ÿþ<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en"> <head> <style type="text/css"> html,body { font-family: Bookman Old Style; font-size: 12px; color: #FFFFFF; text-align:center; background-color:#000099; margin:0; padding:0; height:100%; } a { font-family: Bookman Old Style; color: #336699; } /* Site container */ div#container { width:800px; background-color:#000099; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; text-align: left; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; } /* header */ div#header { clear: both; width:800px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px; } /*Left Content Area */ div#left { float:left; width:150px; padding-top: 10px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px; overflow:hidden; } div#right { float:right; width:150px; padding-top: 10px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px; overflow:hidden; } /* middle content area */ div#content{ float:left; width:650px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 10px; padding-top: 10px; /*padding-left: 10px;*/ /* Changed from 14px to 10px by GMW 3/27/2009 */ /*padding-right: 10px;*/ word-wrap: break-word; overflow:hidden; } /* footer area */ div#footer { clear: both; width:800px; background-image: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; overflow:hidden; /* Don't ask. Not sure why I need this, but makes the border work. DVA */ vertical-align:bottom; } /* company footer area */ div#CompanyFooter { clear:both; /* padding: 10px 10px 10px 10px; Removed by GMW 3/27/2009 */ text-align: left; /* Added by GMW 3/27/2009 */ margin: 10px 10px 10px 10px; /* Added by GMW 3/27/2009 */ padding-bottom: 10px; width:800px; /* Removed by GMW 3/27/2009 I put this back in 5/12/2008 DVA */ margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; font-family: arial, geneva, helvetica; font-size: 10px; } /*Centers the tables in the divs in the left and right columns without centering the text in those tables. */ div.centered { text-align: center; } div.centered table { margin: 0 auto; text-align: left; } /* scrolling sponsor box */ #scr1 div { visibility:hidden; } #scr1, #scr1 div.default { height:150px; overflow:hidden; visibility:hidden; } #scr1Region div { visibility:hidden; } #scr1Region, #scr1Region div.default { height:150px; overflow:hidden; visibility:hidden; } #scr1State div { visibility:hidden; } #scr1State, #scr1State div.default { height:150px; overflow:hidden; visibility:hidden; } #scr1County div { visibility:hidden; } #scr1County, #scr1County div.default { height:150px; overflow:hidden; visibility:hidden; } #scr1Site div { visibility:hidden; } #scr1Site, #scr1Site div.default { height:150px; overflow:hidden; visibility:hidden; } /* Scrolling Web Sponsor Images */ #scr1Img div { visibility:hidden; } #scr1Img, #scr1Img div.default { height:110px; overflow:hidden; visibility:hidden; } #scr1ImgRegion div { visibility:hidden; } #scr1ImgRegion, #scr1ImgRegion div.default { height:110px; overflow:hidden; visibility:hidden; } #scr1ImgState div { visibility:hidden; } #scr1ImgState, #scr1ImgState div.default { height:110px; overflow:hidden; visibility:hidden; } #scr1ImgCounty div { visibility:hidden; } #scr1ImgCounty, #scr1ImgCounty div.default { height:110px; overflow:hidden; visibility:hidden; } #scr1ImgSite div { visibility:hidden; } #scr1ImgSite, #scr1ImgSite div.default { height:110px; overflow:hidden; visibility:hidden; } /* Text Nav href colors*/ .TextNavLinks a { text-decoration: none; font-family: Bookman Old Style; color: #336699; } .TextNavLinks a:hover { text-decoration: none; font-family: Bookman Old Style; color: #336699; } h1.hide { font-size:16px; color:#336699; font-weight:bold; letter-spacing:-1px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px; text-decoration: none; display:none; visibility:hidden; } </style> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.catholicweb.com/js/pagescroll.js"></script> <title>Generation Christ - Ann Arbor at 530 Elizabeth Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 US - Home</title> <meta name='description' content='Home Page and Official Website for Generation Christ - Ann Arbor at 530 Elizabeth Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 US This website is built and maintained using tools provided by CatholicWeb.' /> <meta name='keywords' content='catholic,directory,bulletin,mass times,schedule,mass,church,parish,diocese,archdiocese,prayer,priest,clergy,pope,bishop,Home' /></head> <body> <div id="container"> <div id="header"> <table width="800px" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr><td align="left" valign="middle" colspan="3" width="800px" style="padding-left:4px;"><img src="http://home.catholicweb.com/generationchrist/images/Various/New_Picture.gif" border="0" style="padding:0 0 0 0;"></td></tr> </table> </div> <div id="content"> <h1 class="hide">Generation Christ - Ann Arbor at 530 Elizabeth Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 US - A Generation for Christ</h1> <table width="100%" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"> <tr> <td> <a name="#headline"></a> <font face="Bookman Old Style" size=4 color="FFFFFF"><b>A Generation for Christ</b></font> </td> </tr> </table> <p> <font face="Bookman Old Style" size="2"><p> <p align="center"><font face="Papyrus">&nbsp;<strong>by <a href="frchas.html">Fr. Chas Canoy</a>, Chaplain Emeritus</strong></font></p> <p align="center"><font face="Papyrus">&nbsp;(with slight edits added 14 October 2009)</font></p> <p><font face="Papyrus" size="2">Many parishioners have come up to me after Mass or at a parish event to comment on just how many young people come to our church, more than they can remember in the past.