Announcing:
Saint Mary's Press winner for the week of May 22, 2009!
Congratulations to Debbie Kreiner!

Debbie Kreiner will receive a copy of the Saint Mary's Press®
Personal Journey Bible, a $18.95 value.

This pocket-size Bible is a great gift
for teens on the go!

The Saint Mary's Press Personal Journey Bible is ready to go wherever young people are going. This unique edition of the Bible contains the New Testament and Psalms from the bestselling The Catholic Youth Bible,® Revised--including all the Pray it! Study it! Live it! articles--and comes complete with eleven new inserts created by five respected authors and speakers: Jerry Goebel, Anna Scally, Brian Singer-Towns, Dennis Kurtz, and Michael Theisen.

Each "Finding Christ" insert contains a three topical Bible studies that will help teens direct their life by God's divine compass. Topics include

• Being Authentic
• Friends
• Media
• Family
• You!
• Money and Possessions
• Tough Times
• Choices
• Justice
• School
  Look Inside: You can view an online sampler of the Saint Mary's Press Personal Journey Bible on the SMP Web catalog. Search for "Personal Journey Bible," or use this link to go to the product description, http://www.smp.org/ItemDetail.cfm?ItemNum=4126. Then use the "look inside" button next to the cover image to see pages from the book of Matthew as well as full-color illustrated pages from the "Finding Christ in Being Authentic" insert.
  
  Saint Mary's Press Personal Journey Bible, Brian Singer-Towns, general editor
  ISBN 978-0-88489-974-7, blue and green leatherette, 608 pages, $18.95
  http://www.smp.org/ItemDetail.cfm?ItemNum=4126

Bible Sale: 3 Weeks Left!

For 3 more weeks, you can get free additional Bibles when you order 25 or more of the following youth Bibles from Saint Mary's Press! Offer ends June 15, 2009!

The Catholic Youth Bible® NAB or NRSV paper, $24.95, hardcover, $33.95 Saint Mary's Press® Personal Journey Bible blue and green leatherette, $18.95	Breakthrough! The Bible for Young Catholics paper, $19.95, hardcover, $26.95 Saint Mary's Press® College Study Bible paper, $32.95, hardcover, $42.95
Order 25-49 copies of one title -- Get 3 of the same title Order 50-74 copies of one title -- Get 7 of the same title Order 75-99 copies of one title -- Get 10 of the same title Order 100+ copies of one title -- Get 15 of the same title
order toll free 800-533-8095 or www.smp.org

Spring Fever
by Javier Bravo

My experience as a teacher has taught me that teachers can also be prone to spring fever. We can get just as busy as our students and be just as eager for the school year to reach its end. A great way to gather one’s self is to be in silence.

Look at your calendar and find 2-3 hours that you can spend by yourself. This most likely will take some maneuvering, but the payoff will be highly beneficial. When you have the time set aside, go to a place where you can find solitude. Let it be a place where you can get comfortable. Bring a Bible and a cup of coffee or something refreshing. Read Mark 4:35-40 where Jesus calms the storm. Take time to read it slowly. Don’t rush. Stop if a word or phrase catches your attention.

Think of the storm going on around you: family schedules, grading, exam writing, catching students up, writing recommendation letters, winding down the year, and so on. Now, let Jesus come in the midst of the storm and calm it down. After reading the text, take a moment to close your eyes. Take some deep breaths and use a form of the centering prayer like repeating the name of Jesus or the phrase "Jesus Christ, song of the Living God, have mercy on me." May this moment of prayer re-energize you to finish the year well. Good luck!

Socialization and Middle School
by Christine Navarro

When we think of middle school students, we may automatically categorize them, for the most part, as social people. But are they socialized?

I recently attended a CYO environmental overnight camp attended by fifth and sixth graders from Catholic grade schools in the Seattle Archdiocese. I was very impressed in the focus given to socialization by the counselors, even though they were teaching the students about the ecosystem.

The counselor of the one group made sure that each student knew the names of the other students in the group. This was especially important since the students came from several different schools. She focused on trust and working as a team. Another counselor at the 40-foot rock climbing wall encouraged everyone to cheer for the students who were trying to ascend.

I realized that we need to intentionally include group activities that focus on healthy socializing in our school or parish groups. These activities help students realize how much more they can accomplish when they work together rather than compete, when they trust rather than fear, when they include rather than exclude.

The students at this CYO camp were learning in a highly socialized way. I am sure they will bring at least some of these skills back to the classroom!

This Week's Gift Pick

Mixed Metal Bracelet
originally $25.95, now $15.95!
This offer ends Thursday, May 28, 2009. While supplies last!

Teens need the wisdom, courage, and strength that only God can supply. Worn over time, this handcrafted thick copper and sterling silver bracelet ages to a natural patina or can be polished with a cloth to retain its shine.