UCSD Newman Center YAG Group

Rachel's Women's Center Potluck

2012-01-25T11:49:00.000-08:00

One of the guests enjoying the lunch prepared by UCSD Newman Center Catholic Community members.

On January 22, 2012, the young adult group, choir, and members of the UCSD Newman Center mission-based communities organized a potluck for Rachel's Women's Center in downtown San Diego. Over the last year, through programs such as Bridging The Food Gap, the women and staff at Rachel's have become our friends and partners in our mutual work of serving God by serving others. Members and volunteers of Rachel's have attended and spoken at our monthly Second Sunday Suppers and we have visited them almost biweekly to drop off bread and food that we pickup from Panera Bread and So Others May Eat.

Salad, drinks and dessert.

At last count, there were 24 people who cooked or prepared a dish for the potluck and 14 of those who drove down to Rachel's to serve and meet the women for lunch.

Rachel's Women's Center guests enjoying lunch.

Our guests, at least 60 women, were so grateful and enjoyed the food. Some asked if we could come every weekend! Thank you all of those who participated in this event.

Here are the rest of the pictures.

2nd Annual YAG Thanksgiving (11/22)

2011-11-25T18:53:00.001-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving Young Adults!

On Tuesday, Marisa made this beautiful turkey and about forty of us gathered at Ben's house for a beautiful, traditional, potluck Thanksgiving meal with all the fixin's.

Marisa's bird coming out of the oven after 6 hours of roasting.

Our furthest guest came all the way from Slovenia to join us. I hope you all are having a wonderful break with friends and family.

Some YAGs and parents of YAGs enjoying the food at Ben's house.

Here are the rest of the pictures.

Second Sunday Supper Recap (11/13)

2011-11-14T15:50:00.001-08:00

For November's Second Sunday Supper, we had two special guests from Rachel's Women's Center who came to speak about their experiences with the center and all the services the center provides.

Rachel's Woman's Center is run by Catholic Charities by the Diocese of San Diego. The center provides services to homeless women including medical screening, alcohol and drug recovery, clothing, shelter, classes, and meals. The young adults involved in Bridging the Food Gap met volunteers and workers of Rachel's while handing out bread, sandwiches, and other food downtown.

Bambi, has been volunteering for the center for many months. During the day she works at Donovan Correction Facility as a Corrections Officer, mostly with men accused and convicted of violent crimes. At night and weekends, she often finds herself at the center or gathering supplies from local vendors, stores, family members, and friends for the center. Bambi told the group of young adults how grateful she was for the bread donations that have been consistently delivered on a bi-weekly basis to the center ever since the Bridging the Food Gap project was started this summer.

Janine, an apprentice working at the center described her roller coaster journey to us openly. She arrived at Rachel's in 2005 needing a place to stay and a place to recover from her alcohol addiction problems. She explained that after a fallout with her sister in 2009, she went back to Rachel's with a new determination. She is now an apprentice with the center, and now works with women who remind her of herself just a few years prior.

It was such a blessing to meet these women. They came early to celebrate mass with us. The Gospel was the parable of the Talents, and the message Father John Paul preached was that we should not live in fear and bury our talents in the ground. If we remove fear and paranoia, we can truly serve, and love openly. And real change can happen like in the case of these two women who were not afraid to share their talents with others.

If you would like to learn more about Rachel's Women's Center go to their website or you can get involved in Bridging the Food Gap by checking out this blog post with all the information you need.

YAG Core Team

2011-11-10T14:37:00.001-08:00

Who are the YAG Core Team?

What do they do? Why do they do it?

How can I get involved?

The YAG Core Team is a group of YAGs from the community that have come together to help organize and plan events for other young working professionals, UCSD alumni, and graduate students in our community. We organize Second Sunday Suppers, Third Tuesday Taizes, retreats, weekend get aways, social justice activities, other group social events, and even this snazzy blog.

We are involved in the YAG Core Team because we love this community and want to help make it even better. And WE NEED YOUR HELP! All the YAG events put on in our community are planned with the help of volunteers just like you. If you have enjoyed an event in the past, please think about helping so that other YAGs can enjoy more events in the future.

If you are interested in getting involved, please consider attending our upcoming quarterly planning meeting next Wednesday November 16th, 6:30pm in Roetter Hall or contacting the YAG Core Team for more information!

2011 YAG Fall Retreat Recap

2011-11-01T14:51:00.000-07:00

2011 YAG Fall Retreat participants.

This is the second year in a row that the YAG Fall Retreat was held at Foster Lodge in the Cuyamaca Mountains one hour East of San Diego.

A total of 18 young adults and Father John Paul came out for a weekend. The theme this year was The Road To Emmaus a Resurrection story that saw two disciples walking all day unknowingly conversing and sharing their experience with the risen Christ only to recognize Him when they sat down for a meal, breaking bread with Him.

On Friday, Oct 21, we arrived at Foster Lodge, to share in a home-made lasagna dinner prepared by Aaron Day. After we had all arrived, a quick ice-breaker lightened the mood, and we spent the rest of the night playing games in front of the fire.

First night in Foster Lodge in front of the fire.

The next morning, six more young adults arrived in time for an intimate mass presided by Father JP. Everyone was together, starting the day listening to the Word, breaking bread, and drinking of the same cup.

Our alter.

Throughout the weekend, building on the theme, as in Luke's Gospel, the three speakers shared stories of their faith journeys, which inspired everyone else to share theirs in small group discussions spaced throughout the day. Stephanie, Tiffany, and David gave very open testimonies of where they've been on their faith journey, where they are, and where they might go in the future.

Stephanie speaks about her faith journey.

The two disciples were on the Road to Emmaus because they were escaping hardship, feared persecution, uncertainty after the death of their Rabbi. After they recognize Jesus in the breaking of the bread, they did not end up in Emmaus, but back with other disciples to share the good news and to testify that Christ is risen, defeating death, and inspiring hope and loving service in His disciples.

Afternoon free time on Saturday allowed more than half the group to take a hike along the famed Pacific Crest Trail. The PCT ran right through the lodge area, and the weather cooperated beautifully.

The hikers on the way back from Foster's Point.

After the speakers and small group discussion were completed, the group settled in for a home-cooked chili dinner, cornbread, and baked potatoes. Marisa led the group in a candle-lit, Taize prayer session with David playing the guitar.

Sunday morning, Father JP again presided over mass. He asked the retreat participants what they felt in their hearts at the moment after a weekend away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. We responded - inspired, rested, joyful, energized, blessed. God is good.

Thank you all who made the retreat possible, especially Stephanie Bussen, Father John Paul Forte, our wonderful speakers, drivers, cooks, musicians, cleaners, mice-killers, grocery-shoppers, new young adults, and photographers (me)! Here are the rest of the pictures.

Welcome BBQ: We Occupied La Jolla Shores!

2011-10-08T20:46:00.000-07:00

The call went out, that on Wednesday September 28 all current and potential YAGgers would march to my house and Occupy La Jolla Shores Drive (in past years known as the Welcome BBQ). And more than 50 young adults heeded the message. Even Father Patrick lent his priestly presence.

We protested the unluckiness of the 99% who don't live in San Diego, and celebrated the arrival of Fall and new members of the YAG community.

We raged and set things ablaze--in specific a grill where we roasted burgers and veggie burgers.

We shouted loudly as we sang Nirvana songs on guitar hero--and some of us were not even booed off stage.

We had a list of demands which included both Stone and Karl Strauss beverages. The demands were met, and we consumed both of those San Diego local favorites for which the world has come to envy our Finest City.

At the end of the day, those who had stuck out the protests till the end marched down to the beach to observe the dying embers of the ocean's bioluminescence, and we declared solidarity and the start of something even bigger: a whole year to come of great YAG events with some of the best people you will meet in the best town on the planet.

Even if there was poor news coverage of our gathering, indeed at least it made the blogs...

-by Ben Jammin

San Onofre Campout

2011-09-17T14:24:00.000-07:00

For the second straight year, we did our summer camping trip at San Onofre State Beach in late August. Only an hour away (in no traffic; more for those catching Friday rush hour), this is a fun getaway right over the border in Orange County.

On our 24 hours away from home not everything went perfectly. There were not enough tents, so some people slept out. The military was doing a practice artillery session all night, so we occasionally heard deep thudding of shells in addition to the rambunctious Boy Scout troop in the site next door. And there were no marshmallows so we instead roasted cheese croissants. This was Tiffany's idea, and it worked really well.

