T H N E
ESPA ÑOL
E
Dale la vue lta par a
W T E E N M A G A Z I N E F R O M
Read his story on page 8!
T H E A R
LIVE 16 CATHOLIC
D I O C E S E O F A T L A N T A
what is your personal strategy to write your own testimony?
H
The Church wants to hear from you! Take the survey!
C
LEARNING TO
From the Editor
Greetings editor! from the
2
2 3 4 6 8 12 14
Greetings from the editor
THE MARK magazine is designed to
• The day of the dead • Sponsorgrams
how life-meets-faith and faith-meets-
Movie review: Speaking to Sparrows
archdiocese are included to help teens
Feature story: Hi! I'm Stelios Spirou
The stories also remind us that personal
Michael’s Story: Learning to live Catholic
God loves us each as we are and calls
16 18 20 22 24
Things to do: Take the survey!
personal journey of faith in an easy and
Yari’s story: Praying in Music
be able to start a dialogue about of how
Welcome Auxiliary Bishop Ned! What is your personal strategy to write your own testimony?
encourage teens to consider where and
life. Feature stories of teens in our own
consider their own journeys of faith.
encounters with God are unique, because
each of us by name.
Just as the teens have shared a bit about their journeys here in THE MARK, I invite all teens to tell the Church a bit about your
anonymous survey. With your help, I will
the Catholic Church may serve you better.
Catholic Relief Services wants YOU!
Visit www.tiny.cc/survey to take the survey!
The Ten Commandments for Christian Drivers
I can’t wait to hear from all of you,
Teens helping teens
The Mark | Archdiocese of Atlanta | Fall 2017
Katherine
Ask Abuela
Confirmation Corner
Staying connected to your SPONSOR By Debbie Frey Choose your confirmation sponsor wisely. A sponsor is someone you admire for their strong Catholic faith and with whom you feel a special connection.
Staying in touch with your sponsor is often tricky. Sometimes, a sponsor lives in another city.
And most sponsors will admit that initiating a conversation about faith can be a little awkward.
THE DAY OF THE is celebrated on Nov. 2. It’s one of the most beautiful and traditional feasts in Mexico, Central America and even
Sponsorgrams may help. Sponsorgrams is an app for you and your sponsor to connect about confirmation via email or text message. Based on seven themes of confirmation, the app sends E-cards seven times during your preparation. Your sponsor chooses and customizes the cards and messages for you, and the app lets you respond back to your sponsor. It’s a simple and fun way to help you and your sponsor connect and discuss this exciting time in your life.
in some cities of the United States! The purpose is to remember loved ones who have died. It’s an example
The Sponsorgrams app is available online at www.sponsorgrams.com
of a fusion of precolonial beliefs with the Catholic faith. Cemeteries are filled with marigolds and people light candles on their family member tombstones the night before. In Lake Patzcuaro — in Michoacán, Mexico — river barges are filled with color and light. People sing, pray and together remember and honor those who’ve died. Candy shops sell sugar skulls decorated with brightly colored icing. Newspapers publish jokes and riddles depicting a skeleton, Catrina, dressed as an elegant lady. At home, people prepare altars, festively decorated with candy, pictures of the beloved dead, religious objects and even a small taste of a favorite food! During the day, Masses are celebrated and people pray fervently for the repose of the souls of the dead. Perhaps you would like to join in this celebration in remembrance of family or friends.
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Movie Review
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The Mark | Archdiocese of Atlanta | Fall 2017
By Katie
Am I ul? beautif This is the question that we, as girls, all want to know the answer to. Body image, identity, comparison, pressure,
perfection, fear, expectations, secrets, society ... what do all these things have in common? Each has the potential to plague the lives of beautiful women. What else do they have in common? They are all topics that are addressed in the new film Speaking to Sparrows. No matter how big or how small, we all struggle with something. It is so easy for us to get caught up in thinking that we are all alone, that we are somehow the only girl on the planet who has a certain insecurity or struggles with a certain problem. The chances that you are the only one (out of roughly 3.75 billion females on earth) is roughly 0.00000000027 percent, and that is pretty small :) Actually, you might be surprised to find that not only is
some other girl in the world struggling with the same thing as you, but also someone in your home state, in your neighborhood, at your school or even your best friend might be struggling with the very same thing. But if these struggles are so common, why can’t we just talk about them? Why can’t we find the girls who are in the same boat as we work together to row the boat back to the shore, back to solid ground? Society tells us that we can’t do this. Society tells us to look perfect on social media, to cover up our insecurities, to forget about vulnerability and to avoid tough conversations. In Speaking to Sparrows, ordinary girls tell their stories. These are girls with insecurities, girls with struggles and girls who — despite recognizing these things and talking about them — still don’t have everything perfect. But the extraordinary thing about this film is the raw beauty that radiates through each woman as each one speaks of her pain and struggle and about the healing that she has experienced through finding a commu-
nity and developing a relationship with God. Speaking to Sparrows is a story of redemption, beauty, positivity, authenticity and identity in Christ. Christ is the one who made us, the one who delights in our existence, the one who calls us beautiful in our pain and suffering. Ladies: We have to start working together to defeat the lies that our world tells us. How? By talking. We have to talk to each other. We have to build community. That is essential for us to thrive. So how do we start? Speaking to Sparrows is the perfect starting point because it touches on so many topics. This film is for every girl of every faith, culture and stage in life. We are all women, and that is what binds us. Find a group of girls who can sit down with you to watch the film, and use it as the basis to begin the conversation you don’t know how to start. It is in community that we will be strong for each other; we will come to realize our authentic beauty and truly live out our authentic womanhood.
