stars are the ones that I would consider myself a real fan of. The rest of them I enjoy on occasion, and usually have at least 2 or 3 of their songs on my MP3 player at any given time. That being said, any person who says that they love music and doesn’t have at least one Sufjan record on their device is a liar. Yeah, I said it.

So all you music-lovers (I know that’s most of you since we probably had 800 music questions last night!) let me know what you think about those bands. I’d be super suprised if you didn’t find something you liked. Unless you only like hip-hop, because there’s nothing there for you. Again with the differences in tastes… Not to mention that, sadly, most of the innovation in the musicality of hip-hop is happening outside the Church. Of course, you’re bound to be able to find someone who smells just like…

Anybody else know of some bands that are Catholic or Christian? Let’s hear ‘em!