A monthly publication of the Youth Department of the Diocese of Johannesburg

It’s always lekker to begin a new year. I feel younger at the start of a year than at the end. And this is a special year, the last of the Century, full of new possibilities. Let’s not waste them.

We hope you all enjoyed a safe and restful holiday. Some are just returning to school… Some have just got their exam results…. Some are starting a new job or course of studies… Good luck to you all.

We hope to hear of the (re-)starting up of lots of parish youth groups and sodality groups, and members of the youth department are keen to visit various groups. We won’t gate-crash; we just would love invitations. We don’t charge for our "consultations" and visits!…

Can I do the washing up tonight?

I’d like to go to bed early tonight!

Could we go to mass all together next Sunday?

Please let me do my homework before watching TV!

Can I help you vacuum the lounge and do the ironing, Ma?

As soon as I’ve had my shower, please can I set the table!

I think I’ll go and tidy my room instead of watching Oprah.

I’m sick of computer games. I think I’ll read a classic instead.

No, I insist. I’ve had enough cake. Let my brother have the last piece!

Oh good; broccoli and brussel-sprouts for a change. It’s so much healthier than chips and ketchup.

It’s OK dad. I won’t need pocket money this month. I’ve got some leftover from last month.

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

My great wish for the young people of our Diocese in 99 is that we take to heart the theme: "Come home to the Fathers house!" I was disappointed to note the decline in numbers turning up for the Diocesan Youth Forum Meetings over the last 5 months of 98. Why this falling interest? Is it that youth groups are self-sufficient and exclusively inward looking and are not interested in mixing with others? Is it due to the pettiness of some leaders? Does it show that there is still, despite the New South Africa, a tragic gap between our parishes of different colour? Is it a sign of general indifference among the youth towards the church? Can we do something positive in the course of ’99 so that these questions won’t have to be asked any more by the end of it, by uniting our energies at every level, in our Father’s house, where there are many rooms, so that all can feel at home together?

Yours in Christ our brother

I wonder why everything is so much further than it used to be!

I mean, it’s twice as far to the corner as it used to be.

They even seem to have added a slope.

I’ve had to give up running for a bus; they seem to pull away much faster these days.

They seem to be making staircases much steeper than in the old days.

Have you noticed how small the print is getting in the papers?

Everybody seems to be talking so softly these days I struggle to hear everyone.

Everyone appears so much younger these days than they used to be when I was their age.

Those of my own age though are much older than I am!

I bumped into an old classmate of mine; she had grown so old she didn’t even recognize me.

I got to thinking about her while I was combing my hair this morning,

And as I glanced at myself in the mirror I could help thinking;

Applications for position at the Youth Department:

Anastacia Ndlovu was due to complete her year of service in the youth department on the 31/01/98, but as no potential replacement has applied, she has been asked to extend her contract for another 4 months. Applicants are invited to apply for this position as a member of the Departments’ Youth Ministry Team. It is not just a job, but a vocation, a gift of one year of one’s life in the service of the church’s mission to bring good news to young people. As we’ve said before, the pay is lousy, the perks are lousy, but hopefully the rewards are out of this world. Application forms from the Youth Office.

Catholic Youth Bible College >>> January – November 99:

We wish the staff and students of the new Bible Youth College in Rosettenville all God’s blessings as they begin this first academic year. From January 2000, preference will be given to those who have completed the Youth Bible College year for the posts in the youth department!

 Some of the Youth Department Plans for 1999 are:

05-07 March – Diocesan Youth get-together at Bosco Youth Centre.

Theme: "The challenges of belonging to the body of Christ in ‘99" R100 per participant. Space for 99, with a maximum of 5 from any parish. Bookings close on the 26^th February!

Faith Adventure Camps at Bosco ( = a Mini-Outward-Bound experience with a spiritual dimension) for a maximum of 25 participants per weekend, intended for those between 15 and 21 years of age. Ideal post-confirmation teens looking for a challenging inter-active experience.

This is not for the faint-hearted! Lots of outdoor activities, walks, team exercises, canoeing, prayer times, discussion, reflection moments, a night in the open air, orientation challenges.

Bookings are open for the following 6 weekends: 09-11 April / 07-09 May / 11-13 June / 13-15 August / 10-12 Sept / 08-10 Oct.

