HSYM Update for 2-28-10

Hello HSYM Parents & Teens,
Sorry I am a little late on last Sundays update but here it is. We had a great evening with our second “XLT” that brought the students together in the Church with the youth band for singing and praise as a class. Kyle Abramson (youth band drummer/Teacher Asst) also gave a moving witness talk about his struggles as a teen through his High School and first few college years. It took a lot of courage to get up and speak about such a personal issue with so many teens listening. Kyle did a great job! It is nice to let our young adults witness other young adults speak of their struggles and how it has strengthened their Catholic faith. I use many songs in the Confirmation program written and sung by a young Christian singer/songwriter named Jeremy Camp. He truly inspires others through his music and faith. I have attached a short witness video he did. I hope it inspires all of you to keep your faith alive and well in the tough times as well as the good times.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFLFFBhcUEM

At the end of the “XLT”, I took a few minutes to talk about a serious problem with young adults. This is the topic of suicide. Last week, a lovely and talented young Mater Dei sophomore took her own life. I wanted to let our teens know that this is never an answer for one’s own problems. If they or anyone they know have desperate feelings of suicide then they need to reach out to family, friends, teachers, or clergy to get help. I also explained that if they hear anyone talking about suicide they should immediately notify an adult and not wait or dismiss it as stupid talk. Please keep her and her family in your prayers.

It is hard to be a young adult in these times and as parents, I think we forget all those tough times we had at their age and tend to only remember the good times. One of my best friends from my high school years always battled depression and had a tough childhood. He committed suicide about four years ago at 41 years of age and there is not a day that goes by that I don’t think about him and why I couldn’t do more in his life. Life is funny, sometimes we think we are on top of the world and everything is great then suddenly life is terrible and the troubles seem to outweigh everything else. Our faith is a great balance from these emotions when we realize Jesus Christ is always with us no matter where we are in our faith journey as practicing Catholics. I have attached a music video by Jeremy Camp called “Understand “. This video sums up how Jesus is with us in difficult times.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIjXqiqtsYs

Have a great rest of the week and we will see the teens this Sunday at 6:15pm. They are all invited to the 5pm Mass also. All HSYM Students can sit in the choir loft as a group with the Condon Family.

Kerry & Maura Condon
“God is good. All the time.
All the time. God is good”