www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall National "Byzanteen" Youth Rally

Hello friends,

Glory to Jesus Christ! I had the privelege of being a chaperone at Uniontown this past weekend. It was a truly great experience. I met many people who shared much with me of their faith as I did with them. I just want to say that we have really great teens. The rally went without any major problems, and very few minor ones. Our teens are faith filled and proud of it! Being born in Uniontown, I never thought there'd be reason to have a national anything there, let alone some 240 teens. And I met folks from Oregon, Washington State, California, Arizona, and Nevada. If it had not been for my own teen's attendance two years ago and asking me to go to the Labor Day Pilgrimage, I may have never returned to the place of my birth! I now have a reason to go, and to go often. Thanks to the Sisters of Ss Basil and Macrina, to our priests, bishops, religious, and the laity, especially the teens for the most personally enriching retreat I have ever attended! Glory to Jesus Christ!

Rick Cooley
Hagerstown, MD

Rick,

I'm glad to hear that the Uniontown Rally went well. You wouldn't by any chance be Sarah Cooley's father?

Yours in the Theotokos,

Darrenn

Darrenn,

Guilty as charged. A miracle occurred at Macrina regarding Sarah. I petitioned the bishop to change rites in December. Sarah announced Friday at Macrina that she intends to do the same. She had already been confirmed in the Latin Rite you see. We both embraced and cried on the way up to the cross at Jumonville. Sister Jean Marie, (aka the "Priest Ferry"), thought perhaps Sarah was injured. I explained that we were just over-whelmed with joy.
By the way, I've read some of your other postings. I like much of what you have to say. Keep the faith, Darrenn.

Slava Isuzu Christu,

Rick

Mr. Cooley,

Way, way, way cool. And chances are, if you liked some of my postings, you'll love the book (when it's out, which may be next summer, but who knows). How is the ByzanTEEN newsletter coming along, I oughta send more stuff to Sarah.

Encouraged to hear about your miracle

Slava Na Viki

Darrenn

Darren,

Please, call me Rick. Sarah says she knows you from the net. As for the newsletter, that's Sarah's bailiwick and something I stay away from until invited or asked to help. Some folks did talk to her at Macrina about the newsletter, so more persons know about it. I had my own miracle at the Mount which was that all of us, even we chaperones, are still forming personally. I knew that, intellectually, of course, but the format of the workshops I attended were for the teens; the adults could listen, but the leaders wanted the teens to participate, not for the adults to take over. And I realized how all of us are at different points along the path. There are many courageous teens in our church; I hope we realize and are thankful for that. I also liked the emphasis on the fact that teens are not just the future of our church, that the teens are the church. Darrenn, I wish you peace. I reemphasize that my name is Rick, a fellow sojourner on the path. Keep in touch. I won't trade notes with Sarah about what you say to each other or what you and I say to each other. Pax et bonum. Rick