Don’t have a group of girls to watch the film with? Want to meet awesome women in your community? Keep an eye out on the Speaking to Sparrows website to find out when a screening of the film will be hosted near you! If you are interested in hosting a screening, please visit the website to schedule one today: speakingtosparrows.com/screenings
atlyouth.org
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HI! I’M
STELIOS SPIROU , and, like many Greek Americans, I have an unusual name that is sometimes difficult to pronounce. In fact, people almost never get it right the first time. I am named after my pappou (grandfather) on my dad’s side of the family. My dad was born on Samos Island in Greece, and my pappou, yia yia (grandmother), theo (Uncle), thea (Aunt) and many, many cousins still live there. My dad came to the United States to go to college. While in college, he met my mom, who is Irish American. They got married and had four kids. I’m the youngest.
We have a pretty large family in Greece. So when we were younger, our parents only took us to Disneyland once, and just for a few hours. I was too young to even remember it. Instead, they saved their money so that every three years or so, they could take us to Greece to be with our family, which is more important! This past summer, we were fortunate enough to visit our Greek family. As always, the trip was amazing! I got to spend time with the people I miss and love, swim in the clear blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea, visit all the different villages on the island where my dad lived and improve my Greek! This year, my best friend’s family came along and we hung out on the beach and played pick-up soccer games with kids from different countries. It was also great to see my grandparents! My yia yia is the best cook and my pappou tells us stories of the history of Samos Island. One of the best people in our family is my 6
The Mark | Archdiocese of Atlanta | Fall 2017
theo Stamatis. He is very funny and always makes us laugh when he says confusing things. For example, when we asked theo how many people were on the boat that he took to the island, he said, “Not too many, but quite a few.” As it may appear, I’m pretty Greek. Actually, I am the first child in our family to be baptized in the little Chapel of St. Eleftheria that my grandparents built on our family farm, but I am also very Catholic, too. Before we moved from Illinois to rural Georgia, I attended a Catholic school and our whole family helped out a lot at church. Where I live now, there are not as many Catholic kids and our parish is pretty small. We don’t have a very big youth group, but everyone in the parish knows each other and it feels like home. Sometimes, I get judged for being Catholic and jokes get tossed around all the time about being Greek. But in our family, we always say that we are all Catholic and all Greek, so we have the best of both worlds!
“Sometimes I get judged for being Catholic and jokes get tossed around all the time about being Greek. But in our family, we always say that we are all Catholic and all Greek, so we have the best of both worlds!”
DID YOU KNOW? Greece is the home of Pythagoras and the Pythagorean theorem.
atlyouth.org
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Your Stories | Michael’s story
LEARNING TO
LIVE CATHOLIC 8
The Mark | Archdiocese of Atlanta | Fall 2017
Story by Kathy Powell | Photography by Enrique Samson
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My parents took my two sisters and me to Mass every Sunday. When we were little, we would bring coloring books and toys to keep us quiet during Mass. I remember my first Mass without anything to distract me. I got a Matchbox car afterwards for sitting quietly.
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The Mark | Archdiocese of Atlanta | Fall 2017
My parents always made it a priority to get us to Mass no matter how busy our schedules were. It was just one of those things we did. We would go to Mass every Sunday or Saturday evening, all five of us together. Sometimes we would join my grandparents at their church — always the 5:30 p.m. Saturday Mass, sitting in the same spot in the same pew, at the church they have been attending since it opened. I would listen to the readings, try to stay awake during the homily — but I didn’t always succeed. Then came the Liturgy of the Word. I’m kneeling. I’m standing. Bells. More kneeling. Walk up in a line, and then leave shortly after. It was a routine, but I knew that it was important and something special because of the way that my family — my mom and dad, my aunts and uncles, grandparents and great-grandparents — all treated Mass and their faith lives as very important to them. My mom and dad encouraged us to pray. We pray at home before meals. We pray before we go on family trips. Their faith was always an active component of their lives. My dad served on the Finance Council and they were active in service and charity. They were always good role models of what I should be striving to do as an adult in the Church later on in my
I can say that I’m a Catholic, but that’s different from being a Catholic who is doing something and trying to be the best Catholic I can be. Now I’m learning how to live Catholic, rather than just be Catholic.