&nbsp; They often add to their observation that having our church filled with so many young people is so very encouraging to their faith.&nbsp; You&rsquo;ll notice that even a large percentage of our daily Mass goers are young adults, those between the ages of 18 to 35.&nbsp; </font></p> <p><font face="Papyrus" size="2"><b><u>Is it Fr. Jeff&rsquo;s good looks?</u></b></font></p> <p><font face="Papyrus" size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As you know, our immediate neighborhood is comprised mostly of young adults.&nbsp; Our parish is surrounded by homes occupied in most part by university students.&nbsp; Thus, it is only natural that we have as part of our parish family a larger percentage of young adults than your normal parish. But what has accounted for such a large increase over the last year?</font></p> <p><font face="Papyrus" size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;I don&rsquo;t think it is because of Fr. Jeff&rsquo;s dashing good looks.&nbsp; I suspect that it is because, here at St. Thomas, they truly encounter Jesus Christ, the one for whom their hearts yearn.&nbsp; As many of you know, we have a very vibrant young adults group here called <i>Generation Christ.</i>&nbsp; It is our parish&rsquo;s welcoming response to the many young adults that enter our doors.&nbsp; </font></p> <p><font face="Papyrus" size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Last academic year, we had no less than 40 people gather at <i>every</i> meeting, sometimes welcoming over 80.&nbsp; It is a good mix of University of Michigan students, both graduate and undergraduate students, Ave Maria School of Law students, and young adults who work full-time, either married or single.&nbsp; Just last week, we had a joyous and successful kick-off with over 80 people adoring Jesus in the Eucharist! </font></p> <p><b><font face="Papyrus"><font size="2"><u>So what do we do at </u><i><u>Generation Christ</u></i><u>?</u></font></font></b></p> <p><font face="Papyrus" size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;We meet every Sunday at the Parish Hall, and there we truly encounter our Lord.&nbsp; We begin at 7:00pm.&nbsp; After about ten minutes of gathering and saying hello, we begin our Eucharistic holy hour.&nbsp; Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is processed out in a monstrance for us to adore.&nbsp; We have a Scripture reading, followed by a 10-minute meditation given by me, Fr. Jeff, or a guest speaker.&nbsp; </font></p> <p><font face="Papyrus" size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then we have a few minutes of just sitting in silent adoration of our beloved Lord.&nbsp; That is followed by a few songs of worship.&nbsp; Kevin Spizarny and Louise Vasievich head up our music ministry, and they do an excellent job of leading our praise and worship.&nbsp; We end with offering our prayer intentions and having benediction.&nbsp; After a closing song, we follow the holy hour with a social hour for those who want to stay for wonderful fellowship.&nbsp; Getting to know these young people fills me with great hope!</font></p> <p><font face="Papyrus" size="2"><b><u>Norm!</u></b></font></p> <p><font face="Papyrus" size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Our Sunday evenings are our primary gatherings, but a good number of <i>&ldquo;Gen Christ,&rdquo; </i>as it is called,<i> </i>also meets socially at&nbsp;Dominick&rsquo;s&nbsp;every Wednesday night at 8:30pm&hellip;a little too late for me, but I&rsquo;ll make it out there once in a while.&nbsp; In addition, we have an annual &ldquo;Alternative Spring Break,&rdquo; various works of mercy initiated by the young adults, road trips to conferences or retreats, among other things.</font></p> <p><font face="Papyrus" size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;An integral part of <i>Generation Christ</i> are our two houses of discernment, one for women, the <i>St. Catherine House</i>, and one just forming for men, the <i>Fr. McGivney House.&nbsp; </i>But these two houses deserve a column on their own.&nbsp; Also, peruse through our website for more information:&nbsp; </font><a target="_blank" href="http://www.genchrist.net/"><font face="Papyrus" color="#990000" size="2"><u>www.genchrist.net</u></font></a><font face="Papyrus" size="2">.&nbsp; </font></p> <p><font face="Papyrus" size="2"><b><u>Here at St. Thomas, they find a place of welcome.</u></b></font></p> <p><font face="Papyrus" size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;So, when you notice how many young people there are in our parish, you now know a little of bit of why that is so.&nbsp; They meet Jesus here.&nbsp; They also are amidst a welcoming parish whose members not only know <i>about</i> Jesus Christ, they know him.&nbsp; They have encountered him, and his heart of welcome shines through you. </font></p> <p><font face="Papyrus" size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<wbr></wbr>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Blessings to you, </font></p> <p><font face="Papyrus"><font size="2"><font face="Papyrus">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<wbr></wbr>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</font><font face="Papyrus">Fr. Chas Canoy</font>&nbsp; </font></font></p> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> try { var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-245752-3"); pageTracker._trackPageview(); } catch(err) {}</script> </body></html>