New Year’s! What are your thoughts at this time each year? For myself, I always get a little frustrated as you listen to news reporters interview people, and they often say, "well, I hope that this year is better than last year." I always think to myself, "what was wrong with last year, even though it was filled with ups and downs, and some stressful times, it was still a great year." Then of course, we always have these great and wonderful "New Year’s Resolutions". Regarding resolutions, I am often reminded of a baby calendar I saw many years ago. For the month of January, the quote with the picture said, "Resolutions, are you implying that I have faults?" In many ways this is a reality check, as it does make us sit back, look at ourselves, and again realize that we are all children of God, and that we are to be happy with who we are. Like the child said, "God doesn’t make junk." But even with this, we are called to continue taking steps to improve and help God build the Kingdom here on Earth.

If this is the case, then I have a big favor to ask. I have often wondered, just who reads these articles anyway? The funny thing is that as time passes, I seem to be receiving many compliments on my articles. Thank you for these words of encouragement and yes, thanks for reading these.

So if my articles are read by many people, then my favor would be to, "Dream A Little Dream For Me." When I lived in Pratt, and Father Ted Skalsky was the pastor, twice he asked the parish to dream. He would say, "Dream your wildest dreams, anything goes. What would you like to see happen in this parish over the next five years?"

With this in mind, I invite and ask you to do exactly the same thing for the youth and youth ministry in the Diocese of Dodge City. I ask that you take the next two – three weeks and dream. Dream about what you would like to see happen with youth ministry and the ministry to each of our young people over the next five years. Please remember that anything goes. Dream your wildest dreams, and simply think in terms that anything is possible, and that there is nothing that will keep this from happening.

Then, I ask that you please share your dreams with me. This is your chance to communicate with me, and for me to listen to you, since you have been so kind in listening and reading my articles. You can send your comments/dreams to me by e-mail, spolley@dcdiocese.org, or mail them directly to me at the diocese, P.O. Box 137, Dodge City, KS 67801.

My hope is that this will only open a big can of worms, and that it will propel us into the future of youth ministry. My vision leads me to believe that this could be an open door to a deeper movement into youth ministry and help us improve as we minister to each of our young people.

In 1998, the Diocesan Youth Council was formed, and as I have mentioned in the past, their main purpose is to serve as a communication link, a voice, between the youth of the parishes and my office. Through the efforts of the Youth Council, the depth of youth ministry has grown. Now through your efforts, your dreaming, myself and the Youth Council can take these dreams and use them to become a reality, all for the good of our young people and yes God’s Kingdom here on earth.

Thank you for dreaming with me!