update from Derrick, August 2011: Sal is doing a lot better. He’s continuing to rehab outside of the hospital, so please continue to pray for him. It has made a difference!

We organized and participated in many service and social events:

• The Walk for Life West Coast
• Youth 2000 retreat at St Luke’s
• The parish Lenten Stations of the Cross
• Lodi Pregnancy Resource Center’s fundraiser walk
• Wine tasting in Lodi
• A donation drive for the women’s/homeless shelter
• Young Adult Outreach weekend
• Summer BBQ/Picnic
• Serving at St Mary’s Dining room
• St Luke’s parish festival
• Organizing donations at the Pregnancy Resource Center

Our weekly meetings have also covered a variety of topics, allowing us to learn more about our faith and grow closer to God and find fellowship with other young Catholics. Our weekly meeting topics included:

• A prayer service for Haiti earthquake victims
• Testimonies from guest speakers
• Bible study
• Lives of the Saints
• Praise and Worship
• Catholic social teaching
• Lenten practices (prayer, fasting, almsgiving)
• Bowling
• Chastity
• Dinners
• Environmental stewardship
• Catholic dating in a modern world
• Upcoming changes to the English translation of the Liturgy
• Spiritual adoption/fetal development
• ARISE faith sharing 
• Catholic trivia 

God willing, next year we will continue to offer more opportunities for service, spiritual growth, and fellowship to the young adults of St Luke’s and all around the Stockton area.

May the hope, peace, joy, and love that we await with the coming of our Savior, and which are symbolized by each of the advent wreath candles, be yours now and always.

ARISE is a parish-wide project in which parishioners meet in small groups to pray, read scripture, faith share and talk about how we can live out our faith in everyday life. These groups meet once-a-week for six weeks in the Fall and Spring. Our young adult ministry will be participating by having our very own ARISE program at our regular Tuesday night meetings, starting tomorrow, October 12.

As usual, all young adults are invited; same time and same place (8pm-9:30pm at St. Luke’s choir room meeting room after Adoration in the church). Come and join us explore the richness of our faith through the ARISE process!

St Luke’s YAM will be helping at the Lodi PRC office this Saturday 10am to 12 pm. It is located on 942 E Pine Street (east of 99). Those coming from Stockton who want to carpool: meet at St Luke’s at 9:30 am.

Hope to see you there!

(Originally from Jackie, to the email list. If you’d like to join the list, please let us know by filling out the form at http://www.lukefive.org/contact/. Thanks!)

And again, we will have elections for new board members. Simply elect yourself or someone else for any of the board positions: President, Vice President/Treasurer, Secretary, Publicity, Key Keeper by emailing the name of the person and the position to YAM@lukefive.org (or use this contact form) by tomorrow, Sunday, Sept 26th, 2010 to be on the ballot. We will then send emails to notify those who are nominated.

Again, you can see the description for each board position at http://tinyurl.com/YAMPositions.

Simply elect yourself or someone else for any of the board positions: President, Vice President/Treasurer, Secretary, Publicity, Key Keeper. (To see descriptions of these positions, please click on the following link: http://tinyurl.com/YAMPositions.)

Email the Name of the person and the position to YAM@lukefive.org (or use this contact form) by this Sunday, Sept 26th, 2010 to be on the ballot. We will then send emails to notify those who are nominated.

All shower gifts you bring in will be donated to local crisis pregnancy centers. Even if you were not at the original adoption meeting, you can still donate. The following is what’s on their wish list:

-Newborn clothes, blankets, etc
-Girls’ clothes (up to 2T size)
-Bottles [and nursing accessories, too]
-Socks
-Newborn diapers