Other than that, it was classic SoCal beach camping. Some picnicking on the beach, some camaraderie around the campfire, and yes, of course, surfing at the legendary Trestles surf break. You've seen the "save trestles" bumper stickers. You probably even have one...well, it was my first time at the break, and it is worth the hype.

Perfect wave shape, and enough size for summer, combined with perfect weather and few crowds meant the best surfing of the summer. We did an evening session the first night, which ended in a glorious sunset. And a morning session and an afternoon session the next day. And yes, the train does go right by the beach there...

Non-surfers stayed busy averting their eyes from the sinfully well-built surfers surrounding them. Some went for barefoot beach runs. I'm not sure what others did, maybe painted their toenails? We all ate exquisite cuisine that various people contributed to bringing. In any case, eventually the sun wore us out and we packed it up but not before a good weekend was in the record books.

- Ben Horne

Welcome BBQ and Fall Retreat Scheduled

2011-09-17T14:20:00.000-07:00

YAGGERS,

The YAG Core Team met this Thursday to plan out some YAG events for this Fall and beyond. Here are the highlights for Fall. There are more (including our recurring events Second Sunday Supper and Third Tuesday Taize), but these are the imminent ones. Please help us welcome new Young Adults and Graduate Students at the two welcome events coming up.

Welcome Mass and BBQ

Sun, September 25, 3pm – 5pm

Where: Stonehedge, UCSD

Come look for us! We'll probably have a table or something. Say 'hi'.

YAG Welcome BBQ
Wed, September 28, 6pm – 9pm
Where: Ben Horne's House

We'd like to welcome all the Young Adults back from summer vacations and breaks by throwing a Welcome BBQ bash at Ben's Beach Pad. If you'd like, bring some home-cooked goodness or drinks to share. I hope this is a good way to get back in the swing of things and welcome those of us that are new to town or have been here a while but are new to our community.

YAG Fall Retreat
Fri, October 21 – Sun, October 23
Where: Foster Lodge, Cuyamaca Mountains

The retreat this year will be at Foster Lodge again, 1 hour East of San Diego. Last year, we had almost 30 people come. All are welcome. The theme this year will center around The Road to Emmaus. A small retreat team, including Father JP will coordinate the retreat talks and activities. Please come, lead a discussion, help with food, etc. Another email will be sent out soon, but mark your calendars!

- Huy

Burundi Friends International - Thank you!!!

2011-07-02T14:20:00.000-07:00

Thank you to all who showed up this morning especially the YAGs shout out to Diana Meisenholder, Teresa Chu, Aaron Day, Christina Tsutsumi, Yvette Longduriyang, Mathew Kappiello, David Diaz, and Major Nguyen.

In the words of Barbara "we literally could not have done it with out the help of those YAGs!" In an effort to express my gratitude I have created the below picture :)

YAGs helping pack clothes, book, and teaching supplies for our brothers and sisters in Burundi.

And I leave you with one of my favvy quotes, which I thinks speaks to this project well: ''Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.'
- M. Mead

Thank you all soooooo much.

- Michelle Bernabe

Your Summer With YAG

2011-06-18T00:27:00.001-07:00

YAG events don't stop during Summer! Our monthly dinners (Second Sunday Supper) are scheduled and so is Third Tuesday Taize. Remember to keep up with the blog and calendar (http://ucsdyags.blogspot.com) and this mailing list for details.

Also, since Newman Center ongoing Social Justice activities are really lean during the Summer months, it is a good opportunity to get involved in that area too. I will try to pass along information I get from Maureen (Social Justice Coordinator) and others about those activities when they need bodies. Thank you for your time, generosity, and energy.

Here are the highlights:

June

6/19 - Second Sunday Supper (on the third Sunday)

6/21 - Third Tuesday Taize

6/25 - Gospel Music Festival at the San Diego Fair

July

7/10 - Second Sunday Supper

7/15 - Padre's Game

7/19 - Third Tuesday Taize

August

8/6 - Banana Split & Movie in the Park, Standley Community Park

8/14 - Second Sunday Supper

8/16 - Third Tuesday Taize

8/26 thru 8/28 - YAG Beach Camping in San Onofre State Beach

Bridging The Food Gap

2011-06-14T20:14:00.001-07:00

“So there are three basic rules to dumpster diving:

First one to the dumpster has first dibs
Never take more than you need
Leave it cleaner than you found it.”

These were the opening words of film director Jeremy Seifert in the multi-award winning documentary DIVE!, which was shown on May 15, 2011 during an event co-hosted by YAG and the Newman Center Social Justice Committee. As the film depicted, dumpster diving is simply the act of scavenging the dumpsters to find any good, edible food for consumption. There is definitely an inherent intrigue to such an act, or shall we say, art, of recovering perfectly good food from the trash and later serving it at the table. Can you imagine eating a freshly grilled cheeseburger, or a fancy blood orange salmon dinner with strawberry shortcake dessert, all prepared from ingredients collected from your local grocery store’s dumpsters? This may sound gross, but this was the reality that the DIVE! filmmakers lived.

UCSD Catholic Community watching DIVE!, an award-winning documentary about food waste.

To the twenty people who attended the screening, it was definitely a shocking lesson to learn about the tons of good food discarded by grocery stores each day. If an entire carton of eggs contains even one cracked egg, it is thrown out. If an entire bag of fruit contains just one bad apple, it is thrown out. If a package of meat shows even the slightest shade of brown, but is nowhere near spoilage, it is thrown out. If it’s one day prior to the posted expiration date (which in itself is a gross underestimate of when the food actually spoils), the food is thrown out. This is the fate that perishable food items face. However, all this food can still be healthily consumed by people, as demonstrated by the practices of the filmmakers.

The film then creatively exposed how “we feed our landfills more than we feed our country.” In a nutshell, the United States throws out 263 million pounds of food each day while millions across the nation struggle to find their next meal. This is where we as a community can step in to help. After the documentary was shown, we introduced our project dubbed, “Bridging the Food Gap,” and our mission to mitigate hunger by mitigating food waste. The film inspired our plan of action, which involves getting our local grocery stores to redirect food from their dumpsters to the hungry people in San Diego. And this doesn’t just mean the homeless. Low income families, refugees, migrant workers, senior citizens, and maybe even your next door neighbor, are all people who could use this food.

This task seems straightforward enough, but the film and our own experiences revealed otherwise. Store directors at some grocery stores are actually hesitant to release the soon-to-be disposed of food items due to potential liability. Little do they know there is this amazing saving grace called the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act. President Bill Clinton signed it into law in 1996, and it protects food donors from this liability, provided there are no cases of gross negligence. Thus, there is hope to execute our mission, and two of the attendees at the event attested to this hope. Tina DiStefano from the Catholic Workers was present and informed us that Trader Joe’s in Pacific Beach generously donates their perishable foods to food recovery efforts. The Catholic Workers even host Friday lunches for the hungry using the donated food. Another attendee, Sandy Lippe, who coordinates our visits with Storefront Ministry for homeless teens, is also a member of the University City Community Association. She has put us in touch with representatives of Councilwoman Sherri Lightner and Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher to help us get the ball rolling on the political end. Rest assured, we’ve got some motivated people willing to help us out. Our project includes other endeavors as well, such as serving with So Others May Eat, distributing lunches to the hungry downtown, and even some dumpster diving missions. So if you find yourself thinking twice before throwing away that browning banana and want to join us as we tackle the Goliaths of the food industry, feel free to email Liezel (like a gazelle) at liezel.labios@gmail.com . Help bridge the food gap.

-Liezel

DIVE!

2011-05-04T14:30:00.001-07:00

In San Diego, over 480,000 people among us go hungry: children, senior citizens, the unemployed, the homeless, and even students. Meanwhile, 263 million pounds of good, edible food are sent to America’s landfills every day. How can we as a community work together to bridge this disparity? Join YAG and the Social Justice Committee on May 15th at Roetter Hall after 12:30pm mass to watch the multi-award winning documentary DIVE! and discuss efforts we can make to mitigate food waste by mitigating hunger. Refreshments will be served.

Mt. Baldy Day Trip

2011-03-29T01:52:00.000-07:00

View from the top of the highest ski lift at Mt. Baldy Ski Resort 3/5/2011.

Earlier this month, a dozen of us YAGGERS went up to Mount Baldy for a day of skiing and riding. After meeting at the church parking lot at 6AM, we drove the two hours up I-15N and up a windy road to the base of Mt. Baldy Ski Resort.

Ewa, Andrew, and Christina getting ready to hit the slopes again after lunch.

Nick hooked us up with lift tickets, and we were on our way for a day of fun. For some of us, it was the first time hitting the slopes in a few years (or ever!). How intimidating it is to get off a ski lift for the first time attached to a snowboard! The embarrassment of the lift operator stopping the entire lift because you have fallen would be unbearable. So much pressure!

