As Bishop Brungardt welcomed the catechists to the Catechist Formation classes offered over our ITV Network his words invited each of us to a deeper walk with Christ.  "We have just entered Ordinary Time, in the presence of an Extraordinary Lord".

As I think about the next few months that lie ahead on the calendar for the Office of Youth Ministry, I think about how much these words, if taken to heart, can touch the lives of our young people. Ahead lies, JOY (Jesus, Others, You) our short two day retreat for freshmen and sophomores, TEC (Teens Encounter Christ) the movement for juniors, seniors, young adults, and if they so choose adults who long to encounter Christ through the Paschal Mystery in a more profound way.  And later in March comes the junior high youth rally, and the selection of the new Youth Council Representatives. And finally, our summer camps await us in June.

With each of these diocesan events, as with anytime we gather in the presence of our young people, we long for each of them to fall more deeply in love with Christ.  To fall in love with this Extraordinary Lord, and to respond more completely to the love being given.  I am drawn to a statement by Richard Rohr, OFM: "Once you say, 'I love you,' you stand foolish and exposed until the other says, 'I love you, too.' Such is the fate of God."

God is calling to our young people, saying "I love you."  May the activities that await us over the first six months of this calendar year, and may this Ordinary time that leads us to our Lenten journey and Christ's resurrection at Easter, become a time for our youth to respond in greater ways, "I love you too."

Ordinary Time with an Extraordinary Lord.  Wow, what a thought, letting us truly recognize the Holy Spirit living within us.

Directors of Religious Education and Youth Ministers,

Please find the Framework for Youth Ministry as published by the USCCB HERE.