Venture – VENTURE

Nights like these…

February 9, 2020February 21, 2020 admin

Nights like these are my favorite. We have had over 40 unique teens walk through the doors of our VENTURE C.A.F.E. since September (no, not all at the same time!) It is always our hope that they are moved by the messages we share in our group. This week was no different. We had three (3) brave moms walk in their (5) apprehensive teens. The teens all had that same look on their face...like really mom. I do NOT want to be here. I am NOT happy you are MAKING me do this! Ahhh the golden opportunity...every...single...time...

I welcome the youth, engage in small talk, and acknowledge their not wanting to be here. I reassure them their feelings are respected...but then I call out in a rather loud voice across the room to the busy kids already engaging in putting popcorn in the machine, a game of chess on the floor, conversation on the couch, jenga in the corner, and pool in the center with my favorite question, how many of you were ever FORCED to come here? Ahhhh the comfort - nearly 90% of the hands go up and there is laughter...then the few outcasts who were never forced are called out, the ones who try to say, "but but I do want to be here now" and others who still say they are "forced"...I hate to use that term, but it is needed at times like these. I then assure everyone that this is completely normal. I turn to 3 of the newcomers, all girls, all completely embarrassed their mothers are still in the room, talking to one of the other volunteers. We start talking about "life"...like "real life"...about friends, school, the popular kids, the cool kids...one thing everyone at the table has in common, every one of them agreed they weren't "cool" - ahhhh the captivating moment...and what a perfectly timed opportunity (THANK YOU HOLY SPIRIT)...

Rewind a few hours, coming off the high of a retreat yesterday, I was filled with nervousness this afternoon. It was so unlike me. I actually reached out to 2 of our co-leaders sharing this and rather surprised because I am typically super confident in meeting nights...today had a weird aura though. It was as if I had no control, I had a plan in place, things were not last minute, the team of volunteers was stellar tonight, but still I was so unsettled. I knew we had newcomers, I knew what the goal was for the night...I had the devil whispering lies right into my ear.

This was the most perfect opportunity! I had the lead in to the start of our meeting right at my fingertips...the teen girls were nervous about the "meeting"...do we have to pray? You see everyone comes in with the misconception that we will sit around singing Kumbaya in prayer all evening. One of our seasoned members will usually say exactly that, "oh don't worry we don't sit in a circle and sing Kumbaya!" It always breaks the ice and eases the tension.

3 Minutes...Three minutes til meeting begins (typically 30 minutes after arrival)...game on. Fr. Dan shows up as we are beginning our meeting with a prayer. The room fills with the quiet needed to start the pep-talk, with 5 newcomers in one meeting night, it's the perfect time to recap the "expectations" when walking through our doors - not many at all...actually just 1..."RESPECT"

DYC was discussed briefly and then talk turned tables as I asked who watched the "Super Bowl"...ahhh all hands go up! The GOLDEN opportunity...this year's Superbowl was filled with FAITH FIRST then Football...in EVERY aspect of the game. I started by asking what Superbowl it was..."Fifty Three"...no..."Fifty Four"...YES it was Superbowl 54...I ask what the letters were, "LIV" what does that make you think about instantly? "the work LIVE" can't make this up they are feeding me EXACTLY what I need to make the connection to DYC, Inpsiration, Faith, Fame, and Football! Perfect...We are most alive when we are living in the faith, what does that mean? I share the first few minutes of this interview with Harrison Butker

"I played up a different person for different crowds I guess...a certain Harrison for the football team, a certain Harrison for the cameras, a certain Harrison for the parents and families, certain guy for the weekend, it's almost like a fragmented person." <---THIS IS IT...exactly what I wanted our youth to understand.

When you come in through this door, we want the authentic you. We want the you under all the masks of the world. Even better...let's take the message of Patrick Mahomes - star quarter back...all this could not tie in any better to the evening, to DYC, to inspiration! Patrick Mahomes is a perfect example, and has talked in interviews about how to be the "best version of yourself"...the 2nd message I wanted to highlight, we don't want the best people to VENTURE with us. We want the BEST VERSION of the people who join us! Totally the Holy Spirit here tonight...We close the meeting portion with how the Kansas City Chiefs could have won the Superbowl any single year, but it was this year, Superbowl LIV...and I left them with that thought! Even though there was so much more I wanted to share - ahhh future opportunities I'm sure...End of meeting time, porkroll vs taylor ham debate...snacks, social, small talk follow...