Minh catching some air.

We all met at 1PM for lunch together - the 12 of us gathered around a long table sharing food.

Martin and Ewa during lunch.

It was sunny, warm, and the snow started to get all slushy in the afternoon, but it was a good day. My favorite part of the day was just hanging out and getting to know other YAGGERS better on the lifts. It's one of the few situations that people cannot run away from me!

The rest of the photos are here. Join us next year and stay tuned for upcoming events!

SSS at the Catholic Worker House

2011-03-18T23:06:00.000-07:00

For our March Second Sunday Supper, a group of about 10 of us went down to the Catholic Worker house in Sherman Heights. Andrea and Anne helped set up and prepare us an Italian feast. The two hosts and current residents at the house, Chris and Patrick, graciously welcomed us in and made us feel at home. After dinner, Patrick and Chris gave us an overview of Catholic Worker in general, as well as this specific house.

Catholic Worker is a movement started by Dorothy Day in the depths of the Great Depression. She saw that although the Church spoke out for social justice (and had been doing so for quite some time), following through on the principles through concrete actions was often lacking. She began establishing hospitality houses where people could come for food, clothing, shelter, or even just a friendly face. One of the basic principles of the movement is to not just treat the symptoms of hunger, homelessness, etc., but to rather enable people to improve their situation in life.

The first houses were in New York City, but have now spread across the country and even to some other countries. The houses are maintained by unpaid volunteers, who make sure all who enter are welcomed and their needs are cared for. There is no hierarchy or other formal structure to the various houses, although they do share ideas and provide references to people that are moving from one area to another. Most Catholic Worker houses are not registered as 501c3 charities, although the San Diego house is. This enables them to receive donations from local businesses, including Trader Joe's and Henry's, to feed the hungry each week.

The San Diego Catholic Worker has existed for approximately 40 years. The house that we visited only recently opened back in August (although they had had a house in the past). Chris and Patrick are busy trying to build trust and a sense of community in the neighborhood, and have already hosted people in need, including a Haitian refugee family. They are currently looking for one or more volunteers who would be able to commit to being at the house in the evenings (eg. 6 PM - 8 AM) so that they can minister to more people in need of food, clothing, or shelter. If you are interested, get in touch with someone on the YAG core team and they can connect you with them.

Chris and Patrick encouraged us to live intentional lives and to treat each person we meet as an Alter Christus, another Christ. For more information about Catholic Worker in San Diego, including their weekly lunches, check out their website: http://www.catholicworkersd.org. More information about the movement in general can be found at http://www.catholicworker.org/.

-Brian Buesker

Anza Borrego Camping Trip (April 16-17)

2011-03-14T16:16:00.000-07:00

A group of YAGs will be doing a one night camping trip (Saturday) at the Borrego Palm Canyon Campground in Anza Borrego Desert State Park.

Current details: we'll meet up at Good Sam's early Saturday morning and carpool to the campground (approx 2 hour drive). Then we'll set up camp, have tons of fun (hiking, maybe seeing wildflowers and/or wildlife, watching Tony make a fire with nothing but a shoestring and sticks, eating campfood & smores), and make to sure to make it back for the 5:30pm Palm Sunday mass. More details (including cost) will be circulated as plans are made!

If you are interested in going, please fill out the form at this link to sign up and help with planning purposes: https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dGZGdURKNkNUNXZ6UUZSdnRieEVlMVE6MQ

The Last Supper...with Fr. Joseph

2011-02-23T15:33:00.001-08:00

This February, for our SSS, we got an opportunity to thank Fr. Joseph for being awesome. There was a large group of us, around 25 people, getting a chance to hang out with each other and with Fr. Joseph. We ate delicious Indian food from Punjabi Tandoor (thanks Christina!).

We gave Fr. Joseph a gift, a UCSD hoodie and an Amazon gift card to express our gratitude for his time with us. He told us that in his line of work there are some ministries that you have to do out of obligation and then there are some ministries that you look forward to and enjoy doing, we were the latter.

Thank you Fr. Joseph again, and may your new role as the assistant to the provincial be one of joy for you. We'll miss you!

- Andrea

YAG Day Retreat: Faithful Citizenship

2011-02-14T10:59:00.000-08:00

This year's winter day retreat is this Saturday, February 19 from 11am-4pm in Good Samaritan's Roetter Hall. We'll be reflecting on faithful citizenship, in honor of Presidents' Day weekend.

Please bring a bagged lunch for yourself & a snack to share. If you can attend the retreat, please go to this form and fill out the registration information. We hope to see you there!

Questions? Feel free to leave them in the comments below!

YAG Big Bear Day Trip (3/5)

2011-01-28T13:20:00.000-08:00

YAGGER Skierz and Riddaz,

The YAG snow trip this year is a day trip. Please respond ASAP if you are interested (use this form). You don't need to commit yet, but I just need to get a general idea of who can go and most importantly, who can drive. Space will limited to the number of drivers we can find. Also, if the weather is bad, we will have to cancel/postpone. It's not worth it to drive in the mountains and be diverted all over the place because of road closures, ice, snow, and bad drivers that don't know how to drive in the mountains.

I will drive four and I have room on my roof-rack for four.

I will leave early (5am or so) and come back at 4 or 5 pm. Other drivers might want to leave at different times, so I won't tell them otherwise.

It will be fun to bring food and all eat lunch together, so I will plan for that.

Right now the plan is to go to Snow Summit/Big Bear Resorts. Here is all the information you need on pricing: http://www.snowsummit.com. Everything is flexible, so if you'd rather go to Baldy, Snow Valley, etc, then we can do that if enough people feel strongly about it. There is a chance that we could get discount tickets if we organize ahead of time (we have YAG hookup).

If you have never snowboarded before, I suggest a lesson, but I would gladly spend a few hours with folks that would like to try for the first time! I'm a good teacher (I swear). I use the 'yell-at-you-and-hope-it-sinks-in-method' though, so you know what you're getting into. If you insist on skiing, then I can't help you, but I'm sure someone will. We're all friendly here.

You don't have to ski or ride. There is snow-shoeing, hiking, hanging out at the lodge, and every conceivable winter outdoor activity. Big Bear is a fun town, and it's easy to hang out and keep busy for the day.

Call me or email me with ANY questions. It will be The Fun. Get ready for some shreddin' action.

- Huy

A Recap on SSS 1/9/11 St. Rita: The Saint of the Impossible.

2011-01-24T01:11:00.000-08:00

St. Rita of Cascia is a saint we can look towards for inspiration and ask for her intercession. Her life was full of faith and trust in God, particularly in impossible situations. Throughout every trial, she was able to persevere and remain faithful. In 1381 she was born to parents who thought they would not be able to have a child- miracle 1. Legend has it that when she was a child her parents brought her into the field where they worked and a swarm of bees came and deposited honey into her mouth. Presently,in the convent at Cascia, there is a particular type of bee that has no stingers or feelers and only come out during the Passion and return on her feast day. Crazy!

Though Rita wanted to be a religious, she dutifully obeyed her parents and married. She and her husband had an extremely difficult marriage, and she had to endure her husband's anger and mean disposition. She incessantly prayed for him however, and in their 3rd year of marriage he repented and they enjoyed 15 more years of marital happiness.- Miracle 2.

However, her husband was assassinated because of a village vendetta, and her sons soon got caught up in the business of revenge. Rather than have them avenge their father's death, Rita prayed for God to take her sons rather than them commit sins. Her prayers were answered and they fell ill and repented before they died. Now without family Rita was able to join the religious orders.

She was not accepted into the order she wanted to enter (an Augustinian order- St. Mary Magdalene in Cascia) because of village vendettas again, but through the grace of God and help from other saints she was able to broker peace between two families and was allowed to enter the order. There she received the gift of stigmata- a single wound on her forehead, a single thorn from the crown of thorns. Her wound was not pleasant smelling like others, hers was an open wound and was described as fetid. The sisters had to confine her into a room and she became a contemplative.

She deeply desired to attend a pilgrimage to Rome, but Mother Superior would not allow her because of her wound. She again took this issue to prayer and right before the others left for pilgrimage her wound healed. Miracle 3. Upon returning to the Cascia, the wound reopened.

