1 Special Youth Services (SYS) models the embrace of Christ through pastoral care, advocacy, and faith sharing in local juvenile justice centers, facilities, and programs includ- ing the promotion and coordination of restor- ative services to at-risk youth and their fami- lies. Our ministry encompasses all counties within our local Archdiocese, working with youth from ages 10-17. The Oratorio is a quarterly newsletter pub- lished with the purpose of sharing the voices of our youth and volunteers, activities of SYS, and information that may be beneficial to the spiritual life of the reader. Special Youth Services (SYS) modela el abrazo de Cristo por medio de cuidado pasto- ral, apoyo, y compartir la fe en centros locales de justicia juvenil, instalaciones, y programas incluyendo la promoción y coordinación de servicios restaurativos a jóvenes en situación de riesgo y sus familias. Nuestro ministerio abarca cada condado entre nuestra arquidió- cesis local, trabajando con jóvenes de edades 10 a 17. The Oratorio es un boletín informativo trimestral publicado con el propósito de com- partir las voces de nuestros jóvenes y volunta- rios, actividades de SYS, e información que pueda ser útil para la vida espiritual del lector. Director’s Corner 1 A Youth’s Perspective 2 La perspectiva de un joven 2 La perspectiva de una madre 3-4 A Mother’s Perspective 5-6 A Volunteer’s Perspective 7 La perspectiva de un voluntario 7 Saintly Saturday 8 Clergy Corner 9 Holiday Events 9 SYS Angels 10 Congrats 10 An Advent Reflection 10 Facebook 11 Upcoming Events 12 Ven. Augustus Tolton 13 Prayer Requests 13 Contact Us 13 There are many things to be thankful for at SYS. When reflecting on the Thanksgiving holiday, my heart is filled with gratitude. For most of us, Thanksgiving will look different this year. We may not be able to share the holiday with all those we love but even in the inconveniences there are still places for gratitude. By practicing gratitude, we share the holiday with God. One of my personal appreciations is for you, our volunteers. Your actions during this unprecedented time have been met with the abundance of gratitude from us, the youth, and juvenile probation staff. Your acts may seem small to you but, one act of kindness can change everything. Your weekly reflections, your attendance at Saintly Saturday, and your prayers are the very acts that uplift the youth and remind them they are truly loved by God. Anne Frank says it best, “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” My prayers for a thankful and beautiful Thanksgiving holiday. God bless you and your families, Saintly Saturday We went virtual! We were broadcast on the big screen in the Leadership Academy gym Read about our yearly event on page 8
Transcript
1
Special Youth Services (SYS) models the
embrace of Christ through pastoral care,
advocacy, and faith sharing in local juvenile
justice centers, facilities, and programs includ-
ing the promotion and coordination of restor-
ative services to at-risk youth and their fami-
lies. Our ministry encompasses all counties
within our local Archdiocese, working with
youth from ages 10-17.
The Oratorio is a quarterly newsletter pub-
lished with the purpose of sharing the voices
of our youth and volunteers, activities of SYS,
and information that may be beneficial to the
spiritual life of the reader.
Special Youth Services (SYS) modela el
abrazo de Cristo por medio de cuidado pasto-
ral, apoyo, y compartir la fe en centros locales
de justicia juvenil, instalaciones, y programas
incluyendo la promoción y coordinación de
servicios restaurativos a jóvenes en situación
de riesgo y sus familias. Nuestro ministerio
abarca cada condado entre nuestra arquidió-
cesis local, trabajando con jóvenes de edades
10 a 17.
The Oratorio es un boletín informativo
trimestral publicado con el propósito de com-
partir las voces de nuestros jóvenes y volunta-
rios, actividades de SYS, e información que
pueda ser útil para la vida espiritual del lector.