life. I didn’t always enjoy it growing up, but now it has made me appreciate the slow building blocks, laying a foundation of faith in my life. The summer before confirmation, I spent a week at a mission trip in Charleston, S.C. Growing up attending Catholic schools, I never went to Sunday School or religious education at my parish. That week was my first time really experiencing eucharistic adoration and praise and worship. I had always heard about God, and seen God, but there was something about adoration of the Eucharist and getting to feel God’s presence that was special and helped me to know that he’s there. Through that week, I began to pray more earnestly and for myself, not just to go through the motions. That week really started me down the path from just following a habit to something intentional, more personal and my own. The retreat to help prepare us for confirmation continued to feed that spark. I still have my program sheet from that retreat. During that weekend, the youth ministers and core members really helped me to make my faith real — to see God in my life, where he was and where he wasn’t. When you have
spiritual mentors like your parents and youth ministers, they can help you learn about yourself and your faith that you can’t easily do on your own. The people who are faith-filled people in my life have always been really quality people — friendly, approachable and just the people you want to be around. Once you get to know them, you see that they live out their faith in a really incredible way. I’ve been able to see that more clearly in the last two years and am thankful for their example. Confirmation was special. My older cousin, a year older than I and at the same school, was my confirmation sponsor. He’s the closest thing I have to a brother and it meant a lot to have him standing with me. It was really cool to learn about the fruits and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. You start to see that those are qualities you want to be striving for and they felt very tangible. When confirmation day rolled around, I was more nervous than I expected to be. I had to lector at the Mass and that was terrifying me. I think I played it cool. My involvement in my youth group and confirmation have helped make my faith feel real. I can say that I’m a
Catholic, but that’s different from being a Catholic who is doing something and trying to be the best Catholic I can be. Now I’m learning how to live Catholic, rather than just be Catholic. Growing in my faith has made me more outgoing now, but also sometimes way more quiet. I want to think things through in my head more than I used to, and pray about them before I act. I work to make my faith more and more a part of my daily life. I served as the chaplain for my high school track team this past year, praying before every practice and meet. I stop throughout my day and pray a 20-second prayer — “God, give me some peace to get through this math class,” or “God help me through this hard day at practice.” I love art — art history, painting, etc. — because God is beauty, God is art. I love that my AP art history class gives me the opportunity to encounter God in the beauty of art in art’s colors, shapes, textures and lines. I have also learned to care a lot less about what people think about me. It doesn’t matter if people think I’m weird or crazy or that Catholic kid. I am focused more on being happy with how I’m doing and just working hard to leave room to encounter God in my daily life.
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E M O C L WE The episcopal ordination of Bishopdesignate Bernard E. “Ned” Shlesinger III took place on Wednesday, July 19, 2017 at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Atlanta. He sat down with the mark to tell us about himself!
High School Years Q/W hat was your favorite subject in high school?
A / Math
Q/W hat was your favorite
Q/W hat was your favorite sport
A / Batman
A
to play? Favorite sport to watch? / Swimming/football (American)
Q / What is your favorite candy/junk food? A / Reeses Peanut Butter Cups/popcorn
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The Mark | Archdiocese of Atlanta | Fall 2017
TV show as a kid?
Q/W hat is your favorite music decade?
A / 1960s
Q / D o you recall any A
particularly difficult time during high school? / None
Bishop Bernard E. “Ned” Shlesinger III stands before a Northrop T-38 supersonic jet trainer at Reese Air Force Base, Lubbock, Texas. This photo was taken in the summer of 1984 during his flight school undergraduate pilot training. Photo Courtesy of Shlesinger Family
Q / T ell us of a time in your
teen years when you experienced Jesus as real. A / 13 years old
Your Life | Welcoming the bishop In 1993 seminarian Bernard E. “Ned” Shlesinger III, right, is greeted by Pope John Paul II at Castel Gandolfo, some 15.5 miles southeast of Rome, Italy, during his time of study at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. Photo Courtesy of Shlesinger Family After the episcopal ordination and meeting with clergy on the Cathedral of Christ the King plaza, Bishop Bernard E. “Ned” Shlesinger III returned to the cathedral’s interior to take photos with family and friends. Here his niece, Kristina O’Hern of Minnesota, takes a selfie with her uncle, the Archdiocese of Atlanta’s newest bishop. Georgia Bulletin Photo By Michael Alexander
Everyday Life
Q/W hat is your best tip for
successful fishing? A / S tudy your environment and don’t fish where the fish are not.
Q/D o you use social media?
Which ones? If not, why not?
A/N o, I have never been on
Facebook or tweeted. I text some, but prefer a live voice on the other end of the line.
Q/D o you cook? Do you consider yourself a good cook?
A / I cook, but do not consider myself a good cook.