She died in 1457 (Feast Day: May 22); her last words being "I am seated in the shadow of the one I desired"

We can truly learn a lot from the life of this saint. We must ask ourselves what things are "seemingly impossible" that we can pray for, and ask God for help in. Maybe it's social justice causes like an end to hunger and homelessness, or maybe it's in a broken relationship. Prayer is such a powerful weapon against despair and brokenness. This is a new year, and we can make this a new year of prayer - we can be like Saint Rita and no matter what our vocation in life make the best of our circumstance and continue to be faithful and prayerful despite our situations. What can we do to find the time to really pray?

Seemingly "ordinary" YAGs too can pray fervently and intercede for others

-Teresa Chu

Fall Retreat

2010-12-20T00:59:00.000-08:00

A month has already gone by since our retreat and yet it seems like we were just at the Sierra Club Foster Lodge in Mt. Laguna. I guess when something is that fun you remember it like it was yesterday.

We journeyed up the mountain on Friday night in various cars, giving us the opportunity to get to know the people in our car a little bit better. As people arrived we began to eat dinner and then came the icebreaker. We learned a little bit about everyone, discovering that the YAGS are a diverse group of people with many talents, such as wine making, hair cutting, and creating online dating profiles. The evening stretched on into various games and then we stretched out all over the cabin to go to sleep.

The original plan for Saturday morning was to take a couple of hiking trips, however as we woke we discovered that not only was it cold, it was also very wet. So the morning began with talks by Daniel Heineck and Huy Nguyen about the histories of the Nicene and Apostle’s Creeds. Following their talks the brave ones of us decided to take on the weather and went out hiking, getting quite wet along the way.

The day continued with Andrea Grim speaking on the meaning of the line “we believe in the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church” that is embedded in the Nicene Creed. We took a break for lunch and more socializing. Fr. Joseph Sergott graciously led us in mass later in the afternoon, and Danny Blessing taught us all about the differences between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches.

Following dinner Fr. Joseph gave us an opportunity to learn about the wording changes that are being made in the Nicene Creed that will begin next Advent. We rounded out the evening’s spiritual activities with taize prayer, and then it was time for more games, including some very heated rounds of mafia, and lots of laughter (my stomach was seriously hurting from laughing too much).

Sunday morning came with a light snow. We ate breakfast, celebrated mass, said our goodbyes and drove on home. Everyone walked away with great memories of community, new friendships, and a better understanding of our faith and how we profess it.

Many, many, many thanks to Ben Horne, our fearless leader, without whom none of this would have been possible. He’s the YAG equivalent of a rock star!

We’ve already booked the lodge for next fall, so get ready for another amazing retreat, I hope many of you can come!

- Andrea Grim

The rest of the pix are here!

December Second Sunday Supper Recap

2010-12-15T14:05:00.000-08:00

I had the privilege of being invited this past Sunday, December 12, to give a talk for the December Second Sunday Supper event. I decided to talk about Our Lady of Guadalupe. Around 15 YAGS participated in the discussion and we also had delicious deep-dish pizza brought by Andrea from Regents Pizzeria!

Here are some recaps of the talk:

Who is she?

Our Lady of Guadalupe is a celebrated Catholic icon of the Virgin Mary and Mexico’s most popular religious and cultural image.

Why did I choose her?

Her feast day, December 12^th was the day of the YAG event.

The Story of Our Lady of Guadalupe

According to tradition, Juan Diego, a simple indigenous peasant, saw a vision of a young girl of fifteen, surrounded by light, on the slopes of Tepeyac, near Mexico City. Speaking in the local language, Nahuatl, the Lady asked for a church to be built at that site in her honor, and from her words Juan Diego recognized her as the Virgin Mary. Diego told his story to the Spanish bishop, Fray Zumárraga, who instructed him to return and ask the Lady for a miraculous sign to prove her claim. The Virgin told Juan Diego to gather some flowers from the top of Tepeyac Hill. It was winter and no flowers bloomed, but on the hilltop Diego found flowers of every sort, and the Virgin herself arranged them in his tilma, or peasant cloak. When Juan Diego opened the cloak before Zumárraga on December 12, the flowers fell to the floor, and in their place was the Virgin of Guadalupe, miraculously imprinted on the fabric.

How the story applies our lives?

There are two important lessons as we reflect on Our Lady of Guadalupe. One is of faith, and the other of understanding.

The first lesson is that God has chosen Mary to lead us to Jesus. No matter what critics may say of the devotion of Mexicans (and Mexican descendants) to Our Lady of Guadalupe, they owe their Christianity to her influence. If it were not for her, they would not know her son, and so they are eternally grateful.

The second lesson we take from Mary herself. Mary appeared to Juan Diego not as a European madonna but as a beautiful Aztec princess speaking to him in his own Aztec language. If we want to help someone appreciate the gospel we bring, we must appreciate the culture and the mentality in which they live their lives. By understanding them, we can help them to understand and know Christ.

Discussion Topics

Why did the Virgin Mary choose Juan Diego and insist that he speaks to the Bishop on her behalf?

What symbolic testimony does the apparition serve for the Mexican people, especially the indigenous people?

How has Mary been part of your faith life and helped you to grow spiritually?

Have you had any interactions with Catholics in other parts of the world and how they’ve integrated their cultural traditions into their spiritual lives?

Thank you

Finally, I want to take this opportunity to express my grateful appreciation to the people of Newman Center, especially the young adult community. My first event was the YAG retreat and it was very welcoming, engaging, and spiritually uplifting experience. I also had the opportunity to attend the Thanksgiving Dinner at Ben’s place and it was wonderful to meet all the folks there. Finally, the YAG Sunday Dinner was awesome and gave me the opportunity to learn more about Mary and her strong connection with the Mexican people. As I head out to Japan this upcoming Sunday, I will be thinking and praying for all of you in the YAG community. Thank you for your friendship, hospitality, and the grace of fellowship. God bless you and have a joyful Advent!

- Todd Chen

YAG Thanksgiving Recap

2010-12-01T17:35:00.001-08:00

Dave with a turkey leg.

A sizable contingent of YAG-ers descended at Ben Horne's establishment at La Jolla Shores on Tuesday the 23rd of November for the annual YAG Thanksgiving feast.

Dave using the electric turkey carver. Fancy.

Although there was no flag football (much to Huy's dismay), everyone brought enough food to feed the 47 people who took part in this event. We ended up covering every essential staple for a suitable Thanksgiving feast. Some non-traditional (but still very yummy!) food was also provided, clearly indicative of the great diversity of our YAG corps. After all the bowls, pans, and plates of food were set, Fr. Joseph gave a short blessing over the food and the group...and then we were off!

Tara made the beautiful (and yummy) bird.

In addition to good food, the night was punctuated with great conversation and fellowship with familiar faces and some new friends. It was a great celebration of the holiday and a fantastic precursor to the season of Advent and the beginning of a new liturgical year!

- Sean Rogers

Link to the rest of the pictures here.

YAG Thanksgiving (11/23)

2010-11-11T16:38:00.000-08:00

YAG Thanksgiving Dinner

Tue, November 23, 6pm – 9pm
Where: Ben Horne's (8493 La Jolla Shores Dr, La Jolla, CA)

---
Top 10 Reasons Why You Can't Miss YAG Thanksgiving

1) There will be turkey (and veggie equivalent, I hope) made by Tara Almazan who took the day off of work for you. Blood, sweat, and tears (all in your turkey).

2) You get to show off all your cooking skills and be the buzz of the party. Some possible things you might hear about your dish:

"Who made these sweet potatoes? I want to be their friend."
"These green beans are so fresh! I want to go produce shopping with you."
"These rolls are so warm and gooey on the inside, just like you!"
"Mashed potatoes and gravy are my favorite. I am so thankful for you." (It's really my favorite. Someone make it for me.)

3) Your parents already turned your room into their storage area, or guest room, or gym, or art gallery. Who knows? Point is: they have moved on, and so should you. (Seriously, it's on a Tuesday, you should go see your family still if they're close).

4) There will be no traffic, baggage checks, taking your shoes off and forgetting to wear socks, random security searches, or weather delays on your way to Ben's pad.

5) All your friends will be there. (Well, at least Ben, Tara, and I will be there there. That should be enough for you.)

6) Ben's house can fit about 100 people. We want the Fire Marshall to come give us a warning.

7) Dessert!

8) Wine!

9) Flag football! (If enough people say the want to do it. Email me.)

10) Give thanks for all our blessings, especially the people God has allowed us to spend our time on Earth with. (One serious one)

---

Email me if you'd like to bring something and can't think of anything. I can suggest something for you as the date draws closer. If you plan to bring something, please let us know by clicking here. There will be plenty of food, so a small dish is appropriate (you don't have to have enough for everyone). Otherwise, just show up and enjoy yourself. Bring a friend.

