Dear St. Benilde CYO Families,
As the new school year has begun, we as a parish are looking forward to the start of our annual Rooted program. This year our parish unities under the same mission of deepening our devotion to the source and summit of our faith, the Eucharist. Our theme from John 6:51, "I am the living bread that came down from Heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." will be the foundation to each and every event St. Benilde has to offer. The best is this year we are kicking off our Rooted year with a parish wide retreat for teens and adults on September 12th, more information below! September is a busy month for CYO, so please put these events on your calendar, you won't want to miss them!
Please see below the events we have planned for September:
CYO Athletics Volleyball Registration is NOW OPEN! Please register by September 4th in order to be on the St. Benilde Team. If your teen has not filled out the St. Benilde CYO Registration Packet, please download the forms above and complete prior to the first game. CYO Fall Volleyball Season starts on 9/14, tbd on the schedule but games are typically played Monday - Thursday at 7P and 8P.
Upcoming September Schedule of Events:
Monday, September 7 - Day in the Life with Fr. Matthew 9AM-6PM
Men entering into 8th grade through graduated seniors are invited to spend the day in the life of Fr. Matthew. The day will begin with Daily Mass at 9AM in the St. Benilde Catholic Church followed by Liturgy of the Hours.
We will have a light breakfast before heading to the World War II Museum. This is an opportunity to see the many ways those in our armed forces have fought for our freedom and our country. This will give you a glimpse into the men and women Fr. Matthew serves as a military chaplain in the National Guard.
The day will also include a cookout with hamburgers and hot dogs, and conclude with a film on military chaplaincy.
There will be opportunities for conversation about Fr. Matthew’s vocation to the priesthood, his service as a chaplain, and his call to shepherd both the St. Benilde community and those who serve our country. The cost to attend is $20, this includes the entrance ticket into the World War II museum, breakfast/lunch, as well as transportation. We hope you will join us for this amazing day of fraternity! Registration is due August 31st.
Saturday, September 12 - Draw Near Retreat 10AM-5PM
As we dive into the source and summit of our faith we are excited to offer many new opportunities for formation this year. We will start our year off with a one day retreat for our adult and teen participants to reconnect with our Lord and throughout the year we will have more opportunities for sacraments, prayer, and fellowship than ever before. Save the Date for this retreat, September 12th from 10AM-5PM, cost is a recommend donation of $10 but please don't let cost be a barrier to attend. For any questions, please reach out to Samantha Keller, skeller@arch-no.org or myself, Alexandra Walters, at awalters@arch-no.org.
Friday, September 18 - Holy Hour/Social 7-9:30PM
Join us for our monthly evening of prayer and fellowship! Spend the first hour from 7:00–8:00 PM with our Eucharistic Lord in the Adoration Chapel, taking time to rest in His presence and grow closer to Him. Then we will head over to the Teen Center from 8:00–9:30 PM for snacks, games, and time with friends. We hope to see you there!
Wednesday, September 16 - Bible Study 7-8:30PM
As we begin Year 4 of Rooted: The Eucharist, there's no better way to start than by opening God's Word together. Join us each month from August through October as we journey through John 6 discovering how Scripture reveals the beauty and mystery of the Eucharist. Save the Date for the other Bible Study night: October 7.
Saturday, September 26 - NOLA Youth Conference 8:30AM-5:30PM
The 39th Annual NOLA Catholic Youth Conference brings together CYOs and Catholic Schools across the archdiocese for a day of prayer! There will be inspirational speakers, workshops to deepen our faith and learn more about how to live it out in our everyday lives, the celebration of the Mass with Archbishop James Checchio, the sacrament of Reconciliation, a time of Eucharistic Adoration, praise & worship music, prayer opportunities, exhibitors and more!
The cost is $60, this includes transportation by bus to and from the conference, lunch from Honey Baked Ham (sandwich, chips, cookie, and a water), and, of course, admission to the conference!
EVERYONE must be registered and paid by Thursday, September 10th. Register by clicking the link below!