Q / Do you miss being a pilot? A / S ometimes, but now that I
Q / What keeps you awake at night? A / Baseball (during baseball season)
Advice
Family
Q / What does “friendship with Jesus” mean to you? A / I t is like being married, you do not live your life around
Q/W ould your mother have described
someone, but share all with someone. Friendship with Jesus means spending time and allowing him to be more present.
you as a teenager: neat or messy? A / Neat
Q / Y our favorite food your mom A/
cooked/made? S paghetti with meatballs, plus grasshopper pie
Q / Which characteristics would your siblings A
say describe you best: peacemaker, troublemaker, easy-going, controlling, beloved baby, rebellious, perfectionist or fun-loving? / Easy-going
am a priest, I am more excited about being a “Father.”
Bishop Bernard E. “Ned” Shlesinger III is pictured as a cadet in 1983 at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va., the same year he earned a bachelor of science degree in agricultural engineering from the institution. Photo Courtesy of Shlesinger Family
Q / What would you like to say to today’s youth? A/D o not be afraid to talk to Jesus. He meets you where you are in life (even at your worst) and not where you would like to be. When you pray, pray as you are, from your poverty, from your neediness. It is OK to be needy before the Lord. He comes to save and lift up, not to condemn.
Q / May the youth of the archdiocese call you “Bishop Ned”? A / YES atlyouth.org
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what is your to write you
Start here WHY GIVE TESTIMONY?
ANYONE CAN TELL THEIR OWN STORY
y a l p -by-
ARE YOU A BIBLICAL SCHOLAR?
play
NO
YES
ANYONE CAN TELL WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR THEM
HOW CAN YOU
DESCRIBE YOURSELF
TELL IT?
DESCRIBE YOUR LIFE BEFORE YOUR PERSONAL ENCOUNTER WITH CHRIST
WHAT DID
GOD DO?
THIS IS YOUR STORY
HOW DID YOU COME TO KNOW GOD — AND THAT YOU LOVE AND NEED HIM?
RIZE DONT GLASMIONS YOUR 14
The Mark | Archdiocese of Atlanta | Fall 2017
By Doug Tooke
r personal strategy ur own testimony? I CHALLENGE YOU TO KNOW
YOUR FAITH
I INVITE YOU TO MAKE THE CHOICE TO TRUST GOD!
PLEASE JOIN ME IN PRAYER!
! s s e c suc
CREATE AN ENDING TO YOUR STORY
THIS IS YOUR INVITATION!
GIVE SPECIFIC EXAMPLES
HAT REMEMBEPRHATSIS THE EM GOD DID, IS WHATT YOU DID. NOT WHA
WHAT DID YOU
IMMEDIATELY EXPERIENCE?
HOW IS YOUR LIFE NOW?
WHAT HAPPENED?
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO FOLLOW/BELIEVE IN GOD?
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD?
ANYONE CAN TELL WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR THEM
WHAT
CHANGED? atlyouth.org
15
The Church wants to hear from
you
take the survey
www.tiny.cc/survey 16
The Mark | Archdiocese of Atlanta | Fall 2017
Your Life | Things To Do
For more news and eventitse, check out our new webs www.atlyouth.org 2017
NOVEMBER 6
5
National Donut Day God is
bigger
7
13
Complete the youth survey in this magazine!
20
Challenge: Fast from
19
National Cake Day
14
National Pickle Day
F E A ST DAY
21
National STUFFING DAY
28 National Day of Giving
- ST. THERESE
“God has not called me to be successful. He called me to be faithful.”
2
- St. Teresa
“No one heals himself by wounding another.”
9
22 F E A ST DAY St. Cecilia
16
FOLLOW LIVE STREAM
Happy Thanksgiving
29
Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting
3 10
Human Rights Day
17
4
6
Gingerbread cookie day
11
24 Posadas end
Posadas
F E A ST DAY St. Nicholas
Posadas
Watch: Home Alone
25 26 Merry Christmas
Thank You Note day
10
11
F E A ST DAY St. Leo the Great
Let’s go ice skating
F E A ST DAY
Happy Veteran’s Day
18
FOLLOW LIVE STREAM
FOOTBALL DAY
Black Friday
25
Georgia vs. Georgia Tech Auburn vs. Alabama
1
2
National Pie Day
8
Feast of the Immaculate Conception
15
National ugly Christmas sweater day
SEC Championship Game
9 F E A ST DAY St. Juan Diego
16 Posadas Start
22 23
21
Posadas
Posadas
Create your snowman day
FOLLOW LIVE STREAM
24
St. John the Cross
20 27
17
National Pearl Harbor Day
13 14
Our Lady of Guadalupe
19
4
Register for WYD 2019 Panama
7
12
“Abandon yourself into the hands of Mary. She will take care of you.” -St. Padre Pio
18 Posadas
5
International Ninja Day
F E A ST DAY St. Martin de Porres
National Candy Day
30
DECEMBER 2017 Take a trip to Stone Mountain Skylights Spectacular
3
15 St. Albert the Great
“Yes all is well when we seek only the will of Jesus.”
