A blessed Holy Week to you and those you serve! A salute to all youth programs who are ministering to their communities in many ways this week and last, especially through the many Stations of the Cross performances. The newly-revamped Disciples Now website has posted "Journey Through Holy Week 2008," chock full of Holy Week resources. Link to it at the front page of our site.

TAPT XX Thanks! Lent preparation was extra special for teens from across the diocese as they participated in the twentieth diocesan Teens Are People Too retreat. It was the highest attended TAPT in at least seven years, and nearly 30 different diocesan parishes were represented. (Check out this week’s NWIC for a great article.) Special thanks to all of the adults who served on our Core Team and leadership team, who gave their time so graciously to serve the diocesan Church, and Bishop Dale Melczek, who bore an inspiring witness to his priestly vocation as he heard confessions as part of an unforgettable Reconciliation service. Check out the pix online, courtesy of Fr. Ian! TAPT XXI is tentatively slated for March 27-29, 2009. Adults wishing to serve can contact me anytime.

Sojourner Truth Thanks: Thanks to anyone who made a generous donation to the Sojourner Truth House as part of our TAPT collection. They are always in need of these items for their ministry: Deodorant, Pads, Toothpaste, Shampoo, Toilet Paper, Diapers (sizes 3, 4, 5, 6). Youth programs, consider a supply drive for STH as a service project. Contact Sister Loretta Schleper at 219-885-2282 or visit www.sojournertruthhouse.com .

YMU: Are you and your leadership team in need of "classroom-style" training in Youth Ministry? OYYA presents "Youth Ministry University," a two day training program, on two consecutive Monday evenings: Mar. 31st & Apr. 7th (5:30 - 9:30pm both evenings), at St. Joseph in Dyer. YMU is an effort to more effectively train youth ministry coordinators, volunteers, and anyone working with young people in junior high and high school. The content presented is based on the comprehensive model of youth ministry advocated by the USCCB in Renewing the Vision: A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry. The interactive two-day program will also review the history of youth ministry in the U.S., youth ministry basics, and give you and your team a chance to do a self-assessment of your ministry. Cost is free. To "enroll," just RSVP your attendance to 219-769-9292 x229, or email Kev before March 26th.

OYYA goes WIKI: As many of you know, gathering together for networking has proven difficult. At the last YM meeting in January, we brainstormed a way to make connecting online more interactive and resourceful. Thanks to the efforts of Joe Kern (YMC, St. James, Highland), we now have a place to connect online. Introducing the Diocese of Gary YM Forum, from Wetpaint. It's a new "Sharing" site YM leaders in the diocese. The purpose is to share events, resources, suggestions and ideas. You don't just read content, you PROVIDE it: you can start e-mail threads, create new web pages, etc., with users encouraged to contribute material at the site, post threads, upload photos and videos, create new pages, and edit pages that are already there. Best part: it's free and to the best of my knowledge spam-free. If you haven't received an invite from Joe yet, visit catholicymforum.wetpaint.com.

Welcome aboard! Congratulations and welcome to Mary Bean, the new youth ministry coordinator (PT) for St. Edward (Lowell)! Many of you will probably recognize Mary-she is a member of the Average Church Band, which has performed at a number of diocesan youth events.