Director’s Corner 1
A Youth’s Perspective 2
La perspectiva de un joven 2
La perspectiva de una
madre
3-4
A Mother’s Perspective 5-6
A Volunteer’s Perspective 7
La perspectiva de un
voluntario
7
Saintly Saturday 8
Clergy Corner 9
Holiday Events 9
SYS Angels 10
Congrats 10
An Advent Reflection 10
Facebook 11
Upcoming Events 12
Ven. Augustus Tolton 13
Prayer Requests 13
Contact Us 13
There are many things to be thankful for at SYS. When reflecting on the Thanksgiving holiday, my
heart is filled with gratitude. For most of us, Thanksgiving will look different this year. We may not
be able to share the holiday with all those we love but even in the inconveniences there are still
places for gratitude. By practicing gratitude, we share the holiday with God. One of my personal
appreciations is for you, our volunteers. Your actions during this unprecedented time have been
met with the abundance of gratitude from us, the youth, and juvenile probation staff. Your acts may
seem small to you but, one act of kindness can change everything. Your weekly reflections, your
attendance at Saintly Saturday, and your prayers are the very acts that uplift the youth and remind
them they are truly loved by God. Anne Frank says it best, “How wonderful it is that nobody need
wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”
My prayers for a thankful and beautiful Thanksgiving holiday.
God bless you and your families,
Saintly Saturday We went virtual!
We were broadcast on the big screen in the Leadership Academy gym
Read about our yearly
event on page 8
2
A Youth’s Perspective What was your experience like when Deacon Dan would visit you at the facility?
The day that I was waiting for. Glad to see him. When he came, he gave me the Holy Communion. We would just talk about
what I was reading in the Bible. If I had any questions, I asked him. Talk about life. We talked a lot, he’s like my mentor. It was
like a little time that I felt like I wasn’t there. I would go into like that little room and he was already there. Before I met
Deacon Dan, I was praying every night, but I never read the Bible outside. He actually brought me a Catholic Bible, I started
reading it every night. Kept me a lot calmer. I felt really in touch with Jesus. It was a big help.
How did that help you when you went home?
With the pandemic, it was kind of hard, but I graduated and got my Confirmation a couple of weeks ago.
What did you feel at your Confirmation?
I felt a sense of happiness and relief, of no worries. It was a nice experience. [Deacon Dan and Deacon Fernando] helped me
get ready, I was supposed to be in the classes. But since I wasn’t out, they had to give it to me then. Every week it would
always be an hour or more that I would talk to them. Even at downtown they would come see me. At Leadership. I felt that I
learned way more than I would have at church.
What message do you have to other youth that are getting in trouble?
Listen to your mom. My Mom tells me the advice I need. I tell myself, “Don’t do anything you did before.” Repent for
everything you had done and look for the path of righteousness. Me, now, what I want is to be accepted into Heaven. Stop
doing bad stuff, be holy.
What message do you have to parents of kids that are getting in trouble?
Give your kids time and love. Try to be your best.
Una conversación con M. de 17 años de edad
¿Cómo fue tu experiencia cuando te visitaba el diácono Dan en el centro de detención?
El día que yo esperaba. Contento al verlo. Cuando vino, me dio la Santa Comunión. Hablábamos de lo que yo leía en la Biblia.
Si tenía preguntas, se las hacía a él. Hablamos de la vida. Hablamos mucho, es como mi mentor. Era como unos momentos que
sentía que no estaba allí. Entraba al cuartito y él ya estaba ahí. Antes de conocer al diácono Dan, yo rezaba cada noche pero
nunca leía la Biblia afuera. Me trajo una Biblia católica, la empecé a leer cada noche. Me calmaba. Me sentí muy unido a Jesús.
Fue una gran ayuda.
¿Cómo te ayudó eso cuando regresaste a casa?
Con la pandemia, era un poco difícil. Pero me gradué y recibí mi Confirmación hace un par de semanas.
¿Qué sentiste en tu Confirmación?