27
8
Do an random act of kindness
SOCIAL MEDIA
FOLLOW LIVE STREAM
26
All Saints Day
Holy Day of Obligation
Pray for those affected by Natural Disasters
than your 12 worries
1
Posadas
28
Holy Innocents Day
Watch: Elf
29
Posadas
30
“Dear Young People,
do not bury your talents, the gifts that God has given you. Do not be afraid to dream of great things!” - Pope Francis
atlyouth.org
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Your Stories | Yani’s Story
During my confirmation Mass, I REMEMBER LOOKING OUT FROM WHERE I WAS
SINGING IN THE CHOIR AND THINKING, “I’M SO GLAD TO BE DOING THIS — TO BE SINGING, TO BE RECEIVING CONFIRMATION, AND TO BE SURROUNDED BY THESE GREAT PEOPLE.” I WAS SO FILLED WITH JOY. I FELT IT IN THAT MOMENT AND I TOOK NOTICE.
I’ve been Catholic all of my life. Since age 3, I’ve been attending St. Matthew Catholic Church in Winder, Ga. I realized my passion for music with my first musical sixth grade. In seventh, I brought my love of music to my church and joined the Spanish choir. Now, in high school, I sing in the Teen Choir. Though weekly Mass has always been a part of my life, involvement in choir has made me listen to the word of God in a different way. Since I’ve always been one to listen to lyrics, singing the songs forced me to process the words. The songs talk about all of these gorgeous feelings. 18
The Mark | Archdiocese of Atlanta | Fall 2017
If these lyrics are talking about God’s teachings, then how great are these teachings!? As a poetic person, the lyrics speak to me in both what they tell and what they mean. Realizing that the lyrics are the Scriptures and teachings of the Church, singing has helped me to not just hear, but really internalize what we hear at Mass and helped me be able to put the teachings into practice. By listening to the melodies and what they have to say, music is my prayer. The softer melodies resonate with me, bringing deeper understanding and deeper connection
with God. I use those songs as my time to pray for things that are very dear to me and my heart, like my family and their protection, my friends and helping others. The bigger, louder melodies remind me to think bigger and to pray for everyone, for the souls in purgatory, for guidance and for general help. Some people are better at speaking, or writing music alone inside of their heads. Music just fits for me. It’s the best way I think. I think in music — in song, in melodies and in lyrics — so it makes sense that I pray in music. There are a lot of teens who attend my Mass who love music. I love singing with the other girls in my choir. Together, we pray, praise and have a lot of fun. If we can lead and show them that this is a great song and they can get into it, then they will get deeper into prayer and be alongside with us, feeling God’s presence and message. I especially love the time around Communion. If it’s a great song and we’re really into it, we can see it on their faces as they come up to receive the body of Christ. It’s amazing to see that they are feeling what I am feeling. I can see the love and grace that happen during Mass in their faces. My friends in my confirmation class and the other girls I sing with are a great encouragement and we have grown in our faith together. My best
Story by Kathy Powell | Photography by Enrique Samson
friend has also played a big part in my faith. She may not know it, but she showed me in real life the qualities I strive for — kindness, caring, firm sense of right and wrong, such joy and presence of God. I went through bullying and she helped me to get through the lasting impression that they made. I want to be like that with other people. Having God with me helps me to do that and gives me a purpose to reach out and help others. I’m a leader now in my church’s youth program because I want to help current students. I’m there talking to them about confirmation and about what it’s like, but I want these teens to know that they can count on me. I can tell them the all the joys, the things faith gets your through and all of the things that happen when you trust in God. Whether it is volunteering in the soup kitchen or just in school helping people understand a subject better, or in daily life, where they’re having a struggle and I’m helping them and trying to resolve it — I just really like people being able to come to me and rely on me to help them. I am Catholic because the Mass and my faith help me. Through thick and thin, God is always there. The kindness and love that God gives to us make it my job to return that to him and others around me. I love, praise and sing to God. He helps me; in return, I help others.
I AM CATHOLIC BECAUSE THE MASS AND MY FAITH HELP ME. THROUGH THICK AND THIN, GOD IS ALWAYS THERE.
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Young people are the hope of mission ... How beautiful it is to see that young people are
'street preachers,' joyfully bringing Jesus to every street, every town square and every corner of the earth! -Pope Francis
20
The Mark | Archdiocese of Atlanta | Fall 2017
By Ted Miles
The spirit of young Catholics is alive and well.
You are part of a generation that is connected unlike any ever before. You understand many of the daunting challenges facing our world. And your commitment to service and desire to make a change — evident through so many studies — inspires hope in leaders around the world, including the Holy Father, who knows the difference you make through your resilience, hope and outreach to others. Catholic Relief Services (CRS) believes in you, too! CRS represents YOU around the world! CRS was founded in 1943 by the Catholic bishops of the United States to serve the European survivors of World War II. Since then, we have expanded to reach more than 120 million people in more than 100 countries. CRS is motivated by the example of Jesus Christ to ease suffering, provide development assistance and foster charity and justice. Our mission is to assist impoverished and disadvantaged people overseas and to promote the sacredness of human life and the dignity of the human person. Although our mission is rooted in our Catholic faith, we serve people based solely on need, regardless of their race, religion or ethnicity. Within the United States, CRS helps Catholics (like you!) to live their faith in solidarity with the poor and suffering people of the world. Discover more at crs.org!
