Latest Announcements

Summer Service Opportunities: Please join us in our ministry with the children at Run the Race Club on Tuesday afternoons. We will need parent drivers to assist with volunteers. Rachel will be counting on us as she has tagged Tuesdays as Terrific Tuesdays with the teens from St. Brigid. That is us...so let's not let the children down. We will leave at 12:30 and be back at 5:00. We will begin on June 15th.

Time To Hang Tuesdays: The name of Tuesday night chill time is changed because we now order pizza. Bring $3 starting on June 15th from 6:30-9:00 and just stay connected with friends in a fun setting, sharing pizza, games, sports or whatever with one another. If interest is expressed, we may do activities off site too. We need to hear from you.

Gospel Road Registrations are due May 27th. Sign up now for this great mission trip to New Philadelphia from July 11-15.

Core Team Applications are due June 6th: Be a leader. Apply for Core Team... applications can be found at this link.

April 25 LIVING the QUESTIONS: Don't miss this night. Brain McCollister from Ohio University will be speaking on Spirituality and Sports. You don't have to be an athlete to attend however, because he will also focus on dealing with physical disappointments, illness and injury, and overcoming challenges through faith.

WELCOME TO HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH MINISTRY: Think BYG (Brigid Youth Group)and come to the party to honor YOU, newly confirmed members of our parish. MAY 2 from 6:15-8:00 in Hendricks Hall. Bring friends. Volunteers are needed to help host the party.

HELP WANTED: To celebrate our seniors and all their contributions to St. Brigid, we will providing their families and them with a brunch after the 12:15 Mass on May 16. Food donations and volunteers are needed from the underclass parents. Call Pam if you can help.

Gospel Road Registrations are in Pam's office. All students who will be in high school next year, sign up now for the MISSION TRIP to Appalachia, New Philadelphia, July 11-15. This is a great way to help the elderly and under resourced of Tuscarawas County, two and a half hours northeast of here, while forming new friendships with other teens from throughout our diocese. $100 registration fee is a donation to buy supplies from the community in which we will serve. Adult drivers and chaperones are also needed.

Core Team Applications are now available, so prayerfully discern if you would like to be a leader in Youth Ministry next school year. Any questions, talk to Pam.

Dear High School Friends,

Happy Easter. I hope you had a blessed time with your family and feel refreshed for the last nine weeks of your school year.

Important upcoming things that you won't want to miss.

Living the Questions:

4/11 Peace in Relationships. We will divide up into guys and girls after a few opening thoughts about finding true peace and happiness. Jason, MAV, and Dave will handle the guys' portion, so it will be a good night, and Jenn and I will facilitate discussion with the ladies. Friends are welcome.

4/18 A great night planned by Michael and Patrick about healthy relationships between guys and girls. They really have a well put together evening. The evening is focusing on Love Languages and No more Jerks.com in a very creative and fun way. Bring friends.

4/25 A guest speaker and friend of Jason's from Ohio University, Brian McCollister, will be with us addressing Catholics and Sports, but also dealing with physical challenges and disappointments...will be a great night. Bring fellow athletes and non athletes alike who have ever been challenged or disappointed...sounds like all of us! Should be a big crowd

5/2 A fun evening and welcome party for our newly confirmed 8th graders who are our newest members of high school ministry after their confirmation on 4/23. (Need help planning this)

5/16 Senior Appreciation Mass at 12:15 followed by brunch at Hendricks Hall for graduating seniors and their families. Please call with reservations so we can reserve seats at Mass and have enough food for the brunch. Underclass volunteers are needed to donate and serve food to our wonderful seniors who have given us so much over the years.

Gospel Road applications are now available for July 11-15.

February 28 for our Lenten reflection night, MAV did a night on "The Passion of the Christ." About 32 people attended and it was a very powerful reminder of the magnitude of Christ's love.

Fifteen of our teens and 4 adults attended the Youth Rally March 6/7. It was a great weekend for about 300 teens, and the teens were exemplary in their behavior. They are ready to set the world on fire.

Sister Joan did a great job at Living the Questions on our "What's Up Sista'" night. The teens really enjoyed her honesty, humor, and openness.

The 20th was the Confirmation Retreat. About 30 teen volunteers helped with prayers, witness talks, dramatizations, icebreakers and small group facilitating.

Living the Questions will resume after spring break on 4/11 and will continue on April 18 and the 25.

We will host a welcome party for the confirmandi on May 2 from 6:15-8:00.

