Happy 2010!

The Youth Office is excited about the upcoming calendar of events.  Keeping checking the blog for all the latest updates and info!  Here's to a great 2010!

Peace and Happy New Year,
Mandy

Register for Mountain Madness by Wednesday 12/16

Don't forget to turn in your Mountain Madness registration form and $50 by Wednesday, December 16. This is an awesome experience for our Middle School Students to go to a great Archdiocesan event, learn more about their faith, and to have a great time!

Contact Mandy with questions.

A great weekend for the youth

Our youth program had a busy and spiritually fulfilling weekend. On Saturday, the middle school students learned about Advent, other winter holiday traditions, and even explored their creative sides by making their own nativities and ornaments for a service program.

We were also reminded of the generosity of our parish by the support at our youth bake sale. We sold all of the donated baked items and the money raised is helping to get us on our way for events like Mountain Madness, Steubenville of the Rockies, and High School Mission trip.

We are wrapping up the year with parish caroling on Wednesday evening at 6 pm along with the RE students and anyone from the parish who enjoys singing. Keep checking the blog for the new year calendar.

Happy Advent and Merry Christmas,
Mandy

Happy Advent!

Everywhere we go, we are reminded that Christmas will soon be here. Don't forget to take some time during Advent to really pray about the true meaning of Christmas: Jesus. All the 6-9 grade RE students received an Advent and Christmas reflection book just before Thanksgiving. If you still need one, they are available in the back of the church or you can contact me.

Happy Advent,
Mandy

Operation Christmas Child a huge parish success!

As a parish we donated over 100 boxes to the Operation Christmas Child program this year. That means that OLV is helping over a 100 children have a brighter Christmas.
We had a great youth turnout last night at Cornerstone Baptist helping to pack boxes and do odd jobs.
We have a group of about 10 people going to Timberline Church in Fort Collins on November 21 from 11 am - 2 pm to continue helping with this program as well.
Thanks again for all who have helped this program in one way or another. You are truly helping to spread Christ's love throughout the world.

Peace and have a Happy Thanksgiving,
Mandy Pittman (on behalf of the Youth Ministry Program)

Fundraiser Dinner a great success!

A big thank you to everyone who helped with the fundraiser dinner on November 1! We could not have done this event without you. And a huge thank you to the OLV Parish because without you we would have had no one to serve our delicious food to. We had about 85 people attend and raised money that will be very helpful for youth events. Our next dinner will be in January and we will be serving soup. More details to come.


Also on November 1, we had our first Sunday night youth group for high school students. We had a great turn out and our college student speakers did a great job! Our next Sunday night youth group for high school students will be on December 6.

November 1st update!

Here's what's going on for the high school youth program on Sunday, November 1!

1. 6-7:30 pm is our fundraiser dinner. It is all you can eat Italian food and suggested donation is $5 per person. All high school students eat free so bring lots of friends. We still need help with set-up/ prep, serving food, clean up, and supplies donations. Contact Mandy if you are able to help (mandy@ourladyofthevalley.net).

2. Altitude Adjustment application and $50 dollar deposits are due on November first as well. (Look at older blog entry for more info). LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED!

3. Finally, on Sunday at 7 pm, we are having a Sunday night installment of youth group. 3 college students will be coming to speak to the group. It should be a great event and is open to all 9-12 grade students.

See you all on the 1st!
Peace, Mandy

No youth activities tonight

High School youth group is cancelled for tonight due to the weather. Don't forget that we have our fundraiser dinner on Sunday (6-7:30 pm) followed by a Sunday High School Youth Group (at 7 pm). We will have college students coming to tell us their stories.

We still need volunteers to help prepare for the dinner on Sunday so if you can help, let Mandy know (mandy@ourladyofthevalley.net) or contact her on her cell at 970-978-8248.

Altitude Adjustment (HS) and Mountain Madness (MS)

Altitude Adjustment (January 29-31, 2010) is a ski retreat for high school students (although you can attend and not ski).  If you are interested in attending this event, you must pick up a packet at the church and return the permisson form along with a $50 deposit by November 1 (no execeptions!) and the balance is due by December 16.   This event will be help at YMCA of the Rockies, Snow Mountain Ranch.


The entire cost of this event is as follows:
$130 for non-skiers; $165 to ski Sol Vista; $187 to ski Winter Park (equipment rental not included).  If money, is an issue, please contact Mandy at the youth office.



Mountain Madness (February 12-14) is a middle school youth rally hosted by the Archdiocese of Denver.  This exciting event is filled with fun, faith, and making new friendships.  The event costs $160 and we will do some fundraising to help offset the cost.  If you are interested in this event, pick up a pack at the church and return the permission form with a $50 deposit by November 13.  The final balance will be due by December 16.  This will be a great event in a beautiful setting (YMCA of the Rockies at Estes Park).
Contact Mandy with any questions.

Operation Christmas Child begins October 21

The youth (K-12 grades) of OLV are participating in a program called Operation Christmas Child this year.  All participants in RE and youth events will recieve information about this program in October.  The gist of the program is that you fill up a shoe box for a young girl or boy between the ages of 2-14 years of age, return the filled box to OLV and then it will be shipped throughout the world to brighten the Christmas for a child in need.

If you have not recieved info or have misplaced it, you can contact Mandy via e-mail (mandy@ourladyofthevally.net) or go the the OCC website at the following address: http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/Pack_A_Shoe_Box/ .  This is a fun project and a great way to share your good fortune with others.  If every family committs to filling one of these boxes we can really make Christmas more fun and exciting for children who have so little.

Have fun with this!

Mandy

Hiking cancelled

Due to all the snow, we will not be hiking today.  Thanks for the interest and we will try again in the spring.
Enjoy the early snow, Mandy.

Fall Paintball

We had a great day on Saturday playing paintball. We didn't have too many injuries for the day. There is definatley interest in doing this again so if anyone knows of a close and inexpensive place to play, let Mandy know!

Summer of 09

We had a great summer with the parish youth program. Here are a few shots from some of our activities...

The summer started out with a BBQ and Captue the flag at Main Park

We played lots of games at Water Olv-ympics in July!

The Totus Tuus crew taught us a lot and we had a great time with them!

Welcome to our blog!

This blog is to be used for posting questions, ideas, sharing our Catholic faith, and information about upcoming youth events and programs. Visit often and let me know what you would like to see.
Peace, Mandy

Youth Minister
Our Lady of the Valley Parish
Windsor, CO