At CRS, we believe young people can help address the root causes of poverty across the globe and make a big difference in communities around the world. That’s why, this year, we are offering two new programs to help you take the lead! You can PRAY OUT LOUD by fostering prayer, learning, action and a spirit of giving in your community. Through PRAY OUT LOUD, you can access two toolkits focusing on migration and water. We hope these toolkits will spark ideas to create a communal event through which your leadership speaks the Good News of Jesus Christ! That way, your leadership can inspire others to understand migration and water security through the lens of our Catholic faith! Later this year, CRS will launch a new peer leadership program called STAND AND LEAD, designed to help young people learn what it means to stand in solidarity on a global level, to live lives that witness solidarity and to teach their peers how to stand in solidarity. If these opportunities interest you, you can learn more about PRAY OUT LOUD and STAND AND LEAD at CRS Education (education.crs.org). Check it out with your youth minister or campus minister; if you need more information, feel free to contact us at education@crs.org. Like Pope Francis, we believe you are the Good News of today and can make a difference in the lives of people around the world! We hope these resources empower you to bring hope and change to a world that needs your passion, service and love!
1943
The year CRS was founded by the Catholic bishops of the United States to serve European survivors of World War II
120 million
people reached by CRS
100 countries 5 continents atlyouth.org
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For New Drivers
T H E TEN COMMANDMENTS F O R C H R I ST I A N D R I V E R S Those who know Jesus Christ are vigilant on the roads. They don’t only think about themselves, and are not always worried about getting to their destination in a great hurry. They see the people who “accompany” them on the road, each of whom has their own life, their own desire to reach a destination and their own problems. They see everyone as brothers and sisters, sons and daughters of God. This is the attitude that characterizes a Christian driver. With the request for motorists to exercise virtue, we have drawn up a special “decalogue” for them, analogous with the Lord’s Ten Commandments.
1
3/
/
YOU SHALL NOT KILL.
2/
T HE ROAD S HA LL BE FOR YOU A MEANS OF COMMUN ION BETW EEN PEOPLE A N D NOT OF MORTA L HA R M .
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COU RT ESY, UPRI GH T NESS AND PRU D ENCE WI LL HELP YOU DEAL WIT H UNFOR ES EEN E V ENTS .
4
/
BE C H AR I TA BLE AN D H E L P YOU R N E IG H BOR IN N E E D , E S PE C IA LLY V IC T I MS OF AC C I DENTS .
/ / CARS SHALL NOT BE FOR YOU AN EXPRESSION OF POWER AND DOMINATION, AND AN OCCASION OF SIN.
6/
CHARITABLY CONVINCE THE YOUNG AND NOT SO YOUNG NOT TO DRIVE WHEN THEY ARE NOT IN A FITTING CONDITION TO DO SO.
7/
SUPPORT T HE FA MI LI E S OF ACCI DEN T VICT I MS.
BRING GUILTY MOTORISTS AND THEIR VICTIMS TOGETHER, AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME, SO THAT THEY CAN UNDERGO THE FREEDOM OF FORGIVENESS.
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Excerpted from Ponticifal Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People’s, Guidelines for the Pastoral Care of the Road, nos. 19, 61 (www.vatican.va). Copyright © 2007, Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Used with permission. All rights reserved. USCCB Publishing. To order Pub. No. 7-073, call 800.235.8722.
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BEHAVE RESPONSIBLY IN RELATION TO OTHERS.
ON THE ROAD, PROTECT THOSE WHO ARE MORE VULNERABLE.
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The Mark | Archdiocese of Atlanta | Fall 2017
You’ve probably been approached by a friend wanting to talk about a problem, issue or difficult situation. Chances are, you’ve leaned on a friend at times when you yourself needed support. “Being there” for a friend and allowing our friends to be there for us is a powerful way of following Jesus’ command: “As I have loved you, you should love one another.” (Jn 13:34-35) But as the struggles and pressures of being a teen today intensify, so does the difficulty of helping a friend in need. This leaves many teens asking:
How do I know when he needs more help than I can give him?
HOW CAN I BE THERE FOR MY FRIEND WITHOUT HURTING MYSELF IN THE PROCESS?
HOW DO I GET THEM HELP WITHOUT BETRAYING THEM?
Here are a few tips to help you help your friends (and yourself!):
1 ACKNOWLEDGE THE COMPLIMENT. When a friend opens up to you, it says they find you to be trustworthy, a good listener and value your input. That’s a big deal. Own it.
