Spiritual bouquets are a beautiful Catholic tradition of presenting prayers or acts of charity, mercy or devotion that someone has or will offer for someone else.

Recipient suggestions:

• Friends & Family members
• those who are ill
• those who are grieving
• the Elderly or Homebound
• those in the Priesthood & Religious Life

This special gift can be commemorated and presented in many ways, but the best way is dependent on the receiver and the occasion for the bouquet. Traditionally it is given in the form of a card letting the person know what prayers or devotional acts have been offered up for them. Crafty ideas include creating a “bouquet” out of paper, with a devotional act written on each paper flower.

Click the links below to:

• download printable Spiritual Bouquet designs
• download printable Spiritual Bouquet cards

Imagine the joy you will give someone with a beautiful spiritual bouquet!

Because what greater gift can we offer than our prayers and acts of love?

Always, in Christ's love. -Beth

This year the Summer Oratory will have a limited number of spots available, and those attending MUST be registered in advance. Submit your registration ASAP to reserve your spots!

All registrations are due by due May 1st.

To Register:

-click this link to register online https://dioceseoffairbanks.org/summer-oratory

-click the PDF link below to print a form

-pick up a form from the tables outside the Chapel

Completed forms with payment can be given to Beth or the Servidoras Sisters.

If your Youth or Teens attended First Friday on April 5th, please remind them to complete any prayers, offerings, or intentions that they committed to in the Spiritual Bouquets they made for our Bishop, Priests, & Sisters.

Last week we began with the EDGE class sharing their news from the past week!

Next, we reviewed our last session, and then completed our 9th session of Symbolon, Why Do I need the Church.

We discussed examples of the Invisible Church (the Holy Trinity, the Angels, the Church Triumphant and the Church Suffering), apostolic succession in the scripture, and that Christ gave his authority to the Church. Please click the links below to view the session and the discussion slides.

The EDGE youth also have an opportunity to complete the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church worksheet at home. They are encouraged to have assistance from parents & family members. Those who return their completed worksheets by May 5th will receive a gift card! See images below and open the link for a printable PDF.

We ended class with a round of Bunny in a Basket! It was loud and crazy and SO MUCH FUN! Congrats to our WINNER! See video below.

We will begin the 10th and final session of Symbolon, The Holy Spirit and the Life of Grace.

It was wonderful to have so many we had missed return to HSYG last Sunday, so of course we had to catch up and hear their news!

We then completed our eighth session the God Is... Collection, God Is Revealed.

We discussed the impact that Jesus as man had on the world, debated the C.S. Lewis explanation that "Jesus is truly Lord", and reviewed a quote from Fr. Pedro Arrupe that began with "Nothing is more practical than finding God, then fall in Love in a quite absolute, final way." Please click the links below to view the session and the discussion slides.

The Teens were asked to think of someone in their life that lives this quote and many referenced extraordinary people in their lives, but one very profound and unexpected answer was "Myself." These young people are such a blessing!

We had a fun ending with a game of Bunny in a Basket and then they were off for some Hide & Seek! See video below.

We will begin our ninth session of the God Is... Collection, God Is Relational.

This clinic is for 3rd - 8th grade Girls AND Boys who attend ANY school.

See flyer for details or email monroecatholicvolleyball@gmail.com.

Save the date to say Farewell to Father Welcome & Father Dominik following the noon Mass on Sunday, April 28th.

Youth & Teens (from EDGE & HSYG) are invited to join us at St. Nick's 5:30-8:30pm on Friday, May 3rd!

RSVP in the form below for EACH youth & teen attending.

This will be an opportunity for the Youth & Teens to complete a service project for the St. Nick's RE Teachers and have social time together. Pizza will be provided.

Next class will be on Sunday Apr. 21st, 1:30-3pm in the Youth Room.

It is mandatory for both the Catholic parent and candidate to attend the sessions.

April 20th - Last Oratory.

For all Children and Youth (ages 5-17) from all parishes.

Every Saturday at Sacred Heart Cathedral from 1pm-2:45pm.

Per the Diocese policy for the safety of everyone, a minimum of 2 adults are required to be present for all Youth Ministry activities.

Ideally we would have at least 4-6 volunteers (preferably more), allowing for at least 1 assistant present for the HSYG one Sunday per month. We are also still in need of at least 1 more assistant for the EDGE class.

While the search to locate others who have current certification with the Diocese is ongoing, we have reached a point where we need to request that parents assist on a rotating basis so that we can continue to safely offer HSYG.

Please consider completing your certification, and/ or asking individuals who you think would be a willing volunteer. Or, you can submit suggestions for me to contact.

All youth ministry volunteers must have current certification for the course of Serving Vulnerable Populations and a Criminal History Record Check on file with the Diocese. More information can be found by visiting Adult Training on the Diocese of Fairbanks website. Diocese of Fairbanks - Adult Training - Fairbanks, AK

Call or Text 907-978-4786

Email stnicksym@cbna.org

Office hours are as follows:

Sunday 10am-7pm

Wednesday 3:30pm-5:30pm

It is a privilege to work with St. Nick's Youth!

As always, please never hesitate to contact me for any reason.

I pray you are having a blessed week.

In Christ's love, Beth