Our Senior Appreciation Mass and Brunch will be May 16 at 12:15 Mass and after.

Young Adult Ministry continues to go strong. Bible Study, faith in action, and fellowship events are being consistently planned. They hosted last Tuesday's Soup Supper night and had a good time.

Family First is growing as young moms continue to support one another on their personal journeys of faith and ministry to their families.

During the month of February Youth and Young Adult was definitely affected by the weather. Numbers were down.

On the Overnight Retreat 31 kids soothed their spirit while delving into the reality that the Holy Spirit lives within them. The witness talks, small group sharing, reflections, reconciliation, Mass, and free time were well received by all.

Souper Bowl weekend was not very successful. We only filled 5 boxes, so the food was not picked up by Mid Ohio. Snow, cold, and awareness were all deterrents to a successful collection.

The Inner-generational Valentine's Dance was cancelled this year due to the Volunteer Dinner Dance on Saturday and the fact that so many 55 plus members go to Florida during February. Even though it was actually Valentine's Day we chose to have Living the Questions and had a very good conversation about what real love is, followed by BYBS.

Weekly service continues on Wednesdays with Fruit of the Vine and Run the Race Club. We also held our 24 hour Food Fast February 20/21. Only 13 teens fasted, but it was a great weekend. We learned many powerful lessons on Catholic Social Teachings and discovered great insights into what we can do to bring peace and justice in our little corners of the world. $2091 was collected in the extra collection for CRS.

Kirby, Izzy and Ben were interviewed in the Dispatch covered in Faith and Values and on Fox News and ABC. Facebook and even texting are being given up by several of our teens during Lent to free up time for prayer and more personal relationships.

February 28 for our Lenten reflection night, MAV is doing a night on "The Passion of the Christ." Youth Rally is March 6/7. We have 14 people going as of today's deadline but late registrations are still being accepted with a nominal late fee.

The 20th is the Confirmation Retreat. About 30 teen volunteers will be helping with prayers, witness talks, dramatizations, icebreakers and small group facilitating.

Living the Questions: Feb 14th. "And the Greatest of these is Love." Come tonight for Question Box night. Ask questions about love, dating, healthy relationships, etc. in an anonymous question box format. Bring friends. Also, please check the dates with your family about the Food Fast, Feb 20/21 and the Youth Rally March 6/7 so you can sign up to reserve your spot.

Food Fast: February 20/21 from after Mass on Saturday until 11:00 and from 8-4 on Sunday in Hendricks Hall. "Live simply so that others may live." (Gandhi). Live in solidarity with the poor for 24 hours and get pledges to contribute to Catholic Relief Services. There is a special permission form that can be picked up Sunday night or during the week from Pam. This is always a great event for teens.

Youth Rally. March 6/7 in Lancaster at Fisher Catholic High School. Very popular Chris Padgett will be the weekend featured speaker. The cost is $60 for both days and includes all meals. We reserved 11 rooms at the Baymont Hotel which will cost each person an additional $20. The Rally is like a miniature NCYC and is a great time for friendship, fun, and faith development with about 400 other teens from the diocese. The registration form and packet can be obtained from Pam and needs to be returned no later than Feb 15 or there are late fees charged by the diocese.

Confirmation Retreat: volunteers are needed to staff the 8th grade confirmation retreat on March 20. Contact Pam if you are interested.

ND Vision is a great week held at Notre Dame. Pam is trying to get a group to go June 21-25. If we register before mid March, we increase our chances of getting our preferred week and there is a reduced registration fee. If you missed the Living the Questions on February 14th, you can click the ND Vision link and it will bring you to the promotional video that we watched together.

Gospel Road is July 11-15. A great week is being planned. The cost is $100-125. The site is New Philadelphia. We work to help in the community during the day and experience the uniqueness of Tuscarawas County in the evenings.

Living the Questions Lenten evening with MAV and the "Passion of Christ" on February 28. Don't miss this powerful night.

Click here to see the Overnight Retreat flyer

Bring your activity permission form completed and signed.
Bring the remainder of your $55.
Sleeping bag or blankets/sheets/pillowcase
Pajamas (required in dorm area)
Toiletries/ don't forget towels, toothbrush
Warm clothes/hats/gloves/boots or warm shoes.
Two large garbage bags
Bible and rosary.
Two pens
Favorite music to play in an open setting
Bring a sack lunch with a beverage for lunch on Saturday.
Bring your own drinks for the weekend and snacks to share.