5 DON’T MAKE PROMISES YOU CAN’T KEEP. If a friend asks you to “promise you won’t tell,” pause before responding. You want to be trustworthy and loyal, but there are serious issues like depression, eating disorders, self-harm, suicidal thoughts or intent to harm another that you should tell an adult. You might say: “You know, I promise I won’t tell another teen. But if it’s serious, I may need to tell an adult.”
2 LISTENING IS A POWERFUL WAY TO HELP. Listening is hard because it requires focusing on what the other is saying when we may be thinking about how we should respond to what the other person is saying. You may feel “just listening” is not helpful enough, but it’s one of the most helpful and Christlike things you can do.
6 NO ONE IS TOTALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LIFE OF ANOTHER. No matter how much another person may rely on you, ultimately, you are not responsible for your friend. Your role as a friend is to care, listen and help them get the help they need.
3 AVOID FIXING AND HELP GENERATE ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS. Watching a friend go through a painful situation can leave you feeling pressured to “fix it” by getting involved or offering advice. Those may be appropriate and helpful, but get input from a trusted adult first, such as an adult core member, youth minister, priest, school counselor or parent.
7 PRAY. You can’t give others what you don’t have. People come to us hoping to find the peace of Christ. As you spend time in prayer, you ensure that you have some to give.
4 HAVE YOUR OWN SUPPORT SYSTEM. Listening to another’s problems is stressful. You may worry about them (often without realizing it). It’s important to have at least one friend and one adult whom you can lean on.
ROY has worked with young people for more than 20 years as a youth minister, teacher and now as a counselor in private practice. Roy has keynoted many national and international conferences. Roy loves being outdoors and spending time with his wife Mindi and their two sons in Youngsville, La.
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He sido católica durante toda mi vida, y desde que tenía 3 años de edad, he asistido a la Iglesia Católica. Durante mi primer musical en 6º grado descubrí mi pasión por la música, y en 7º grado, incorporé mi amor por ella a mi iglesia, uniéndome al coro hispano. Ahora que estoy en High School, canto en el coro juvenil. Aunque asistir a misa semanalmente ha sido siempre parte de mi vida, mi participación en el coro me ha hecho escuchar la Palabra de Dios de una manera diferente.
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Cantar las melodías me ayudó a entender el significado de las palabras, ya que siempre me ha gustado ponerle atención a las letras. Las canciones hablan sobre muchos sentimientos maravillosos. Si estas letras hablan de la doctrina de Dios, entonces, ¡¿Cuan grandes no serán sus enseñanzas?! Como alguien que disfruta la poesía, para mí las letras tienen un mensaje tanto explícito como implícito. Darme cuenta de que las letras de las melodías corresponden a las escrituras y las enseñanzas de la Iglesia, y cantarlas, me ha ayudado no solo a oírlas, sino a entender lo que realmente escuchamos en la Misa y a poder ponerlo en práctica. Al escuchar las canciones y sus letras, la música se convierte en mi oración. Las suaves melodías
permanecen conmigo, brindándome una comprensión y una conexión más profundas con Dios. Utilizo esas canciones como mi tiempo para orar por cosas que considero muy importantes y cercanas a mi corazón, como mi familia y su protección, mis amigos y el ayudar al prójimo. Las melodías más fuertes y estruendosas, me recuerdan que debo pensar en grande y orar por todos, incluyendo las almas del Purgatorio. También oro para recibir dirección y por todo tipo de ayuda en general. Algunas personas son mejores hablando o escribiendo, o con sus mentes, pero la música es lo mío. Es la manera en la que pienso más claramente, así que tiene sentido que también rece a través de ella. Hay muchos adolescentes que asisten a la misma misa a la que yo voy, quienes aman la música. Me encanta cantar con las otras chicas del coro. Juntas oramos, alabamos y nos divertimos muchísimo. Pienso que si podemos liderar una canción y mostrarle a los demás que es especial, y ellos logran identificarse con ella, entonces lograrán profundizar su oración y unirse a nosotros para sentir la presencia de Dios y escuchar su
Soy católica porque la Misa y mi fe me ayudan. Dios siempre está conmigo en las alegrías y en las dificultades. La bondad y el amor que Dios nos da, implica que mi tarea sea devolverle algo a Él y a mis hermanos. Amo, alabo y canto a Dios. Él me ayuda, y a cambio, yo ayudo a otros.
