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

Thought for the month:

"Life’s too short to make the wrong choice!" This phrase frequently heard on a certain radio commercial, is extremely relevant to us all! When we’re young, we imagine we have many years ahead of us, so much so that we don’t even bother making choices. We prefer to just go with the flow. And if older people give us advice, we say: "We want to learn by our own experience. Allow us to learn by our mistakes!" The trouble is that so many of us are making mistakes which are so serious they affect the rest of our life so badly, we regret it forever; and really it’s often too late to learn from mistakes. It’s common sense to consult a map when we go somewhere we haven’t been before, or to ask someone who has been there. Let’s not reject the guidance which those who have gone before us provide us with. Let’s try to get things right first time, by making good choices, Godly choices. Let’s admit that we don’t have all the answers. Let’s search for them together… with God!

 Youth Group Talent Parade

at Cathedral hall from 13h30 to 17h30

…Hi my name is Lerato M. I’m 17 years old and I attend HC Parish in Z. I wish to complain, that as a Catholic Teenager, there is nothing interesting for me in the church. There is a youth group in the parish, but I’m not in it ‘coz there’s nothing interesting about it. I don’t know its members even. Every Sunday I go to church and after Mass I come straight home. This is getting on my nerves. I think the youth commission should organise events, catholic youth gatherings, choir competitions and stuff like that. I attended a catholic school. Last year we had a chance to go to Pretoria to see Br. Mike Burke’s play about Edmund Rice. It was a great inspiration. If I wasn’t so fortunate to go to a catholic school like most youth, I would never have had that chance. Maybe there are other plays like that, but we never know about them coz nobody tells us. Please call me or write to me at the above address. I know this might be too hard on you. I’m sorry but I can’t help it!

Yours in Christ.

It’s so exhausting to be young!

Healthy teens are always tired, except at 23h00.

Oldies are able to dig up weeds, play tennis and cook supper for 5,

without complaining of being tired.

It seems to be a myth that youth is synonymous with energy.

No one is able to look as exhausted as a 16 year old when she got up at 10h30,

then spent an hour on the phone to her friend, before doing her nails

and then reading a bit of her latest "Blush" magazine.

The main thing to remember about teenagers

is that they permanently feel worn out

and whatever encouragement one makes

to motivate them out of wasting their precious youth,

only serves to make them cringe! So handle them with care!

How to get your issue of the Y-Link every month:

26/09 - The next DYF (diocesan youth forum) Meeting will be on the 26^th September at Cathedral Place, 10h00 to 12h00. All welcome.

05/09 - Meeting of reps from all (hopefully!) the parishes of the West Region at Randfontein from 14h00 to 18h00, with youth office personnel to select coordinating team for the region and plan for regional activities and events. Minimum of 5 and maximum of 10 reps from each parish/movement please! From 15h30-17h30, the services of the Covenant Players have been booked. They will perform and coach us on how to use acting skills in dramatising the scriptures, etc.

18-20/09 – East Region Conference at De Mazenod Centre – every parish is expected to send 5 participants. Register and book by the 15^th September via Anastacia @ the Youth Office. Cost: R120.00. Own transport arrangements!

31/10 - The Geluksdal youth group are organising a fun & fundraising Candle-light dinner on the 31^st Oct 98, from 7-11 pm. At Geluksdal Hall. Tickets: R40.00. Contact: Patrick Bates @ 738-4969.

As we go to print, the Regional conference of Soweto is about to take place at DeMazenod Centre, Germiston. An interesting program has been lined up with Norman Ross’s help, and we wish all participants a fruitful and growthful experience.

Applications

The Youth Department is glad to announce it has a new member of staff beginning from the 01/09/98! His name is Xola Nqono, and he is from Regina Mundi parish. He joins the team for one year of service in youth ministry. His name appeared in our last Y-Link, for he had just returned from a 6-month stay in Taize.

We invite applications for the next vacancy which will arise at the end of January 99. Applications are held over for each following round for as long as applicants wish to remain on our list of candidates; so those who have already submitted the necessary forms need not apply again. And by the way, the first and most important requirement of applicants is that they be already committed in the youth scene within their parish or region and have a proven track record of involvement with youth work!

Youth Bible College – January 99 – November 99

This is a unique experience open to 18-25 year olds who wish to grow in their knowledge of scripture and the faith, and obtain training in youth ministry. It will be a live-in course (Mon-Fri) Only 24 places available. Application forms available from the youth office, your parish priest or Sr Marie-Andre – (011-837-3607 a.m. or 726-2136 p.m.)

Bosco Volunteers

Are you short of ideas for ice-breakers and discussion topics… to use in your youth group? You can find plenty of ideas in the revised and improved edition of the "Whatdowedonextweek" Handbook, first published in 1994 and out of print for the last two years and which is once again available from the Youth Office for the same unbeatable price as previously: R30. We also have copies of a number of youth manuals, chiefly from the USA and Europe, which can be borrowed. We hope to shortly be able to also provide some audio-visual materials for use by parish youth groups.

Also available from the youth office: "WWJD faith bands" (R6.00 each; R5.00 for orders of 10 or more), and "Ethnic Wire Crosses" like the one pictured on this page (R5.00 each; R4.00 for order of 10 or more).

Reports:

* Four parishes of the Kathorus (Katlehong, Thokoza and Vosloorus) area, East Region got together for a sports day the magnificent facilities of Huntersfield Stadium. They enjoyed basketball, netball, volleyball and soccer challenges, and despite a healthy competitive spirit between the teams, the main aim of the day – to promote unity among the youth groups and friendships between the parishes – was well achieved.

* The East Region also held a concert at Alberton parish hall on the 10/08/98. Apart from trying to raise some funds, the purpose of the day was to select the items which would represent the region in the Talent Parade" on the 24^th September. However great fun predominated over any competitive spirit.

* North Region formation day: 02/08/98 – 5 (out of ten) parishes were represented for an enjoyable day filled with variety, including Rosebank Union Church praise and worship team who demonstrated the power of music in youth ministry and the Covenant Players who workshopped those present on how to use theatre to proclaim the message of the good news, concluding with the celebration of the Eucharist.

* At the office we hear of lot’s of wonderful things happening in various parish youth groups but we cannot invent reports for them. Please pass on the good news in writing for us to share them around the whole diocese, because good news is contagious and can inspire those who are struggling! The Covenant Players have been a big hit in several places with those who have invited them.

Growing Responsible – a reflection