Session- Sunday, December 2nd, 2012

Greetings Families

I pray this email finds you well.  

Just a friendly reminder that there will be a confirmation session for Year 1 and 2 this Sunday, December 2^nd, 2012 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

::: Remember, part of the decision to be Confirmed means to participate fully in the process. Students are expected to attend all class meetings and arrive on time. Any candidate who misses more than 2 sessions will be asked to repeat the year. 

As always, families, please come to Mass with your teens on time, please do not just drop them off and leave.

If you have questions regarding the Confirmation process, please feel free to contact me at any time.  

Yours in Christ, 

John Paul Ramirez 

Welcome Back Mandatory Meeting for Returning Families & Candidates- Sunday, September 30th, 2012 at 4:00 p.m.

Greetings families!

I hope you and your families have been enjoying a blessed and relaxing summer.

It is that time of the year again; school supply shopping, school meetings, homework, or in other words, just a very busy time.  

It is also means that it is time for Confirmation classes to resume.  We will begin the Confirmation year on Sunday, September 30^th, 2012 with our Welcome Back Mandatory Meeting for Returning Families & Candidates.  We will begin at 4:00 p.m.  This meeting is intended for both returning parents/guardians and youth to go over the expectations/guidelines/fees for the second year of Confirmation.  This is a very important meeting, so please plan for at least one parent to attend.  Light snacks/refreshments will be provided.  

Please know that I am aware that many of your schedules are often hectic and I would like to thank you ahead of time for making the time to come to these meetings.  I truly value your time and support, which is why I always do my best to make these parent meetings as enjoyable and informative as I possibly can. 

What we will go over at this meeting:

•               Filling out the new Year 2 registration forms 

•               Go over the handbook which includes the expectations/guidelines/fees for Year 2

•               Time for prayer and reflection for both parents and teens

•               Family sign-ups for Year 2 Interviews, and Service Project

•               We will receive the Master Calendar for the year

Please also mark your calendar.

Session 1 (First Confirmation Session of the year for Year 2)

Sunday, October 21^st, 2012 at 11:00 a.m.

(Details and full calendar will be given at the Parent meeting)

If you have questions regarding the Confirmation Preparation Process, please feel free to contact me at omgc.confirmation@gmail.com or (323) 664-2111, ext. 115.

I will continue to keep all of you in prayer; I am looking forward to seeing you and your teen very soon!

Yours in Christ,

John Paul Ramirez

Coordinator of High School Confirmation & Youth Ministry

Our Mother of Good Counsel Catholic Church

2060 N. Vermont Ave. 

Los Angeles, CA 90027

Office: 323.664.2111 ext. 115

Email: omgc.confirmation@gmail.com

Website: http://omgcyouth.wix.com/omgcym

Dear Newly Confirmed Families

September 6, 2012

Dear Newly Confirmed Families: 

I pray this finds you well.

We hope you had a great summer and are off to great start at school.  As another year of confirmation classes begin, I cannot help but think it felt like only yesterday that you began your own Confirmation journey.  

So you’ve been Confirmed, now what? Well, It is our hope that you will keep in contact, stay involved and maybe even come back to share your gifts with the parish.

With that being said, I would like to share the following information.

1). Confirmation Registration is now open for new families:

New Candidate/Parent Meeting is this Sunday, September 30th 2012 at 2:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall. (Parent and student must attend the meeting)

Do you have friends or family who just started high school?... or maybe you know someone who missed out on registering for confirmation classes  last year?  If so, we welcome them to join us this year and please send them our way. 

2). OMGC Parish Picnic: Sunday, September 16th from 11am-3pm at Crystal Springs Picnic Area in Griffith Park.

We invite your family to join us at the annual parish picnic for games, food,  fellowship and Mass.  Outdoor Mass will begin at 11:30 a.m.

3). Youth Leadership Informational Meeting: Tuesday, Sep 25 or Thursday, Sep 27 at 4:30 p.m. in the Youth Room. 

Are you interesting in serving as a peer leader for the Confirmation program this year, or are you interested in being a representative on the new parish Youth Advisory Board? Maybe you are interested in volunteering for different parish activities? If so, we invite you to attend this meeting offered on two different days (for about an hour) to learn more about opportunities to serve.  We hope to see you there.

On a last note, there are 2 things that ordinarily happens after a youth is Confirmed.  He or she (along with their families) can can either grow closer and stronger in his or her own faith or he or she can also begin to grow farther away from the church.  You are not ordinary, you were born for great things and we don't ever want you to ever feel disconnected.  Always remember what you learned and experienced in your Confirmation journey, you are loved by God and will always be welcomed here.  I encourage each of you to remind one another to actively participate in your faith, and remember to continue going to Mass on Sundays (as a family), not just once in a while.

Know that you are constantly in my thoughts and prayers.  Do not be a stranger, and you are always welcome to drop by the youth room to say hello.

If you have any questions, concerns or comments, or ever want to set up a time to just talk, I am here for you and your family.

Have a blessed day.

Yours in Christ,

John Paul Ramirez   

Coordinator of High School Confirmation & Youth Ministry

Our Mother of Good Counsel Catholic Church

2060 N. Vermont Ave. 

Los Angeles, CA 90027

Office: 323.664.2111 ext. 115

Email: omgc.confirmation@gmail.com

Website: http://omgcyouth.wix.com/omgcym

Note for returning parents (Year 2)- OMGC Confirmation 2011-2012

Greetings Returning families!

I hope your families have been enjoying a blessed and relaxing summer.