(Must reserve at least a fortnight in advance, and space being limited, it is best to book immediately!) -

21/03 – Sunday before Palm Sunday = World Youth Day! (Also Sharpeville commemoration! Human Rights day!) Marked by a mass, followed by a show with a message at Sacred Heart Observatory, and some inter-group games. Target – Mainly the Std 8-10/Grade 10-12 age group. Purpose: Prepare for Easter Triduum – stimulate ideas to use in parish/school over Easter celebrations.

16/06 – National Youth Day – Positive Action Day in own Parish/Region; nothing planned by youth department – Youth groups are encouraged to organise activities for themselves.

25-27 June – Youth Pilgrimage to Ngome – Cost: R300 per person, space for 50.

Closing date for bookings and payment of deposits [R150] is the 10^th June.

24/09 – Heritage day – Diocesan Youth Day at Bosco from 09h00 – 17h00. It will include games, a prayer service and Youth Group Talent Parade. Something for the whole family also!

Diocesan Youth Forum Meetings – Open to all young people (17 years upwards) and animators in youth groups, sodalities, altar servers and movements. Sessions will be held quarterly at Diocesan Hall, Cathedral Place on the following Saturdays from 11h00-16h00: (Includes training in Youth Ministry, planning of youth events, and dissemination of information of relevance!) Dates: 20/02; 29/05; 21/08; 27/11

World Youth Day 2000:

 - from the Southern Cross.

Forthcoming events:

The "Whatdowedonextweek" manual for the animation of youth groups is available from the Youth Office for R30.00.

The Contagious game:

Stand or seat everyone in a circle. The leader begins to describe his/her ailment, saying something like – "I can’t stop my right ear" twitching, and everyone must start twitching their right ear. The next says: I can’t stop my left eye blinking" and so everyone starts blinking their left eye, while continuing to twitch their right ear, etc. until everyone in the group has had a chance to describe an unusual ailment and everyone eventually collapses in hysterics!

Houdini:

Divide your group in two: A & B. Give each one in group A 2 lengths of rope/strong string about 2 meters in length. Group A ties up each one in group B ankles and wrists as tightly as possible without drawing blood of course! (Hands tied behind their backs) Group B members must each free themselves as quickly as possible without outside assistance. Then it’s Group B’s turn to tie up group A. Various competitive rules can be added as you see fit.

The Buck-Jump

For West Rand – at Mary, Queen of the Apostles parish, Munsieville on the 17/01 after 11h00 mass.

For East Rand – at St Albert’s parish, Vosloorus, on the 28/02 after the 9h30 mass.

For Soweto – at Holy Rosary parish on the 17/01 after the 07h00 mass.

Contact: Joseph Dube – w: 403-4590.

It is predictable that one day a new language will emerge out of the 11 official languages of our country as little by little they borrow words from each other and merge, just as many of the languages in Europe did over the centuries. Until that happens, learning languages will be an way of building our new Rainbow Nation, a means of promoting peace and understanding among the us all in this land! And just as it is not easy to "acquire" (- you can’t buy it off shop shelves even it does exist in CD-Rom!) a new language, and takes a long time in fact, so will becoming a new nation take time. We communicate in so many ways, and even though verbal communication is only supposed to comprise 7% of all communication, words are still vital. Last year I spent nearly 7 weeks in KZN to try pick up a bit of siZulu down. I still find myself speechless when trying to respond to the simplest of questions put to me in siZulu. I really appeal to you all to try acquire as much as possible of the languages of this country, especially while you are still young. Use the opportunities provided at school to study at least 2 of the official languages of our country apart from your home language.

Youthful Weekly Prayer Points:

Starting with a lunchtime half-hour of prayer every Wednesday at the Cathedral 12h45-13.30, from the 20^th January, we hope to initiate a number of regular prayer meetings in various areas. Some have already been in existence for some time, like the one at Regina Mundi parish, Soweto, every Tuesday evening at 18h00. Please allow us to publicise any others that are already planned or taking place, by letting us know about them.

The National Religious Leader’s Forum encourages us all to sign a pledge for a better South Africa. We, in the youth department, endorse it fully and encourage all young catholics to commit themselves to it: it reads as follows –

Signed: _________________ Date:__________