- Huy

November Second Sunday Supper Recap

2010-11-07T23:00:00.000-08:00

About 25 of YAGs gathered for Second Sunday Supper for November that was actually on the First Sunday. We had some good Mediterranean food from Cafe Athena brought by Andrea, and then I led a discussion on the life of Saint Stephen, the first martyr, and my patron saint. Here are the notes that I took in preparation for leading the discussion.

Who is he?
Saint Stephen is the first Christian martyr and one of the first deacons. He was stoned and ironically the patron saint of stonemasons and headaches (in Medieval times).

Why did i choose him?
He's my patron saint and I wanted to learn more about him.

The Story of Saint Stephen (Acts Chapter 6-7):
There was a division between Hellenist (Greek-speaking Jews) and Hebrews (Aramaic and Hebrew speaking Jews). The widows of the Hellenist were being neglected during the daily distribution.

The twelve asked the community to select seven men who would take on this task so that they may continue to "pray and minister the word". One of the men selected was Saint Stephen who quickly became a very charismatic preacher.

He was killed because he preached that Jesus superseded Mosaic Law and that the hearts of his people were God's dwelling place, not the Temple. His betrayal, trial, death, and even his last words were similar to Jesus:
"Lord Jesus receive my spirit. Do not hold this sin against them."

What his life tells me about how I should live my life:
Being a Christian in the early church was dangerous. People died so that one day someone like me wouldn't have to. His life tells me to live a life worthy of their sacrifice. Live a life with the same conviction and faith that he had.

Discussion topics:
In the early church the community selected the deacons (and presumably other religious leaders), do you think this could work now?

Why do people have to die before we appreciate them and their message? Does their death (usually violent) make their message stronger or is it some weakness on our part that we don't appreciate people until they are gone?

I believe martyrs can sometimes be created and used for political/personal gain (e.g. Pat Tillman). Can you think of other examples? Discuss.

- Huy

November YAG Events

2010-11-01T01:06:00.001-07:00

There are many Young Adult and Graduate Student Events for November. Please take 2 minutes of your time to read through and see if anything appeals to you. We would love to see you at any/all.

Second Sunday Supper

Sun, November 7, 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Where: Roetter Hall

We will be having Second Sunday Supper (SSS) a week early this month. I will be leading a discussion on Saint Stephen and martyrdom. Dinner will be provided (suggested donation $5). Please RSVP here so we can properly plan dinner for you. The next email you will get is a form for you to fill out if you plan on attending. Or you can click on this link and fill out the information.

Reconciliation Service

Wed, November 10, 7:30pm – 9:00pm
Where: Good Samaritan's

The Catholic Community at UCSD will have a Reconciliation Service on Wednesday, November 10th. I have heard there are FIVE priests. I know many of you, so that might not be enough to get the job done.

Third Tuesday Taize

Tue, November 16, 7pm – 8pm
Where: Good Samaritan's

Third Tuesday Taize (TTT) will be held at it's normal time and place for the month. Please join us for an hour of prayer and singing Taize style. We've been doing this for a year now, and it's gotten progressively better with live instruments and talented singers. Help us keep the momentum going.

YAG Retreat

Fri, November 19 – Sun, November 21
Where: Cuyamaca Mountains

Ben is organizing the YAG retreat this Fall. He has had a Sierra Club cabin booked since the summer time in preparation for a relaxing, prayerful, and faithful getaway. We will be hiking and dissecting the Creed together. Father Joseph will do masses for us both days. Cost is $20-30 based on food and lodging. Please email Ben (reasonableben@gmail.com) if you are interested, and he will hook you up with the details as the date draws closer.

YAG Thanksgiving Dinner

Tue, November 23
Where: Ben Horne's (8493 La Jolla Shores Dr, La Jolla, CA)

Ben will also host YAG Thanksgiving. If you haven't made your travel arrangements for the holidays (and even if you have), please come for an early Thanksgiving Dinner. Turkey is already on the menu. We just need to have sides, dessert, and drinks.

- Huy

Welcome BBQ Recap

2010-10-08T11:41:00.000-07:00

On Thursday night, a few old-timer YAGs (young adult and graduate students) welcomed a few new YAGs by hosting a BBQ at Ben's beach party house. I think the final attendance was somewhere around 20-25 people. As typical of our events, there were plenty of food, drink, and conversation to be shared.

Also a special thanks to our guest of honor, Father Joseph Sergott, our chaplain.

Enjoy the rest of the pictures.

Second Sunday Supper (10/10)

2010-10-04T10:27:00.000-07:00

YAG Welcome BBQ/Bonfire

Thu, October 7, 6pm – 10pm
Where: Ben's House (8493 La Jolla Shores Dr, La Jolla, CA)

Second Sunday Supper

Sun, October 10, 6:30pm – 8:00pm (after 5:30PM mass)
Where: Roetter Hall, Good Samaritan Church

Help us welcome new Young Adults and Graduate Students this Thursday, 6PM at Ben Horne's house. There will be burgers (meaty and veggie) provided. Drinks, sides, snacks, etc are welcome. If enough people come, our chaplain (Father Joseph) might make an appearance :). He is susceptible to peer pressure.

Second Sunday Supper will continue after 5:30PM mass this Sunday. Danny Richter will be leading a discussion on Saint Francis. We will have Indian food again since it's been very popular (Punjabi Tandoor) in the past. Suggested donation, $7. Help us order enough food for everyone by RSVPing here.

All YAG events (and more) are also posted on the blog/calendar at http://ucsdyags.blogspot.com. Check it out.

- Huy
3109515347

YAG Welcome BBQ/Bonfire (10/7) - Fall Quarter YAG Events

2010-09-30T13:22:00.001-07:00

Ministry Fair

Sun, October 3

YAG Welcome BBQ/Bonfire

Thu, October 7, 6pm – 9pm
Where: Ben's (8493 La Jolla Shores Dr, La Jolla, CA)

The Young Adult Group Annual Welcome BBQ/Bonfire will be on Thursday, October 7 at Ben's house. Please bring something small to share (food or drink). There will be a grill. I'll bring wood so we can head down to the beach later in the evening for a bonfire. Let us welcome new young adults and graduate students to our community.

We will also be at all three masses this Sunday for the Ministry fair. Please stop by our table and say hi especially if you've been gone all summer. Welcome back! See you soon.

Other dates to keep on your calendar:

YAG Retreat

Fri, November 19 – Sun, November 21
Where: Cuyumaca

Spend a weekend outdoors while studying the basic tenets of our faith: The Creed

YAG Thanksgiving Dinner

Tues, November 23
If you won't be with family this Thanksgiving, you can still have a full Thanksgiving dinner! We'll gather at someone's home for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, maybe play some touch football. Better yet, delay your trip home and have two Thanksgiving dinners.

- Huy

Second Sunday Supper Recap (9/12)

2010-09-18T22:52:00.000-07:00

St. Ignatius of Loyola

A good sized group of YAGS gathered on a Sunday night for some good company and good food. When the eating was over, we switched into a mode of talking about St. Ignatius of Loyola. I spoke of Ignatius' early life and what led to his conversion. St. Ignatius realized, while he was convalescing from a battle wound, that vanity and riches would not lead to happiness, but that fighting for God would.

After a discussion of St. Ignatius' discernment process, we went on to speak of the way we personally discern how to live our lives. St. Ignatius taught that when you find God's will for your life you will be full of spiritual joy, while when you are not on God's path you will be full of distress. A good number of us YAGS agreed with this statement. It's always good to reexamine your decision making process and to ensure that you are seeking God in the decisions you make.

Stay tuned for next months Second Sunday Supper with Danny Richter as our speaker. We will be in for a treat!

-Andrea Grim

Padre's Game Recap (9/9)

2010-09-13T13:51:00.000-07:00

The YAGS headed downtown to watch the Padres baseball game. It was off to a great start when someone offered all 8 of us seats looking over first base. So instead of our $5 seats we were given $58 seats. Nice!

The game didn't go so well for the Padres, which made Brian happy as he was sporting his San Francisco Giants hat. We did however get to witness six home runs! All in all it was a lot of fun and we can't wait to go again next year!

- Andrea Grim

World Cup 2010 - YAG Style

2010-08-20T01:25:00.000-07:00

The World Cup was very exciting this year. The US gave us all heart attacks, and it seemed like everyone was very interested thanks to ABC/ESPN televising every game. The UCSD Newman Center Young Adult Group was no exception. We have a lot of avid football fans, and a gang of us got together to watch the finale featuring Spain vs Netherlands on two TVs. Gourmet food was provided by the guests.

