In response to VA Tech tragedy

I am posting this e-mail from Kathy Taormina, the National Youth/Young Adult Commission Chair in case there is ANYone out there who reads this who may need or know someone who might need the sites and links she lists.

May we all reach out, in love, to those whose lives have been forever changed by the events at VA Tech, and in some way that should include us all.

This is a forward from the National Association of Catholic Youth Ministry Leaders, which the SFO National Youth/Young Adult Commission Chair is a charter member, to represent Franciscan Youth in the USA. After yesterday's heart wrenching events in Virginia, may we keep them all in our prayers, especially those most vulnerable...our youths!

peace, Kathy
SFO FYYA Chair
the end of a sad day For those of us who serve and love young people, today’s tragedy at Virginia Tech is most discouraging. The loss of 33 lives and the injury of many more overshadow the horror of the Pennsylvania Amish in Nickel Mines or even Columbine. Here is a compilation of web-based resources for you to consider using in the upcoming days:> NFCYM: www.nfcym.org/resources/pastoralresponse/ViolencetoYouth.htm> Saint Mary’s Press http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=1025024741&msgid=4853282&act=LULL&c=38429&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.smp.org%2FSchoolViolence.cfm> Youth Specialties http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=1025024741&msgid=4853282&act=LULL&c=38429&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youthspecialties.com%2Ffree%2Fweb_violence.php> Gospel . com http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=1025024741&msgid=4853282&act=LULL&c=38429&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gospelcom.net%2Fbuzz%2F%3Fp%3D391> Talking with Young People: * American Psychological Association - Talking to your children about the recent spate of school shootings http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=1025024741&msgid=4853282&act=LULL&c=38429&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.apa.org%2Ftopics%2Fschoolshooting.html * Children and Parents: Talking with Kids about Violence http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=1025024741&msgid=4853282&act=LULL&c=38429&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthresources.caremark.com%2Farticle%2Fplainprimer%2F100234508 * Tragic Times, Healing Words http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=1025024741&msgid=4853282&act=LULL&c=38429&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sesameworkshop.org%2Fparents%2Fadvice%2Farticle.php%3FcontentId%3D49560 * Talking with Kids about News http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=1025024741&msgid=4853282&act=LULL&c=38429&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.talkingwithkids.org%2Ftelevision%2Ftwk-news.html * Can School Shootings be prevented? http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=1025024741&msgid=4853282&act=LULL&c=38429&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kidspeace.org%2Fpdf%2FSchoolShooting_Langman.pdf * Ten tips regarding talking to your Child about School shootings www.kidspeace.org/SchoolShootingPreventionTips.htm#ten

Tears

What a truly sad day as we pray for all those involved in the VA. Tech shootings. Prayers for all those affected by this- prayers for the shooter's family who will have to live with what has happened; prayers for the shooter who must have been in so much pain as to choose this as a way to express his pain; for the victims and their families as they now have to deal with their own pain as a result of someone else's. "I cried a tear for you today, though I do not know your name and I only wish there was some small way that I could ease your pain"

Holy Thursday

Dear Lord, I know you want to wash my feet.
I know my fear, my resistance.
I'm not clean. I'm embarrassed to admit to myself all the ways I am dishonest, self-indulgent, negligent, defensive, and failing in my relationship with you, with others - failing to love.
Wash me. Let me accept, embrace, how your self-giving sets me free from my sin and offers to heal me.
By your being brokenand given, poured out and shared, make me whole.
Let my heart be freed of its anxiety and fear, its anger and lust.

Fill me with joy and peace, that I might give you praise.
Send me to wash, to forgive, to free, to nourish, to embrace and give life.
By your grace, may the poor know that your mandate has touched my heart and the hearts of the community whose celebration of your love sustains me.