Some more food for thought if you made it this far! This Fox News Article was posted just a couple days ago...it's like God gave me just a little bit extra knowing exactly what I need to truly connect with His children

Kansas City Chiefs CEO talks faith, family and football 'in that order' after Super Bowl LIV win

"My Christian faith is the most important thing to me," he told "Fox & Friends" Friday. "In terms of priorities, it's faith, family, and football -- in that order." - Clark Hunt

Our Mission: VENTURE to meet teens where they are

November 6, 2019November 6, 2019 admin

Not many know what we really do and some may be apprehensive about encouraging their teens so we want to send this message:

To our faithful parish and Bayshore Community, your support of our fundraisers and activities make evenings like this possible. Bringing back and implementing ideas and advice from a 2 day youth ministry boot camp, our team of leaders is dedicating themselves to bring your teens on a journey living a life of faith built on respect, meeting each teen where he or she is at in life.

Tonight's meeting with walking tacos gave us an opportunity to share the passion we have for this group. The central focus was built around being who God has called us to be. Removing the masks we sometimes use to hide our inner self. Each was reminded that as part of this group they are called to enter our room being who they genuinely are, removing the masks that sometime they have in different groups and situations. With sports, school, honor societies, extra curricular events, activities and more there is so much pressure on the youth today to always have their A Game and not enough time to really self-reflect on who they really are.

VENTURE is a Youth Group with a mission to build a community of teens who have fun in a social setting, while putting their faith into action with a life of respect. ALL TEENS are invited to our events and activities, no matter where they are on life's journey, they are welcome here. We are thankful to call St. Catherine's our home and blessed to have the support of our pastor, Fr. Dan, and Parish Community. You are always welcome to get ask about gettinf involved yourself by not only donating time or resources, but especially by praying for our ministry and encouraging your teens to be involved also!

76693210_2468306863295299_2571919716419371008_n

73171307_2468306963295289_1099109343959187456_n

74216820_2468306926628626_2045735009469333504_n

73399877_2468307016628617_2018066649759875072_n

74238308_2468307466628572_3017590240589119488_n

72265594_2468307536628565_3435375006689787904_n

75513380_2468307589961893_7701377816339677184_n

74962798_2468307346628584_1938712580595908608_n

75341026_2468307286628590_3203401426441076736_o

74615442_2468307403295245_3133687810804940800_n

74216725_2468307126628606_4657237007049687040_n

76644619_2468307213295264_9128625504981614592_n

74171900_2468307666628552_6039554682030915584_n

Venture to the C.A.F.E. on Sundays

October 18, 2019February 10, 2020 admin

VENTURE to the C.A.F.E.

The VENTURE C.A.F.E. (Comfortable Area For Everyone) is a place where everyone is welcome. It was a vision created by teens in the Bayshore Area who were looking for someplace to go to just be themselves. They wanted a coffee house combined with a pool hall. Thus the VENTURE C.A.F.E. was designed! The C.A.F.E. is located in the school building.

During our Weekly VENTURE Meetings on Sunday high school and middle school teens will be engaging in captivating activities, compelling discussions centered around various topics, games and social gatherings, open gym with structured and unstructured games of their choice. Meetings begin and end with prayer with the opportunity to more deeply embrace the catholic faith during our Monday Veritas Nights starting this Fall.

All are welcome. There is no religious requirement to participate in our activities or be part of our group, however, our team of leaders is dedicated to living and modeling our own catholic faith, and we strive to pay attention to the direction the Holy Spirit is guiding us in. You will find when you walk through the doors of our C.A.F.E. that it is our goal to welcome and meet newcomers with authentic charity, much like Jesus did – no matter where they may be on life’s journey! The only requirement to VENTURE is that each person commits to maintain RESPECT on 3 levels:

Respect for Self in the way you dress, you speak, you act, and you care

Respect for Others by including their ears, their eyes, their bodies, their property, their differences or similarities

Respect for Property by treating our buildings, rooms, equipment, games, bathrooms with care

We hope you encourage your teens to come drop in one Sunday, if you have any questions – send us a text message 732-419-8298, we love hearing from others interested in our group!

“God’s love can only unleash its power when it is allowed to change us from within. We have to let it break through the hard crust of our indifference, our spiritual weariness, our blind conformity to the spirit of this age. Only then can we let it ignite our imagination and shape our deepest desires.” – Pope Benedict XVI

A Blessing in Disguise

October 3, 2019February 10, 2020 admin

It wasn't always this way! A true blessing in disguise. After a storm caused the roof to lift and water to enter our social space, the group had no choice but to renovate and replace. We were blessed to have new carpet installed, and asked input from our teens what they envisioned this new room to look like. They wanted a pool table, a new look, fresh paint on the walls, and COFFEE! Yes, they wanted a coffee type cafe! We heard, we asked around, and it happened! After many man-hours later, our room is nearly ready for the new group of teens who will be making their way through the doors! A fresh start, a new look!