Most people present wanted the Dutch, but I was all for the predominantly Catholic nation. The Spanish played beautifully and beat the cheap-shot Dutch in the final minutes of regulation.

There was good food, drink, and company. More pictures here.

Weezer and Store Front

2010-08-15T21:07:00.000-07:00

Weezer Concert and Beer Fest

Sat, August 21, 5pm - 9pm
Where: Del Mar Fair Grounds

Store Front

Sun, September 5, 5pm – 8pm

The Young Adult Group (or at least me) will be going to watch Weezer at the Del Mar Fairgrounds Saturday, August 21st. Admission into the races is $6. Weezer is supposed to come on after the last horse race at 6:30PM. If you are interested, please fill out this form, and then I will email just those who reply later this week (probably Thursday) about arranging carpools, etc. If you'd like to come without responding, just gimme a call or text on Saturday, and I'll let you know how to find us.

Also, Our USCD Catholic Center Catholic Community has been cooking and delivering food for homeless teenagers the first Sunday of the month for the past several years. This upcoming month (September 5, 2010), our Social Justice Coordinator, Maureen Sterk, has asked for the Young Adult Group's help in this ongoing effort. She will be organizing, but if you can spare 2-3 hours of your time to help cook and deliver a meal for Store Front, please fill out this form. We will contact you as the time draws near to give you more details.

God bless everyone! See you soon.

- Huy Nguyen
phone: (three one zero) nine five one - five three four seven

Joshua Tree Camping Trip

2010-07-11T23:33:00.000-07:00

So this post is basically three months late, but like history, if it is not written (or in a blog post), it did not happen. But this trip did happen, and it was amazing.

A gang of us from the UCSD Newman Center Young Adult Group went camping, but the main attraction was to climb in Joshua Tree, probably one of the most beautiful places you'll ever see.

Six of us left early on Friday, April 22nd to climb and scout out the routes for the bigger group on Saturday.

Later on, the rest of the group got to our three camp sites in Joshua Tree National Park. We had dinner, set up our tents and sleeping bags, and went to bed after a night of campfire mayhem.

The next day, almost all of us went to climb, attempt to climb, or just watch people climb (which was harrowing on it's own). We set up and had at least 3-4 routes going all at once. Ben led all of the climbs, set anchors at the top so we could all top-rope.

Almost everyone who wanted to took a crack (pun intended!) at finishing a climb. By the end of the day, our fingers were raw and forearms were burning. We all collected a few extra bruises and left some skin somewhere on the rock as well.

Thank God for creation, good friends, and good health. Amen.

More pictures here (Andrea's) and here (Martin's) and here (Kristy's) and here (Dana's) and here (Daniel's).

Switchfoot Concert! (6/24)

2010-06-21T12:20:00.001-07:00

Switchfoot is playing at the San Diego County fair this Thursday, June 24th at 7:30pm! YAG talked about doing a couple of music watching outings as a group so if you are interested in heading up to see Switchfoot please indicate your interest in this form. Depending on how many people want to come we can try to arrange rides or perhaps bus up on the 101. Whatever is most convenient for everyone. The concert is free with paid admission to the fair ($13) so head up for fancy fried foods, great music, and great company! Hope to see you there!

- Tara

Second Sunday Supper Recap (6/20)

2010-06-20T20:00:00.000-07:00

The topic for discussion for the Second Sunday Supper on 6/20 was Saint Joseph. Because it was Father's Day, we spent some time talking about Joseph's call to become one of the guardian's of God's greatest gift to us. While not the paternal father of Jesus, Joseph was given the enormous responsibility of raising him and teaching him useful skills (such as the manual labor of carpentry). It was not by chance that this was the environment chosen for Jesus to experience as an adolescent.

We remember the enormous calls our own father's, or father-like figures, undertook when they took the responsibility to care for us throughout our young lives and into adulthood. We took the time to remember what we remember most about our father's and how they have impacted our lives.

To learn more about Saint Joseph's call, read the material reviewed for this discussion at the following link.

- Jeff Tippman

Second Sunday Supper (6/20)

2010-06-15T10:06:00.001-07:00

We are having Second Sunday Supper on the Third Sunday this month (because we are non-conformists) after 5:30PM Mass in Roetter Hall.

Jeff Tippman will lead a discussion on Saint Joseph and Fatherhood (since it's Father's Day) following catered dinner from Punjabi Tandoor (suggested donation $7).

Please RSVP by filling out this form.

Thank you Jeff for leading the discussion. SSS happens every month because one of us (Young Adults) is inspired to speak about a topic that is important to them. If you have a favorite saint or topic and would like to share it with your community, please let us know.

Third Tuesday Taize on the Sand (6/15)

2010-06-09T17:40:00.000-07:00

Third Tuesday Taize, same time, 7pm on the third Tuesday (June 15) but this time there are 2 changes:

1) The location will be La Jolla Shores Beach - the same spot as last fall, and near where the welcome event was last fall. Park in the La Jolla Shores Beach parking lot at the very right-hand side (as you face the beach), by the showers. Walk straight toward the beach 50 feet. You will see us!

2) It will be BEFORE Second Sunday Supper this month!

Come and join in melodic reflection and prayer! Pray for your favorite soccer team! Or anything else...

Ben

YAG Beach Camping Trip (7/16-7/17)

2010-06-08T12:33:00.000-07:00

Do you like suntanning, swimming, surfing, sleeping, smores or sand castles? In celebration of our SoCal roots, the YAGS group will be doing all of the above. We're organizing a beach camping trip this summer. It's Friday-Saturday July 16-17 (Friday night only) at San Onofre State Beach- north of Oceanside. We have 16 spots available. Let me know if you're in and I will reserve you a place. I will send an email out later in the month with more details, but costs will be about $10 total for camping and food.

-Ben
reasonableben@gmail.com

Welcome to YAG New Graduates

2010-06-07T12:42:00.000-07:00

New Graduates,

Congratulations on completing your studies at UCSD. Your presence at the Baccalaureate Mass here is an indication that you have balanced your growth in faith, spirituality and worship along with your academic studies.

The Young Adult and Graduate Students (YAG) would like to invite you to continue your faith journey with us as you transition into life after college. Here are ways to get involved:

Check out our blog (http://ucsdyags.blogspot.com). Here you'll find an updated calendar of events, contact information, recaps of past events, volunteer opportunities, etc.
Join our mailing list. Subscribe by sending an email to ucsd-yag-subscribe@yahoogroups.com and introducing yourself. This is the primary means of event planning and communication.
Join a Young Adult Small Church Community (SCC) - A small church community is a great way to share and grow in your Catholic faith with other folks navigating through life as young adults. There are currently three YAG SCCs. If you are interested in joining one of them or starting your own, send an email to yagscoreteam@googlegroups.com. We can help you get started.

Recurring Monthly Events

Second Sunday Supper - The 2nd Sunday of every month, Young Adults and Grad Students gather for dinner and a discussion. Discussion topics for 2010 will center around saints or encyclicals.

Third Tuesday Taize - Every 3rd Tuesday of the month, the Young Adults invite the entire community for an hour of prayer and reflection Taize-style.

Upcoming Summer Events

June
San Diego Fair to watch Switchfoot (6/24)

July
World Cup Final Viewing Party (7/11)
San Onofre Beach Camping Trip (7/16 - 7/17)

August
Del Mar Races for Brew Festival and WEEZER (8/21)

September
Padres Game (9/9)

God bless all of you, and congratulations again,
UCSD Newman Center YAG

Your Summer With The YAG

2010-05-28T14:31:00.001-07:00

We just had a meeting last week to discuss events for this summer. Here are the meeting notes.

Some highlights:

Monthly Recurring:
Second Sunday Suppers - These will continue during summer
Third Taize Tuesday - Ditto

June
San Diego Fair to watch Switchfoot (6/24)

July
World Cup Final Viewing Party (7/11)
San Onofre Beach Camping Trip (7/16 - 7/17)

August
Del Mar Races for Brew Festival and WEEZER (8/21)

September
Padres Game (9/9)

Please go to the blog and check up with the emails for more detailed information as events get closer. If you have an idea for an event and would like to coordinate please feel free. It's your community. We can make it whatever we want.

God bless you all,
Huy

Second Sunday Supper (5/9)

2010-04-29T17:08:00.000-07:00

The YAG group will be having our next Second Sunday Supper after the 5:30pm mass on May 9th. The cost of dinner (pizza & salad) is only $7. Please sign up on this form to help us have an idea of how many people to get food for!

