November 29, 2009

National Catholic Youth Thanksgiving--I Mean, Conference

What a whirlwind week! I left last Thursday and worked my way northwest to Kansas City. I could have probably used a nap upon arrival, but instead, left immediately for the convention center and the 24,000 teens who were just waiting to hear about vocations and the Sisters of St. Joseph. Actually, our booth was staffed the day before I arrived. With full-time and part-time staffers, there may have been eight or nine CSSJs in the vicinity. Sister Julie and I began two new vocation ploys: reverse pickpocketing and handstands for vocations. Our reverse pickpocketing efforts included putting a Federation pen and one of our cards into the open bag or pocket of any young woman. I remember attending World Youth Day when I was in college and praying about my vocation. I went into a similar vocation booth area telling God that if religious life was to be my vocation, that I needed a sign. I figure, if any young woman was saying that same sign prayer, boom, she opens her bag when she gets back to her room, and there it is! Our pen and card. That, and it was just really fun. Our booth was in the inner circle of activities and not on the well-traveled path. So, to get some young people to stop (and to have some more fun) we challenged people to handstand contests in the middle of the aisle. We told them that if we won, they had to become Sisters of St. Joseph, and if they won, we would give them a pen (which had the CSSJ Federation website on it). Fair trade, right?! One of the habited Franciscan friars near us also joined us in our handstands. It was really fun to see him pin his habit up. I wish I had his picture as well. A wonderful event. Energizing and exhausting at the same time.
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Sunday morning, after a great brunch at a delightful little coffee shop-ish place--"You Say Tomato"--I headed to Concordia, KS to spend a couple of days with the sisters there. I got mostly caught up on sleep in between my first Thanksgiving dinner and plenty of Rummikub.

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Then to my mom and dad's for Thanksgiving. The two new games of the season seem to be Bananagrams and Things. Both are very fun games that I highly recommend. Delicious meals. Lots of laughter. Baby Charlie holding.
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And now home again. On one hand, it seems like I have been gone FOREVER. On the other, the past week and a half seem hardly to have been real. And Advent has begun! I think Advent is my favorite season. I think I have decided to pray with one of the women from the Bible each week--Sarah, Hannah, Elizabeth, and Mary. I haven't totally worked out how that will happen, but I'm looking forward to praying with them. Back to school tomorrow.
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Peace.

4 comments:

  1. My sisters also said NCYC was a blast. I LOVE your reverse pickpocketing. Brilliant!

    And what is it with nuns and Rummikub? I didn't know how to play until the convent.

    Advent blessings,
    Katie P

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  2. Hey Sarah, thanks to you and the others for spending your Thanksgiving weekend among these 24,000 teens. Handstands!!! Does this surprise me?
    I also enjoyed seeing some familiar faces in the Concordia picture.

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  3. I like the idea of handstands...an awesome way to reach the youth! :) Meet them where they are and have a bit of fun too! :) I know some of the best moments on my journey have been moments of being able to see Priests and sisters as human and someone I could approach. I still remember finding out that a group of nuns enjoy the Rocky Horror Picture Show...I was like what????

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  4. Sarah, So glad to finally find you and see that you are as full of life as ever! We would love to hear all about your life and share ours with you. Judy & Dan Love

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