mensaje. Particularmente, uno de mis momentos favoritos es el tiempo alrededor de la Comunión, ya que si estamos cantando una canción especial que todos realmente sentimos se nota en sus rostros cuando se acercan a recibir el Cuerpo de Cristo. Es maravilloso ver que los demás también están sintiendo lo que tú sientes. Al mirar sus rostros, puedo ver el amor y la gracia que tienen lugar durante la misa. Mis amigos en mi clase de confirmación, y las otras chicas con las que canto, son un gran estímulo y juntos hemos evolucionado en nuestra fe. Mi mejor amiga también ha desempeñado un gran papel en mi fe. Tal vez ella no lo sepa, pero me enseñó con su ejemplo las cualidades que anhelo - bondad, cariño, firme sentido del bien y el mal, mucha alegría y la presencia de Dios. Fui víctima de intimidación (bulling) y ella me ayudó superar la impresión duradera que esta experiencia dejó en mí. Yo también quiero ser así con otras personas. Tener a Dios conmigo como un apoyo y como alguien
maravilloso, me ayuda a hacerlo y me da un propósito para ayudar a otros. Actualmente soy líder del programa juvenil de mi iglesia porque quiero ayudar a los jóvenes. Les hablo sobre la confirmación y sobre lo que esta representa, pero ante todo quiero que ellos sepan que pueden contar conmigo. Puedo hablarles de las alegrías, de las cosas que la fe te ayuda a superar y de todo lo que sucede cuando confias en Dios. Ya sea como voluntaria en una cocina de beneficencia o simplemente en la escuela ayudando a alguien a entender mejor un tema, o en la vida diaria, donde quiera que haya alguien con dificultades yo estoy allí ayudándoles y tratando de resolverlo, realmente disfruto que la gente se acerque a mí y sepa que puede contar con mi ayuda.
SOY CATÓLICA PORQUE LA MISA Y MI FE ME AYUDAN. DIOS SIEMPRE ESTÁ CONMIGO EN LAS ALEGRÍAS Y EN LAS DIFICULTADES.
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Tus historias | La historia de la portada
Escrito por Kathy Powell Fotografía por Enrique Samson
orando a travé
ORANDO A TRAVÉ Durante la misa de mi confirmación,
RECUERDO MIRAR DESDE EL SITIO EN EL QUE ME ENCONTRABA CANTANDO EN EL CORO Y PENSAR, “QUE CONTENTA ME SIENTO DE ESTAR HACIENDO ESTO, DE CANTAR, DE ESTAR RECIBIENDO MI SACRAMENTO DE CONFIRMACIÓN Y DE ESTAR RODEADA DE ESTAS PERSONAS MARAVILLOSAS”. EN ESE MOMENTO ME DI CUENTA DE LO FELIZ QUE ERA. 4
The Mark | Arquidiócesis de Atlanta | Otoño 2017
és de la música
ÉS DE LA MÚSICA
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From the Editor
Preguntas para la abuelita
!
Saludos de parte de la Editora!
La Revista THE MARK está diseñada para
invitar a todos los adolescentes a considerar dónde y cómo la vida se une con la fe y la
EL DÍA DE
fe se une con la vida. Las historias de estos adolescentes, que son de nuestra propia Arquidiócesis, las presentamos para ayudar a los adolescentes a considerar sus propio caminos en la fe. se celebra el 2 de noviembre y es una de las fiestas mas bonitas y
Las historias también nos recuerdan que los
de mas tradición en Mexico, Centroamérica y en algunas ciudades
encuentros personales con Dios son únicos
de los Estados Unidos también! El propósito es recordar a los
y distintos, porque Dios nos ama a cada
seres queridos que han muerto y es un ejemplo de la fusión de
uno como somos y nos llama a cada uno
las creencias precolombinas con la fe católica.
de nosotros por su nombre.
Los cementerios se llenan de flores anaranjadas, las tumbas se iluminan en la noche del 1 de noviembre con velas. Esa noche, el
Así como los adolescentes han compartido un poco sobre sus caminos de fe aquí en THE MARK, invito a todos los adolescentes a contarle a la Iglesia un poco más acerca de su experiencia personal de fe aquí en una encuesta sencilla y anónima. Con tu ayuda, podré iniciar un diálogo sobre cómo la Iglesia Católica puede servirte mejor.
Lago de Patzcuaro (en Michoacán, Mexico) se cubre de barcazas llenas de color y luz. La gente canta, reza y juntos recuerdan y honran a los muertos. En todas las dulcerías se venden cráneos de azúcar decorados con colores. En los periódicos salen caricaturas y chistes en las que la calavera Catrina aparece ataviada con vestimentas de una dama del pasado. En las casas, se preparan Altares de Muertos decorados
¡Visita: www.tiny.cc/survey!
festivamente, con dulces, fotos del familiar difunto, objetos religiosos y hasta una probadita de su platillo favorito! Durante el día se ofrecen
Espero con alegría escuchar de ustedes,
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Katherine
The Mark | Arquidiócesis de Atlanta | Otoño 2017
misas y se reza fervorosamente por el reposo de su alma. ¿Te gustaría unirte a esta celebración, recordando a tus familiares o amigos difuntos?
la iglesia quiere saber
de ti
tome la encuesta
www.tiny.cc/survey
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L A
N U E V A
R E V I S T A
D E
L A
A R Q U I D I Ó C E S I S
D E
A T L A N T A
flip over for
ENGLISH
saludos de parte de la editora
el día de muertos
orando a través de la música
ORANDO A TRAVÉS DE LA MÚSICA