To save money, we will only have the snacks you bring for break time. We will order pizza for Saturday night and will have a continental breakfast on Sunday morning. We will have a big, hot lunch on Sunday before we leave for home.

We will travel by bus which, of course, is a chunk of change, but if there is a full bus our per person cost will go down, so invite your friends now!

We will celebrate Mass together Sunday at 8:00.

Youth and Young Adult Ministry was active despite the fact that we took a couple of weeks vacation in December. January will be extremely busy.

Christmas in Dublin was huge. We had the largest turnout in our 10 years, both in terms of participants, senior buddies, and parish volunteers. Eighty-four children from the Hilltop area of Columbus were bussed here for a day with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and 94 of the great teenagers of St. Brigid. One bus was donated by Deb Bahler which allowed for double the children to be transported. The day began with a great hot meal for the children and their buddies. Sue O'Donnell coordinated the food donations from so many parishioners' kitchens. The Care Program at the school and the adult volunteers, Lauren Lutz and Pam Anderson did a great job of making practical, homemade items for Santa's gift shop and the stockings given to the children by Santa. The phys ed teacher shared her bowling sets, and her parachute for children's games and the art teacher donated her room for crafts. John and Kim Johnson took individual pictures of the children with Santa and printed and delivered them to the Run the Race children before they left. Colleen Mar videographed the children for DVD of memories for Rachel and the children. Numerous members of Family First, Tuesday Morning Group, 55 plus members, religious ed, women's Bible Study, and high school youth ministry pulled together for a great day, complete with a Media room with Wii, Guitar Hero, and DDR. Each child left with a stocking from Santa, a gift from their buddy, gifts chosen and wrapped by them from Santa's Gift Shop, a bag full of food and cookies for their families to eat that evening, and many wonderful memories. It was quite a production and the outpouring of love was great.

Meanwhile, in December the Young Adults, went to the Zoo, continued Bible Study, and had a Christmas party at Mary Kelley's.

January 3rd, Living the Questions resumed. The Adult Core Team conducted that night for the teens focusing on finding balance and peace. On the 10th a group of younger Core Team members did a great job catechizing their peers on angels and saints. The 17th will be a MLK, end of exams, Chillax night, and we welcome Deacon Frank to present a night on images of the Church on the 24th. The big plans are for the Overnight Retreat on January 30/31 as we prepare and gather registrations.

Our weekly service continues on Wednesdays with Fruit of the Vine on the 13th and Run the Race the other Wednesdays of the month. Souper Bowl Sunday will be co-sponsored by Social Action and Youth Ministry on Super Bowl Sunday with collections of soups and other canned food to be done at all the Masses February 6/7.

Young Adults are mixing social, spiritual, and service for the month of January and are enjoying their friendships with peers of like values.

THANK YOU! Christmas in Dublin: Thanks to all the buddies, the decorators, the cooks, the servers, those who cleaned up and those who donated gifts. Thanks to the school and the staff for sharing space with this Youth Ministry annual event. Thanks to the Fire Department and Santa and Mrs. Claus for their entrance to the party. Thanks to the photographers and to all who donated the beautiful homemade gifts through CARE. Eighty-four children showed up for our party and we were expecting 70, so thanks to all who willingly went and shopped for extra gifts for our guests at the last minute. It was a total team effort: Home and School, Family First, Bible Study members, Religious Ed families, Tuesday morning group members, teen buddies, and parents of our teenagers. May you all have a blessed new year.

Overnight Retreat: Sign up now for our high school overnight retreat on Saturday and Sunday January 30/31. Registrations should be in by January 10th. Reserve your spot now with Pam.

Living the Questions will resume January 3 at 6:15-8:00 followed by optional Bible Study from 8-9.

Run the Race will resume on January 6.

Fruit of the Vine is scheduled for January 13. If you received new coats, hooded sweatshirts, hats, gloves, etc, consider dropping off your used ones to Pam to bring to the homeless.

Hello, My Dear Friends,

As Advent quickly draws to a close we are a mere 11 days until Christmas. Notice, I didn't say "Shopping Days." We should be preparing to celebrate the greatest gift God could have given us, his son, now human and divine. By his incarnation we have ourselves been made divine; we are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus, and we are given the grace to be that because the Holy Spirit lives within us. WOW! How cool is that!

