Young Catholics

Youth Ministry, Vacation Bible School (VBS), and Family Resources

Videos

What NOT to Do During a Breakup: A Video about Rejection

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What NOT to Do During a Breakup

This is a follow up on a video about discernment. Fr. Mike Schmitz talks about how to handle rejection. Maybe you had a relationship fail. Or maybe you were rejected by a religious order or a seminary. At that point, we might ask “How was my discernment so wrong?”

For most things in our lives, God gives us the freedom to choose. But some of these things involve more than one person. Maybe I choose it, but the other person does not.

Don’t shift the blame to God. God lets us choose. We are not pawns. Sometimes our choices just don’t work out. Or maybe we change our minds.

God can still lead us somewhere good. We each have our own stories.

Navigate Catholic dating

#dating #relationships

Video Clips and Music about Authenticity and Being Yourself

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This is a small collection of video clips and music about authenticity and being your true self. Use these with your youth ministry or youth group meeting. If you have suggestions for additional clips or songs, please leave them in the comments at the bottom.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs: The Real You

This might be my favorite clip about being yourself. It is entertaining but also gets to the point. Only downside is that there is no mention of God. But it makes a good introduction to the topic.

Help Catholic Youth Be Authentic

Your Identity In Christ

This is a very brief clip about how we answer the question “Who am I?” Do we try to answer that based on our own view of ourselves, how others see us, or how God sees us?

A Christian Inspirational Message to Be Yourself

This is a very short clip. The message is simple. Take off your mask and be yourself.

Mandisa: What If We Were Real

This is a music video. The focus of this song is on being yourself: “Well, I’m tired of saying everything; I feel like I’m supposed to say; I’m tired of smiling all the time; I wanna throw the mask away.”

MercyMe: Beautiful

This song has a positive focus on God’s love for us. “You’re beautiful;; You are treasured, you are sacred; You are His; You’re beautiful;

Natalie Grant: The Real Me

Natalie Grant wrote this touching song after struggling with bulimia. “But You see the real me; Hiding in my skin, broken from within; Unveil me completely. “

#authentic #realme

Video: St. Justin Martyr Describes the Early Christian Mass

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In this video we see the words of St. Justin wrote to the Roman emperor in 155 AD to defend Christianity. He describes a Mass which would be familiar to us today – the reading from scripture, the homily, the petitions, the offertory, the praying over the gifts, the reception of communion. He even describes bringing communion to those who are not present. He explains that this is called Eucharist and that we believe it is truly the body and blood of Christ.

This is a wonderful resource to show the continuity of the order of Mass throughout the ages.

Learn more about the connection between the Eucharist and Judasim

#CorpusChristi #Eucharist #StJustin

Tips for Praying Video

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In this video, Fr. Mike Schmitz offers some suggestions on how to pray. Prayer is not an option for Christians. Prayer requires putting in some effort.

  1. When. Decide when you are going to pray. Have a set time. But make it a time which is appropriate for prayer. And make it what you build your day around.
  2. Where. Pick a place where you will be comfortable and attentive. And it should be accessible to you.
  3. What or How. Choose one thing to do during prayer and stick with it for several weeks. After your time is up, decide if you should continue or try something different.
  4. Why. Prayer doesn’t just give us answers. The point of prayer is to build a relationship with God.

#lent #prayer

Four Reasons for Almsgiving Video

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In this video, Fr. Mike Schmitz tells us why we should give alms. It is not to make us feel good about ourselves. But there are some important reasons why we should practice almsgiving.

  1. Jesus told us to
  2. Other people matter
  3. Out of gratitude
  4. To imitate Jesus

Have a plan to be generous. Don’t just leave it up to chance.

Catholics are not required to tithe. But we are expected to give according to our means. Everyone has something to offer for others.

Why are prayer fasting and almsgiving part of Lent?

#lent #almsgiving

Four Reasons for Fasting Video

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Why should Christians fast? In this video, Fr. Mike Schmitz explains what some good reasons for fasting.

We should not fast for God’s favor or attention. We already have that.

  1. For self mastery. If we cannot say no to something, then we are a slave to that thing. Jesus came to set us free.
  2. Obedience and discernment. We let the church tell us to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. In the New Testament, the disciples fast while listening for the Holy Spirit.
  3. Worship. We sacrifice a legitimate pleasure to express our love for God.
  4. To be a co-redeemer. St. Paul tells us that our sufferings make up for what is lacking in the suffering of Christ. Jesus offers us a small particle of his cross so we can participate in the salvation of the world with Him.

#lent #fasting