Sentí felicidad y alivio, de no preocupaciones. Era una experiencia linda. [El diácono Dan y el diácono Fernando] me ayudaron a
prepararme. Yo tenía que estar en las clases pero como no estaba libre, me tenían que darlas allí. Cada semana era una hora o
más que hablaba con ellos. Hasta en el Centro me visitaban. Y luego en Leadership. Sentí que aprendí mucho más que lo que
hubiera aprendido en la iglesia.
¿Qué mensaje le tienes a jóvenes que se están metiendo en problemas?
Hazle caso a tu mamá. Mi mamá me da los consejos que necesito. Me digo yo: “No hagas nada de lo que hiciste antes”.
Arrepiéntete por todo lo que has hecho y busca el camino de rectitud. Yo ahora, lo que quiero es ser aceptado al cielo. Deja
de hacer cosas malas, sé santo.
¿Algún mensaje para los papás de esos jóvenes?
Dales a los hijos tiempo y amor. Intenta ser lo mejor que puedas.
A Conversation with 17 Year M.
3
¿Qué cambios positivos vio en su hijo al regresar a casa?
Fueron muchos cambios, lo vi maduro. Madurez de su adolescencia. Ya estaba platicando como un joven, un niño y valoraba
más la vida y también se valora más él mismo y valora más a la familia. Su manera cómo habla, cómo se expresa y también la
manera cómo actúa. También se acercó más a Dios. Lee más la Biblia, quiso seguir en el proceso de la Confirmación y llevó a
cabo el Sacramento de la Confirmación, entonces creció de todas las maneras. Creció de manera personal porque acabó High
School, se graduó y ahora va a empezar el college y quiere estudiar para doctor porque dice que quiere ayudar a personas
también, como los que estén en sus manos, ayudar a los demás. Creo que allí fue donde eso lo hizo reaccionar y reflexionar,
estando ahí en detención. Valorar la vida y valorar de una manera diferente. En todos los sentidos, en sentido personal,
espiritual y de ejercicio. Hace ejercicio cuando él está trabajando. Y eso muestra ser responsable, porque no sólo está en la
casa sino también se va a trabajar. Y ayuda en las actividades en la casa también. Ayuda más.
Otra cosa también que me gustó mucho, que nos pidió perdón. Me dijo: “No te había dicho, quiero que me perdones. Quiero
pedir perdón a mi papá y a mi hermano porque no era la manera de cómo yo me habría de haber portado pero lo hice. Lo
siento mucho. Tú te mereces lo mejor. Tú no te mereces cuánto te hice sufrir por todo lo que pasé. Nadie de ustedes se lo
merecía”. Los tres hemos sufrido aquí en la casa y él allá. Entonces, por esa razón él siempre quiso que nunca le dijéramos a mi
niño pequeño porque no quiere que tenga esa imagen de él. Porque para mi niño pequeño, él es su héroe. Entonces, decía:
“Apá dónde está mi hermano, ya quiero que llegue. Ve y tráelo”. “Todavía no puedo”. Él sabía que mamá estaba rezando y
rezando, haciendo Misas y todo eso para él. Se lo quitamos de las manos del maligno, de verdad. Gracias a Dios, ya tenemos al
muchachito que teníamos antes que cayera allí en detención.
¿Cómo se sintió usted cuando se enteró que su hijo estaba recibiendo visitas de los diáconos?
Le dije a M: “Dios te mandó a esa persona. Qué gusto me da, que emoción me da, gracias a Dios”. Entonces, me sentí más
bendecida cuando entró esta tormenta, me sentía con paz a la misma vez porque sabía que no estaba solo, que él estaba allí
con él. Y luego cuando tuvimos corte cuando vino el diácono, también estaba allí presente. Dijo: “Dime cuando tengas corte y
voy a estar ahí. Me avisas”. Le dije okay, está muy bien. Lo que más me gustó es que M estaba leyendo la Biblia. Le pregunté si
le estaban dando la hostia y me dijo: “Sí. Me la van a traer”. Le contesté: “Eso es algo maravilloso que hagan eso aunque estés
aquí encerrado, pero es porque tú tomaste esa decisión, nadie más. Es algo a la misma vez como Dios te está diciendo que Él
está contigo, que no estás solo y es un momento también para que tú reflexiones”. Entonces me sentí muy feliz muy contenta y
siempre estamos en contacto. Siempre le pedíamos al diácono Dan Gilbert que lo pusiera en sus oraciones. También nosotros
rezamos por él. Dentro de todo, de lo difícil, no sentía que estábamos abandonados. Fue bonito.