Volunteers needed! If you are interested in taking up the torch and giving a talk + leading a discussion on your favorite saint for an upcoming Second Sunday Supper (May 9, July 10 or beyond), please contact Danny (darichter@gmail.com) with your topic/preferred date. If you are interested in bringing food for an upcoming supper, contact Stephanie (stephanie.nissen@gmail.com)!

Easter Sunday 2010 recap: Earthquakes and Other Divine Intervention

2010-04-18T21:30:00.000-07:00

The lily that Kelcie brought. (Thank you for reminding me of my Grandmother & old Easter traditions!)

So I have a confession to make: One of the best Easters I ever experienced was spent up at a beachfront house with 4 people who didn't do the whole Catholicism thing. Or the whole Christianity thing, for that matter. We spent the day enjoying God's amazing sand and sky, just taking our time. We made risotto (the stir-forever Italian way), marinated spareribs & portobellos, drank mimosas and used the sun-filled hours as an opportunity to be grateful for the chance to get to know each other better. Every year when Easter rolls around, I'm reminded that our celebration should be one we share with the rest of the world, and not just by the music streaming out of our church doors. It is so wonderfully amazing to me how much the YAG (and friends) community really took that to heart this year.

It all started when Jeff (re)offered his home as a location this year. He and his roommate had done a major overhaul to the backyard, and it proved a great place for people to gather as they flowed in and out of the house. Also, a it provided the opportunity for old hats and newbies to get acquainted using a universal language (that would be futbol!).

Kristina shows our newcomer (John) the ropes.

The backyard was also a great intermittent escape for those who spent the afternoon in the kitchen. I don't want to bore everyone with a minute list of each thing that was prepared (and the symbolism behind each dish), but I did want to mention one thing-- pumpkin kibbe. According to the Aussie-based Lebanese guy I co-opted the base recipe from, it's a very popular Lenten dish where he grew up as almost everybody there gives up meat for the entire duration of Lent. That said, have you ever tried to find a pumpkin (or even non-pie-spiced canned pumpkin) in San Diego in April?? I have. And you can imagine my surprise/Snoopy dance of joy when Daniel mentioned he just happened to have one in cold storage! God provides in sometimes the most obscure ways. =) The kibbe were small things, but deep-fried with great love.

Brian and Anne hard at work.

When you're trying to feed 30 people, though, kibbe only goes so far. Here are a few pics of our wonderful cook crew, who all pitched in to create a wonderful feast. Brian, Anne, Jake, Suz, Jeff, Kristy, David, Dre, Aaron, Anna, Daniel, Andrea (aka Priscilla-- confirmed this year!), Jen & Jenny all had a hand in prep, and I'm not sure if there was a single dish we prepped at Jeff's that was entirely the work of one person. They were joined by an equally stellar clean-up crew: Steph, Tony, Sean & Tara... *after* the earthquake. It was actually the first earthquake for a number of people there, and I'm glad that they didn't have to experience it alone. Interestingly enough, Dre ran across a reference to Revelations a few days later that said earthquakes used to be interpreted as a sign of God's physical presence. Sounds good to me. ;^)

Who'd have thought pumpkin goop would be so much fun (and so tasty!)

One last note about God's presence-- we placed a jar at the door so people could donate towards food costs, and actually ran over a bit. So a donation has been made ($35) to Mama's Kitchen, which delivers meals to people with AIDS or cancer. It's not 12 baskets full, but I'm glad that there was a tangible benefit to the rest of our SD community as a result of our celebration. You know, we sing in church that God is Love-- but love requires us to be in relationship to each other, in community. In the words of a good friend, it's something you "have to seek out and create." Looks to me like the YAGs (and friends) have started off the Easter season very creatively indeed.

- Shannon

This recap post and pictures were contributed by Shannon, our organizer extraordinare for the YAG Easter Dinner. Many thanks to all the effort she made to put together an amazing evening of tasty fare and great company!

Second Sunday Supper - April 13

2010-04-13T14:37:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday, Anne gave a great talk introducing the life of Sr. Dorothy Stang and provided 3 rounds of discussion questions small groups gathered to talk about. More information about the life and martyrdom of Sr. Dot can be found in the following podcasts from Provoke Radio:

"Modern Day Saints and Martyrs: The Life and Death of Sister Dorothy Stang" Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4

It was a great start to our discussion topic for this year's Second Sunday Suppers on the lives of saints / holy people who inspire us! If you are interested in taking up the torch and giving a talk + leading a discussion on your favorite saint for an upcoming Second Sunday Supper (May 9, June 20 - a "Third Sunday", July 10 or beyond), please contact Danny (darichter@gmail.com) with your topic/preferred date. If you are interested in bringing food for an upcoming supper, contact Stephanie (stephanie.nissen@gmail.com)!

Feeding America volunteer opportunity

2010-04-13T13:49:00.000-07:00

This spring, the YAG group will be volunteering two weekday evenings with the local organization Feeding America (feedingamericasd.org). The projects there are geared around sorting, boxing and bagging more than 1,000,000 pounds of food a month as part of their mission to feed the hungry families of San Diego.

The evenings we have committed to are:

Wednesday April 28, 6-8pm

Thursday May 13, 6-8pm

Feeding America's address is 9151 Rehco Road, San Diego, CA. Since the warehouse is not far from Good Sam's, those who want to carpool can meet at Good Sam's at 5:45pm that evening.

Sign up on this form to give us an idea of how many people might be coming, who might need to carpool, and what times might be good for future volunteer events. The volunteer information sheet for Feeding America San Diego can be viewed here. Please remember to wear closed toe shoes!

Questions? Contact Stephanie (stephanie.nissen@gmail.com).

Mountain Getaway Recap

2010-03-19T11:44:00.001-07:00

The YAGS mountain getaway was a huge success. The weather seemed to turn to spring just as we arrived on March 12 so sunny moderate mountain weather shone down for two days of slopes, fellowship and excellent eats...those who missed it can only wait until next year, training for the mountains by sharpening their snowboarding skills on “practice” trips.

Tiffany provided the housing hookup in scenic Big Bear at a discount price due to her many high-placed connections. Laura was all over the food and designed gourmet meals, highlighted by four huge lasagnas on Saturday night. Sean provided critical beverages. Father Joseph said Saturday and Sunday masses so we could get our spiritual fix. Jake provided the soundtrack.

In the hills, Steph and Tony led a crew on a hike of a trail that turned out to be half mud, half snow. Tony also built a snow cave and went for a run, completing the tri-fecta of mountain activities.

On the slopes of the Big Bear resorts Huy led the pack of snowboarders with Andrew, only in his first season, not far behind. Tara, Christina and Ben rounded out the experienced boardercrew, with the lowlight being Ben landing on his head after catching too much air on a jump...only to be saved from injury by the helmet Huy had recently given to him...

Mark was an ace on skis on the double diamonds and inspired 5 beginners making their ski debut, led by Martin, the natural, who didn't even fall once on his first day, except at the end just to check how it was done. Anisha, Srikanth, Ewa and John also started their addiction to downhill sports. Tina probably would have been the downhill queen but elected to read objectivist propaganda rather than embrace the perfect weather on the slopes. To give her credit, she made the trip on extreme sleep deprivation and it was surprising she made it through the weekend awake.

At night, Tara and Jake were the pros of the evening game with probably as many points as the entire other team. Other late night shenannigans included snowball fights and snowman building. In the morning, Ewa cooked some tremendous pizzas, and the eggs and pancakes rounded out the perfect brunch with John and Andrew slaving over the stovetop. Ben and Christina closed out the weekend with a jump into big bear lake for a brief 33 degree swim.

In short, the weekend was the best YAGS overnight of the year...until next month, at Joshua Tree...

Pictures:

Ben's

Christina's

Martin's

- BenJammin'

Second Sunday Supper - March 14th

2010-03-08T16:15:00.000-08:00

This Sunday, March 14th, the YAG group will be having our next Second Sunday Supper after the 5:30pm mass! Come for good food, great discussion, and fabulous company. This month's speaker is Fr. Joseph; he'll lead a discussion on a parable. The cost of dinner is only $7.

Please sign up on this form to help us have an idea of how many people to get food for! Other questions? Contact Stephanie (stephanie.nissen@gmail.com).

Taize Prayer and Adoration (Mar 3, 7-10PM)

2010-03-04T17:21:00.000-08:00

It's not the Third Tuesday of the month yet, but its Lent, so there is extra Taize. Taize Prayer and Adoration is this First Friday, at 7pm. It's open to the whole church community, but we (YAGgermeisters) are in charge. We will have Julie to play piano so the music should be a real treat. Taize will go till 8, then Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will continue until 10 PM. Come for all or part for a special Lenten Friday!

