Dear Core Members,

Maybe I say it a lot, maybe I don’t. It can’t possibly be enough. I’m pretty sure teens don’t say it very often – either way, again, it isn’t often enough. Parents probably say it, but they most likely don’t really know what they’re saying it for, exactly. I know our pastor says it, but again, not enough.

Thank you . . .

For showing up every Life Night and/or Edge Night

For actually coming to Core meetings, when sometimes the youth minister doesn’t feel like going

For coming early and staying late

For cleaning up messes that most of us can’t imagine

For dealing with the heartache youth ministry brings

For that giant smile in the joys youth ministry brings

For the early mornings and late nights of retreats

For getting to know the parents of our teens

For the random injuries you get playing our dumb games

For the clothes you’ve had to throw out after messy games

For staying up late to do homework because of a Core or Life Teen meeting

For sharing your heart in witness talks

For sharing yourself with teens in relational ministry

For setting up and taking down chairs and tables

For saying no to personal invitations for the sake of saying yes to our teens

For being at Mass every Sunday

For writing talks and small group questions

For making your faith a priority

For eating with those teens who obviously didn’t want you near them

For staying committed, even though it often makes no sense to me

For being authentic

For letting those teens cry on your shoulder

For thinking of details I never would

For having the backs of our teens when so many others don’t

For believing in and fighting for the vision of what we’re trying to build for teens

For letting the teens pile the shaving cream on and paint your face

For trusting in your fellow Core, your youth minister, and your pastor

For saying Yes to our teens

For saying Yes to Life Teen at our parish

For saying Yes to Christ

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I can’t possibly thank you enough – but know that I never, ever take you for granted. I recognize and appreciate your sacrifice – and I probably don’t even understand the whole of it.

Thank you.

In Christ,

Your Youth Minister