Say not, "I am too young!"

Thank you for all your prayers... yesterday's Junior High Retreat was amazing! It was a great collaboration with our Youth Ministry. Big ups to Nellie & Matthew, two of our Youth Ministers, for helping us organize and staff the retreat! (Special thanks to Matthew for his impromptu talk!) The morning began with a bit of a surprise, and we had to completely throw out the agenda we had planned and roll with the Holy Spirit! Our focus for the day was on vocations, but more importantly, our Baptismal vocation and call to be holy in our every day lives.

The 7th and 8th graders put together some entertaining skits on the calling of Moses, the anointing of King David, the conversion of St. Paul, the calling of St. Peter, and the Samaritan woman at the well. We also talked about the importance of prayer and the Sacraments in our lives. During our breaks, we played dodgeball (the teens, with their nimble feet and younger age, always seem to beat the Cross+Trainers) and some rousing Jenga games brought the group together. The teens also received the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation together and spent some time in silent Adoration. Then we celebrated Mass with our families and parish community at 5pm. It was a grace-filled day for both the youth and leaders alike!

Whenever I work with kids in junior high (or even younger), I'm always reminded of the calling of the prophet Jeremiah in the Old Testament:

The word of the Lord came to me thus: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew
you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you."

"Ah, Lord God!" I said, "I know not how to speak; I am too young."

But the Lord answered me, "Say not, 'I am too young.' To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak. Have no fear before them, because I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord." {Jeremiah 1:5-9}

Many people think that the call to holiness is something we can only live out once we are confirmed. Some wait until they're older and they've "grown up" and are "capable" of being holy. But this seed of faith and call to sainthood is planted in EVERY person at Baptism. We are each created for a particular purpose, and we are called to love others and live out our calling every day, starting NOW, regardless of our age. I was so inspired by those young people I met yesterday... inspired to approach my faith with the same simplicity that they did.

May the Holy Spirit continue to strengthen us so that we may live out our baptismal calling daily!

How are YOU doing in your faith life... have you quieted your soul and prayed today?

In His love,
Richelle

The 08-09 season thus far...

It's hard to believe that our Cross+Trainer season has been in session for 12 weeks now! We started our Cross+Trainer formation the first week in August, and the catechetical year began on October 7 with Unity Night. And we already have one Confirmation 2 Retreat under our belt for the year!

We are blessed to have over 80 young men and women who have answered God's call to join (or continue in) our ministry this year! We have another busy season ahead of us and we are thankful for the graces that God continually bestows on each of us both in our personal lives and in our service to the youth.

We especially ask for you to pray with us this Sunday during our Junior High Retreat! We invite you to join us during the 5pm Mass to celebrate with and support our 7th and 8th Graders!

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Here are some photos from recent events:

Gabi, Dennis, and Chris journaling during our Day Retreat on Sept. 6, 2008.
















Jason, the Mikes, Katrina, and Chris strategize during Ultimate Capture the Flag.























The shortest game of Tug-of-War ever played. Ever.
















The usual chaos erupts during a game of "Do You Love Your Neighbor" on the October Con. 2 Retreat.














Peace on earth: Saturday evening Adoration

Cross+Trainers showing the teens our "One Body, One Spirit" cheer!!

(photo & video credit: JP Dy and Richelle Chuatuan)

Retreat Schedule for 2008-09

We hope that you will join us in prayer and sacrifice for the following retreat weekends for the 2008-09 season:

• October 10-12, 2008 (Confirmation 2 retreat)
• October 26, 2008 (Jr. High Retreat)
• November 14-16, 2008 (Confirmation 2 retreat)
• December 5-7, 2008 (Confirmation 2 retreat)
• January 9-11, 2009 (Confirmation 2 retreat)
• February 20-22, 2009 (immersion/outreach project)
• March 20-22, 2009 (Confirmation 1 conference)
• March 29, 2009 (Sponsor & Candidate Retreat)
• May 1-3, 2009 (Confirmation 1 conference)

Our ministry work would be impossible without prayer, for it is the Holy Spirit who fills us with God's grace and moves us to do the Lord's work. God's grace alone moves souls and enters into the hearts of the youth we serve -- it is not our love but the Divine Love that changes their lives! And it is through prayer that we ourselves are moved to continue striving for holiness!

We invite you to spiritually unite yourself with our ministry as we continue to pray for the sanctification of ALL people, particularly all youth and young adults!

About us

Who are the Cross+Trainers?

The Cross+Trainers are a group of young adults ranging from Confirmed high school seniors to post-college young adults who serve the parish community of St. Paul the Apostle in Chino Hills, California through a presentation of dynamic retreats for youth. Our primary ministry focus is discipleship. We recognize that we cannot expect to be effective in ministry unless we have first invested all of ourselves into our own personal formation in prayer, regular participation in the Sacraments, catechesis, meditation on Scriptures, and in keeping our brothers and sisters in the ministry accountable to Christ's call to discipleship. Thus, our apostolate, or duty in giving back to the Church, is through the retreats that we staff and facilitate.

What do the Cross+Trainers do?

The formation & retreat season for the Cross+Trainers begins in August and runs all the way through May. We meet every Thursday evening from 7pm to 9pm in Maher Hall. Our meeting topics vary on a weekly basis, covering catechesis, apologetics, practical ministry skills, teambuilding skills, and prayer. Through these meetings and our individual investment in our personal spiritual lives, we are able to serve the youth of our parish through retreats. We organize, staff, and facilitate several weekend retreats and one-day retreats during the year.

If you are interested in joining the ministry or checking out what we do, don't hesitate to send us an email at crosstrainingministry@gmail.com. Everyone is welcome to drop in on a meeting!!