It will soon be that time of the year; school supply shopping,
meetings, homework, or in other words, just very busy.  But that also
means it’s time for the second year of confirmation classes to begin.

We will be kicking off the confirmation year on Sunday, September
18th, 2011 with a "Welcome Back" meeting.  We will begin at 4:00 p.m.


This meeting is for both candidates and parents (Please plan for at
least one parent to attend).  Light snacks/refreshments will be
provided.

I am aware that your schedules are often hectic and I would like to
thank you ahead of time for making the time to come out to meetings
like these.  I truly value your time, which is why I always do my best
to make this and all parent meetings as enjoyable and informative as I
can.

What we will be covering at the meeting:
• Filling out the new registration form
• Together we will go over expectations/guidelines/fees
• Prayer/Reflection for parents and teens
• & Interview sign-up times
• You will receive the calendar for the year

The team and I will be working again be working this fall so that your
entire family will get the most out of this upcoming year.  Looking
forward to seeing you and your teen very soon.

If you have questions regarding the Confirmation Preparation Process,
please feel free to contact me at omgc.confirmation@gmail.com or (323)
664-2111, ext. 115.


Yours in Christ,

John Paul Ramirez 
Director of Confirmation and Youth Ministry

Letter of invitation for new parents- Confirmation 2011-2012

Our Mother of Good Counsel Church 

High School Confirmation Process

2060 N. Vermont Avenue

Los Angeles, CA  90027

Tel: (323) 664-2111 Fax: (323) 664-0556

www.omogc.org

July 12^th, 2011

Dear parent(s),

My name is John Paul Ramirez, I am the Confirmation/Youth Ministry Coordinator for OMGC parish. 

In the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Confirmation preparation is a required two-year process undertaken by high school students (usually freshmen and sophomores) at their home parish. It is a process in Christian maturity based on the belief that adolescents are at a significant point in their faith journey as they’re beginning to establish a personal faith identity.           

Our goal is to form disciples. Through this sacramental preparation, teens are given the opportunity to learn about their faith, enjoy fellowship with peers, and become fully initiated into the universal Catholic faith community as witnesses of God’s love for the world.  The Confirmation process is one that attempts to take the high school teen through a learning process that allows him or her to experience his or her faith through catechesis, active sharing with other candidates, and experiencing the many aspects of parish life.

We will kick off the 2011-2012 Confirmation year with a mandatory New Parent/ Candidate orientation on Sunday, September 18^th, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. in the St. Augustine Center (Parish Hall).

*This will include an overview of the process, expectations and a chance to meet one another. A final schedule will also be given.

If you are interested in the OMGC Confirmation process, please complete and return the attached registration form to be filled out completely out by a parent or guardian, a copy of your child’s Baptismal Certificate (if he/she wasn’t baptized at OMGC) and payment to the parish office as soon as possible. Registration fee is $100 per student and $150 per family (After September 15: $120/student, $175/family).  In case of financial need, please let me know.  No family will be denied religious education because of an inability to pay.

If you have questions regarding the Confirmation Preparation Process, please feel free to contact me at omgc.confirmation@gmail.com or (323) 664-2111, ext. 115.

Enjoy the rest of your summer, and I look forward to meeting you and your teenager soon.

Yours in Christ,

John Paul Ramirez                                                                                                                        

Director of Confirmation and Youth Ministry

February 2011

OMGC High School Confirmation

Confirmation sessions are held on the 2^nd and 4^th Sundays of the month at 3:30 p.m. in the St. Augustine Center, followed by the 6 p.m. Mass.

Upcoming Dates:

Sunday, February 13^th - Session with Year 1 and 2

Sunday, February 20^th - No Session Today

Saturday, February 26^th-Service Opportunity –St. Vincent De Paul Monthly Luncheon  (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.) in the St. Augustine Center.

Sunday, February 27^th - Session with Year 1 and their sponsors

OMGC Youth Ministry News (Grades 8^th-12^th)

This month’s youth night will be on: Friday, February 25^th at 7 p.m.

What are “Youth Nights”? The past couple of months, teens (about to enter Confirmation, those already in the process, and those who have already been confirmed) have been coming to “hang out” and “chill” one evening a month in the parish hall.  Teens are invited to join us for these evenings of good wholesome fellowship, prayer and fun.  It is open to all youth, so feel free to bring a friend.
We try and do something different and creative every month.        

*This month’s youth night will feature a special performance,


“Me, my Anti-drug”, a story about making better decisions.  It is a free show and will be performed by some OMGC school alum and friends.  Parents are welcome to come, stay and enjoy the show.

$5 Suggested Donation | Snacks & Drinks will be sold.

Doors open @ 7pm & show starts promptly @ 7:30pm.

We hope to see you there!

Become our fan on facebook.  (facebook.com/OMGCYouthMinistry)

OMGC Youth Group is going to Youth Day!

What is Youth Day?

Youth Day is an annual celebration at the Anaheim Convention Center for 15,000 Catholic high school youth in the archdiocese and beyond.  It consists of great music, rallies, workshops and liturgy. This year, Youth Day will be on Thursday, March 17^th, 2011. 

If you would like to attend, please let John Paul know by Feb. 15^th, he may be reached at 323-664-2111 ext. 115 or by email at omgc.confirmation@gmail.com.

WE WELCOME DONATIONS! If you would like to make a contribution to show your support for Youth Ministry, please write a check payable to OMGC, earmarking it for “Youth Ministry.”

Check us out on facebook!

http://www.facebook.com/omgcyouthministry