Though we won't be formally gathering the rest of this year after Christmas in Dublin on December 19th, please seize every opportunity to join with your peers to truly celebrate the reason for the season. Try to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation and try to attend an extra weekday Mass in addition to our Sunday Eucharistic celebration. Whenever you can, pray for one another and pray for those serving in our military who are separated from their families at this beautiful family time. Pray for those on our parish prayer chain and for all those in need of our prayers. Pray for those who are experiencing a different kind of family celebration because of the death of a loved one during this past year or because of a divorce. PRAY...PRAY...PRAY.

Know that I pray for you. I hope that you will rejoin us or join us for the first time on January 3rd for Living the Questions. Please also consider signing up for our annual overnight retreat by January 17. The retreat is always a re-vitalizing weekend and after exams; you could use that, right? The retreat is January 30/31, the week before the Super Bowl. Please sign up as soon as possible because planning, on our part, takes time.

I will conclude this letter with a Christmas Blessing. May you feel God's presence in your life; may you know his gentle touch if you are feeling sorrow or anxiety, may you be warmed by his love and peace, and may you experience true joy as you celebrate the relationships in your life during this Christmas season. Make good memories; be safe; and rejoice in the Lord always, again I say REJOICE!

Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year to you, your family, and all those you love.

Peace and Love,

Pam

Christmas in Dublin: Ways to Help

1. If you are a high school youth or 8th grader, volunteer to be a buddy on December 19 from noon to 4: involves buying a gift for $20 and hanging out with the child throughout the party. Call Pam at 718-5832, and she will match you up and suggest a buddy gift.

2. Donate a food item, paper products, cutlery, napkins by contacting Sue O'Donnell at 792-3812 or 406-4525. We will be feeding lunch to around 70 children and their teenage buddies, plus adult chaperones...so about 175 people. We could also use zip lock bags to send extra food and cookies home with the children for their family's dinner. (Can be done as a family)

3. Volunteer to help decorate Enke Hall, the cafeteria, and Hendricks Hall. ( Can be done as a family.)

4. Serve food and clean up. (Can be done as a family)

5. Develop a craft to do in a classroom with several children and their buddies at a time. (Can be done as a family)

6. If you are a musical family and want to teach the children Christmas carols in a classroom, that would be cool.

7. If you have tech skills and can set up a media game room in Hendricks Hall with Guitar Hero, DDR, and Wii, we could use help, along with games and TVs brought in for us to use only during the party. We could also use a karaoke machine for use in the Nursery in Hendricks Hall.

8. We need a photographer and a videographer for the party. Each child will have a picture taken with Santa, and we need someone to take the photos, drive to get them developed and return to Hendricks Hall in time to mount them to a frame. We used to use Polaroid but can't find film anymore.

9. Set up Santa's Gift Shop in EnKe Hall. Organize all the tables, and help the children select gifts for family members.

10. Direct and help put on play about the Real Meaning of Christmas.

11. Donate wrapping paper and tape to allow the children to wrap the gifts they select.

12. Donate gift cards for Santa's gift shop for teenagers who are hard to buy for or a gift for a child to select for a parent, or grandparent, or sibling.

Hello, My Dear Young Friends,

Well, here we are, soon to celebrate Thanksgiving and soon to begin the wonderful season of Advent. It is a wonderful time to take stock of all that God has given us, including the gift of his precious son, Jesus.

I am grateful for each of you and the fact that over 200 of you have given me the opportunity to know you by name. In this very busy time of high school, I commend you for taking the time to reach out to one another and especially to reach out to our God who loves us. Thank you, in a special way, to our teen and adult core team leaders.

The past few weeks we have honored our Bishop's desire to bring a little more emphasis to one of the seven components of youth ministry: formal catechesis. We have brought in three speakers to talk of Marionology, Vatican II, and Catholic and Scripture. Those in attendance were so polite to our presenters...preparing you for college lectures.

Our Core Team has stepped up in leading Living the Question Nights on Media, Life, and Prayer and has done great jobs of leading their peers to an interactive investigation of the impact and importance of each of these in our lives. Attendance is right around 100 each night, including those who come to BYBS, Bible Study, only.

Our BYBS usually involves around 15-18 participants and the teens are becoming students of the Word. It is exciting to share this time with them as we reflect on the Sunday readings and how the message challenges us to live each week.

Servant for a Day generated $825 and though our jobs were fewer, we are thrilled to have this money to donate to charity. Volunteers still haven't decided which recipients will benefit from their work, but should do so in a few days.

Tomorrow, five buses from Columbus will join over 20,000 pilgrims traveling to NCYC in Kansas City. We will fill you in on the experience when we return.

