TYME OUT Blogs!

     This past weekend (February 6-7, 2009) two parishes, St. Mary of the Hill in Hubertus and St. Therese in Milwaukee, joined together for their confirmation retreats. While this is not an uncommon occurrence, the time frame for the retreat was different. As such, in order to get the most out of the time available the youth ministers and I decided to have the teens prepare for the liturgy before coming on the retreat. Candidates prepared the readings, music, and intentions ahead of time. All was done very well, but there was an exceptional reflection composed on the Nicene Creed. Attached is a pdf of the reflection written by David Chesney and Jacob Nowak of St. Therese parish in Milwaukee with input from Cathy Smith, Youth Minister and the Adult catechist team.

Happy reading!
Marc Puechner
TYME OUT Retreat Director

Nicene Creed

Are you searching for a challenge but unwilling to drop a couple grand on an adventure vacation to some remote wilderness location? Did you realize that right here in the bucolic setting of Stone Bank, Wisconsin you can construct a bridge to help you ford a raging river, save the environment by safely transporting toxic oil sludge through a makeshift pipeline, safeguard the human race by transferring radioactive pellets into a nuclear containment device, navigate a field of searing razor-sharp shells, or safely guide a teammate through an explosive minefield? You might well wonder where all this is possible? Why, in the TYME OUT gym, of course.

The TYME OUT challenge course and a little imagination make all this possible for some of the retreat groups that come through our doors. Retreatants have the opportunity to work together to build teamwork, strategize, develop effective communication skills and discuss ways to apply these qualities to real-life situations. Recent groups to make use of the challenge course included a group from Marian University and another from Blessed Savior School, which just goes to show that the various challenges have something to offer groups of all ages.

Peace

Jim

Everyone tells me “I wouldn’t want your job.  A fundraiser in this economy!”

I say “I love my job.”  It isn’t a job, it is a calling and it is being passionate about what TYME OUT Youth Ministry Center is all about. 

I love teenagers!  I love God!  TYME OUT puts the two together like no entity I know.

As a Director of Religious Education for six years, I used to say that TYME OUT can do in 2 days, what it takes years to accomplish at the parish level! 

Kids don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.  Teens are perceptive and they pick up on those ‘vibes’ as soon as they enter what I term ‘holy ground.’

Kids are spiritually transformed by the work of the Holy Spirit through the hands and hearts of our amazing retreat directors.  Teens break down walls! Many come away saying “I’ve known him/her for years but this is the first time I really got to know them as a person, as a child of God!”

So… is it hard to solicit money for such a great cause?  NO!  I am on a mission from God and happy to be doing God’s will.

Kathy Wisnefski

Development Director