- Ben

YAG Lenten Walk Recap

2010-03-04T16:29:00.000-08:00

Over 20 YAGs came together Feb 20th for the Lenten Walk. This day retreat began at 11am with introductions, lunch, and a talk on discernment by Fr. Joseph followed with discussion.

The Examen prayer is a Jesuit way of praying that helps us examine our exercises of faith in daily life. It is generally divided into 5 steps, and discussion of these steps formed the remainder of our day retreat. (For more info on the Examen prayer, see below or visit this website.) YAGs Stephanie, Ben, and Tony gave talks introducing various aspects of the Examen prayer. We spent half the day in Torrey Pines State Park enjoying the great weather and beautiful setting and spending time in discussion and reflection.

We came back to Roetter Hall for a closing Mass at 3:30pm with Fr. Joseph. It was a great way to end our day retreat and continue on our Lenten journey.

Check out pictures from the retreat:

Steph's Pictures
Eric's Pictures
Huy's Pictures

Thanks to all who could attend and participate! And a very special thanks to those that met throughout the past month to help plan the Lenten retreat or that volunteered to help lead a talk or prayer during the retreat - Jennie, Shannon, Edwin, Tony, Stephanie, Ben & Tara!

The Examen Prayer:

Transition: I become aware of the love with which God looks upon me as I begin this Examen

Step 1: Gratitude. I note the gifts that God's love has given me this day, and I give thanks to God for them.

Step 2: Petition. I ask God for an insight and a strength that will make this Examen a work of grace, fruitful beyond my human capacity alone.

Step 3: Review. With my God, I review the day. I look for the stirrings in my heart and the thoughts that God has given me this day. I look also for those that have not been of God. I review my choices in response to both, and throughout the day in general.

Where was God in all of this today?

Toward what was the Lord calling me in the day?

How did I respond to this call?

Were there inclinations and thoughts this day that were not of God?

If there were, was I able to discern and resist them?

Was the use of my freedom in accord with God's loving desire for me today?

Step 4: Forgiveness. I ask for the healing touch of the forgiving God who, with love and respect for me, removes my heart's burdens.

Step 5: Renewal. I look to the following day and, with God, plan concretely how to live it in accord with God's loving desire for my life.

Transition: Aware of God's presence with me, I prayerfully conclude the Examen.

Second Sunday Supper - February 14th

2010-02-16T10:36:00.000-08:00

Many YAGs gathered this past Sunday night for our first Second Sunday Supper of the year! Jennifer Singelyn led a great discussion on friendship and love, and food was provided by Tony Bussen & Stephanie Nissen. Thanks to everybody who could make it!

Join us for our next Second Sunday Supper - March 14th at Roetter Hall after the 5:30pm mass. If you are interested in helping to coordinate food or lead the discussion, contact Stephanie (stephanie.nissen@gmail.com) for more information!

YAG Lenten Walk - Feb 20th, 11am-4pm

2010-02-10T12:13:00.000-08:00

On February 20th the Young Adult and Grad student (YAG) group will be having a Lenten mini-retreat from 11am* to 4pm. **NOTE: this is an updated time from last week's bulletin, we are starting a little earlier than previous advertised!** Feb 20th is the first Saturday of Lent, so this day's activity is a great way to start to 'go deeper' in your practices this Lent, while meeting other YAGs in the community!

At 11am, we will meet at Roetter Hall (rooms 3 &4) for lunch (bring your own brown bag) and a talk on discernment by Fr. Joseph.

Weather permitting, we will then carpool to Torrey Pines State Park for group & silent reflections based on the Examen and hiking. We'll come back to Roetter hall for mass and closing reflections at 3pm and finish by 4pm.

Sign up here to help us get an estimate of folks coming and to make sure you get any new updates beforehand! The cost of the day will be almost free - you just need to bring your own brown bag lunch and a few dollars for entrance fees/parking at the State Park.

Questions? Contact Stephanie (stephanie.nissen@gmail.com).

Super Bowlin'

2010-02-10T11:32:00.000-08:00

A bunch of YAGGERS and friends (50+) got together for the Super Bowl this year. It was epic. Good football game, good food, good drink, good peoples. Thanks Ben for hosting.

We roll deep. That's just how we do.

Now let's get ready for Lent.

Second Sunday Supper

2010-02-08T17:11:00.000-08:00

The Second Sunday of every month, members of the Young Adult and Grad student (YAG) group gather after the 5:30pm mass in Roetter Hall for dinner and discussion. This month's talk (led by Jen Singelyn) will include a review of last year's retreat on Love - just in time for St. Valentine's day!

The cost of dinner (which will be a loaded potato and salad bar) is just $7! Please RSVP here to help give us an estimate of people coming.

Questions? Contact Stephanie - stephanie.nissen@gmail.com.

YAGS Super Bowlin' Viewing Partay/BBQ

2010-01-26T22:33:00.000-08:00

Super Bowl Party/BBQ

Sun, February 7, 2pm – 6pm

Where: Ben's (8493 La Jolla Shores Dr, La Jolla, CA)

The Indianapolis Colts vs the New Orleans Saints play in Super Bowl XLIV in Miami. We are watching. Kick-off is at 3 PM.

If you don't like football (what is wrong with you?) the commercials are usually just as entertaining - so is watching large men in pads and tights hit, grab, and claw at each other with reckless abandon for three hours.

I will bring turkey/veggie burger stuffs and a case of Bud. That is a party in itself already. More snacks, drinks, etc is welcome as always. If you can come, email me and let me know if you can bring anything (and what). All are welcome. Spread the word. If the cops come, it will be a big success (let's relive our college days).

-Huy
3109515347

Christian Unity Week Third Tuesday Taize

2010-01-21T14:21:00.000-08:00

In honor of Christian unity week, members of the Newman Center Catholic Community and Good Sam's Episcopal Church came together for an evening of prayer Taize-style. We gathered in the church in an intimate setting surrounding the cross and in the true ecumenical spirit of Taize, were joined in prayer by some of our friends from Good Sam’s. It was especially nice to see new participants every month. Taize prayer offered a chance for meditation and reflection through the reading of scripture, singing of simple chants, and moments of silence. To me, having a gospel reading in between songs and a chance to offer personal petitions has really helped to create a point of focus for the prayer, something to think about while singing. A nice addition to this week’s gathering was the guitar in the background leading us through the different songs and creating a more natural flow of things.

Overall, Tuesday Taize is a great opportunity to let go of all the thoughts and worries of the week and to just being present in the moment.

- Christina Tsutsumi

Our Mountain Getaway/ Ski trip (3/12 - 3/14)

2010-01-18T11:14:00.000-08:00

We came upon a SWEEEEET deal on a SWEEEEET cabin at big bear lake. So we're gonna throw a Young Adult/ Grad weekend March 12-14. It will be the best event of the year (except Third Tuesday Taize)! I promise it. Even if you don't like to snowboard...

Skiing/ hiking/ tubing/ snowboarding/ games/ hanging out in the cabin and looking at the lake and mountains are all possible activities- I'm sure some people will do all of those things. I think we may even be able to convince one of our priests to join us, at least for the day!

The tentative schedule (come for all of it or some)

3/12 Friday PM arrive, party!
3/13 Saturday: Ski/ hike/ chill/ etc.
Saturday evening: party!
3/14 Sunday morning: possibly mass with our own priest, then drive back (or go hiking/ skiing again)

The price will be very cheap. Like probably on the order of $20 or so for the cabin for the whole weekend plus food which will be like $10 or so. Plus your lift ticket if you choose to ski/ ride. Or nothing more if you choose to hike (or swim!) The place is at the lake, about 3 hours (2.5 if you are fast) away.

Email me if you are interested and I will give you more details as we continue to plan and organize carpools.

Huy, Tiffany, and I are already on the roster. Time for you to add your name...let me know!

One Love,
Ben

Heads Up: Special Taize Prayer (1/19)

2010-01-18T11:09:00.000-08:00

Young Adult posse,

A good opportunity is coming up. Next Week is Christian Unity week. One way that is good to celebrate/ participate in this is by coming to Taize prayer (next Tuesday Jan 19, 7pm at the Church) which will be held jointly this month with the Good Sam's episcopal community in the main Sanctuary.

Taize was founded as a unity prayer style between Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox Christians. So this event is referencing that ecumenical component of Taize.

It's an especially good time to try Taize for the first time. Also, if you have done Taize and know a few of the songs, it would be especially great for you to come and join in to make our voice of prayer that much stronger... So I guess the only people for whom it is not an especially good opportunity is those who've already been once but haven't learned the songs much? It's still nice for you to come too though...

Peace,
Ben