B'hurst Youh Get New Look on Life

Twenty-four hours can be a very long time or a very short time depending on how it is spent.

Time flew when youth from five parishes and schools — St. Finbar, Bath Beach; St. Athanasius, Bensonhurst; St. Andrew the Apostle, Bay Ridge; Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dyker Heights; Our Lady of the Rosary, Manhattan; Bishop Kearney H.S., Bensonhurst: and Xaverian H.S., Bay Ridge — gathered at St. Mary Mother of Jesus Faith Formation Center in Bath Beach for the Bensonhurst Cluster Youth Ministry Office’s first Lock-In Retreat, June 22 - 23.

This retreat, open to youth, age 12 and older, was a time for all to take a look at their life’s foundation, and whether it was set in sand or on rock. Through prayer, games, group challenges and discussions, youth had a chance to see where they stand on the road of life and how they can choose to change their path for the better.

“I had a lot of fun and met new people. I feel that it brought me closer to God. All the activities had a purpose of teaching. I feel that I got a lot out of this experience. I hope they have another retreat soon,” said Christina Rivera Vazquez, seventh-grader at Our Lady of Rosary School and parishioner at St. Athanasius.
Adult chaperones accepted their supervisory responsibilities with excitement and apprehension.

Alicia Rivera, a nurse/midwife, who teaches in the religious education program at St. Athanasius, wondered, “How would I survive the next 24 hours with a group of preteens and teens? What did I have to offer? What could I possibly share? Where was God leading me?

“Through various activities, music, Bible reading, games, role playing, art, a movie and group discussion, we began to heal. Past wounds began to heal, foggy perceptions became clear and future hopes and goals were se

The Parable of the two House Builders was one modern-day skit teens created and performed, above, at the Bensonhurst Cluster Lock-In Retreat. Teens also designed and painted their own

cross and fish, top.

“We advanced from strangers to advocates to friends. Strong bonds developed,” she said, adding, “A lifetime impression was made.”

For more information on events or future retreats, go to http://BrooklynYM.tripod.com or call 718-490-4469.

Jackson Heights Teen Wins

Fr. Valdazo Scholarship

Carolyn Jativa won the 2007 Father Steven Valdazo Scholarship in the amount of $2,000.

Jativa, who just graduated from the eighth grade at St. Joan of Arc School, Jackson Heights, was selected because she distinguished herself as a highly motivated and dilligent student with commendable Christian beliefs and virtues. She’s served the school and parish community as a junior lector and altar server, and over the past year, she read daily announcements at school.

This fall, she will attend Archbishop Molloy H.S., Briarwood.

Congratulations and best wishes Carolyn!

Bishop Ford Seniors Heading

for Success

More than 130 scholarships were earned by the 2007 graduating class of Bishop Ford H.S., Park Slope, and almost 99% of graduates are going onto college this fall.
Ray Nash, school president, center, left, congratulates a handful of students holding signs of the schools they’ll be attending in the fall. Pictured, from left, Michael Collins, Columbia University; Serina Bellany, Notre Dame University; Sabine Jean, Smith College; Alexandria Shirley, Vanderbilt University; school valedictorian Theresa Hachmeyer, Manhattan College; David Maldonado, Williams College; and Kevin Conlon, St. Francis College.

back to top