Plans are being made for Christmas in Dublin on December 19 from 12:30-3:30. We will be busing in 70 children from the Run the Race Club and are currently looking for 70 high school buddies to adopt each one for the day. Lunch, buddy gifts, pictures and gifts from Santa, games, fun, fellowship, carols, Santa's gift Shop, and a skit about the real meaning of Christmas are a few of the treats we will share with the children with whom we volunteer weekly.

Fruit of the Vine went well in October and the next time we will be traveling with a KNIGHT to the streets is on December 9th. Batteries, toilet paper, old sweatshirts, coats, gloves, hats, socks etc. are always welcome to be dropped off to Pam.

December 6th is a social planned by the Core Team to go to Zoo Lights. Teens are to meet at the zoo gates at 6:30. Jason Hazen is the adult in charge and Kirby McKenna, the teen.

Run the Race continues on Wednesdays, leaving St. Brigid at 3:50 and returning at 6:30. Volunteer to befriend, tutor, and bring joy to the children in the Hilltop area of Columbus. Parent drivers are still needed.

Living the Questions runs from 6:15-8:00 starting October 4.

BYBS (Brigid Youth Bible Study) will begin from 8-9 on Sunday October 4th after Living the Questions.

Servant for a Day: Save the date; organize friends to from work groups to help make a difference in our parish by helping parishioners with fall clean-up, etc. in exchange for donations to the charity of our choosing. Sing up with Pam.

LAST CALL: if you are a high school student who desires to be confirmed, call Pam now at 718-5832.

Fruit of the Vine: Our first night of minister to the men and women who live on the streets will be October 14. We will leave St. Brigid at 5:45 and return at 9:30.

Kick-off Sunday is September 27 from 6:00-9:00. We are starting with dinner, followed by a great evening of fun, friendship, and information about a great year planned by your 34 high school Core Team leaders. Friends are welcome. Please bring the following to share: water if you are freshman, Capri Sun and a bag of salty snacks if you are a sophomore, cookies, candy, or brownies if you are a junior, and a 12 pack of pop if you are a senior.

Living the Questions: the regular schedule runs from 6:15-8:00 starting October 4. Guest Speaker, Sean Robinson will help us answer "How Do Catholics Do Scripture?" (See more information about the schedule here)

BYBS (Brigid Youth Bible Study) will begin from 8-9 on Sunday October 4th after Living the Questions.

Servant for a Day on October 25: Save the date; organize friends to form work groups to help make a difference in our parish by helping parishioners with fall clean-up, etc. in exchange for donations. Teens who volunteer will get to vote on which charity our volunteerism will support. Sign up with Pam.

LAST CALL: if you are a high school student who desires to be confirmed, call Pam now at 718-5832.

Fruit of the Vine: Our first night of ministry to the men and women who live on the streets will be October 14. We will leave St. Brigid at 5:45.

Important Calendar Change: The date for Christmas in Dublin has been changed to December 19th from 12:30-3:30 from December 6th, which was the date indicated in the Tapestry Common Threads publication.

Servant for a Day: If you would like to receive help with fall chores at your home and at the same time allow yourself to make a donation to charity for the work done, request a work crew from our high school youth on October 25, Servant for a Day. The teens will attend Mass together at 9 and begin their work afterwards until 4:00. Contact Pam at 718-5832 to put your work order request on the schedule.

My Dear Young Friends,

Wow! Just had to take a minute to tell you how great your Core Team Leaders are this year. We just finished our leadership training/planning retreat and I am thrilled with those who will be helping me support you on our journey of faith, inner, peace, and happiness.

Please check out the Core Team page to see all the names of the leaders who have said "Yes" to serving on Core Team. This year we have six high schools represented. We also have a great adult team to help.

We are all very excited about this year and hope that all of you participate to the degree that your schedule allows. Please know that your friends are always welcome.

Please enjoy the last few days of your summer break and know that we, as Core Team, are all praying for you. We ask that you pray for us and for one another. Life can be tough and we need each other to lean on.

Finally, mark the date: Youth Ministry Kick-off will be September 27. Click here for the full calendar of events.

Peace and Love, Pam

Run the Race: Join us as we help nurture children age 5-12 at the Run the Race Club at 303 N. Eureka Ave. We have a whole recreation center to use to enrich these children's lives, by feeding them, tutoring them, teaching them chess, sports, arts and crafts...whatever you would like. Meet at St. Brigid at noon with an activities consent form from the stbrigidofkildare.org web site every Wednesday of the summer that you can. We will return to St. Brigid by 4:00. Pam will not be able to attend July 8 or July 15.