Por eso yo creo que le sirvió mucho estar más cerca a Dios, a estar más fuerte. Ahora está leyendo su Biblia porque cuando va
a su cuarto veo que tiene un libro y es la Biblia. Una vez, se la regaló el diácono. Tiene otro libro que yo le di de la iglesia y allí
está leyendo los libros. Tenemos una imagen de la Virgen María y él no sale de la casa sino antes persignarse. Cuando llega,
igual, se persigna. Yo también creo que ella estuvo cubriendo a su hijo porque nunca pasó algo feo. Aparte cuando estaba
adentro se estaba portando bien porque me decían que no se estaba peleando, se estaba portando bien. Y yo dije ojalá esto le
haya servido de experiencia. Cuando estaba allá dentro, sí fue otra persona. Pero gracias a Dios, definitivamente que Dios fue
el que arregló todo para que saliera pronto.
¿Cómo se sintió usted cuando M se estaba confirmando?
Estuve rezando. Decía: “Dios mío, en el nombre de mi hijo te agradezco porque está recibiendo la Confirmación y el nombre
de él te pongo a todos los jóvenes del mundo que en este momento, o en esta temporada, están haciendo este Sacramento
divino de la Confirmación. Derrama tu Espíritu Santo por favor sobre él y sobre todos. Tócales su corazón para que vuelvan
ellos al buen camino y estén contigo y no los desampares, y siempre estés protegiéndolos”. Fue algo muy bonito. Dijo: “Sentí
mucha paz, me sentí liberado. Me sentí que tenía muchas cargas y como que sentí súper relajado. Sí lo pude sentir”.
La perspectiva de una madre Una conversación con la madre de M
(Continuado en la página 4)
4
La perspectiva de una madre-continuada
¿Y cómo se siente usted?
Muy feliz, muy contenta. Para mí, si mis hijos están bien, están felices como que si están sanos claro que siento contenta y
realizada. Como misión cumplida. Cumplí mi misión. Pero siempre íbamos a verlo los dos. Como al 80% de las veces íbamos
los dos. Y veía que allá, muchas veces no iban los papás. Ahí estaba el pobre niño que salía y no iban los papás a visitarlo o a
veces no más iba la mamá, no iba el papá.
¿Qué mensaje le daría a los padres que están pasando momentos difíciles con sus hijos?
Primero que nada, que sea como sean sus hijos, como se estén portando, no por eso ya los dejaron de querer. Como quieran
lo sigan queriendo, los sigan amando. Y aunque sea muy difícil estar, yo sé que es difícil estar lidiando con esa situación pero no
hay imposible. Que se acuerden de todos los momentos bonitos que pasaron y que se acuerden de que es su hijo. Un hijo es
algo valioso, es un tesoro, es un diamante. Y aparte que somos nada más papás como adoptivos, el papá en realidad es Dios y
Dios me va a preguntar: “¿Qué hiciste? No más pasó un temblorcito y ¿ya te caíste? ¿Llegaste a perder?”. Debe ser uno muy
fuerte y tomarse de la mano de Dios y siempre estar implorando, orando, de rodillas, con su esposo, estar los dos juntos,
tomar decisiones juntos para darles un buen ejemplo a ellos. Hablarles de la religión, que Dios los ama. No estén en depresión,
que ellos también nos aman. Y que si no son cariñosos, que sean cariñosos porque si los empieza uno con el regaño, con el
maltrato entonces ellos se lavan las manos, dicen: “Ah, okay pues me estás tratando mal entonces mejor me voy con mis
amigos a fumar, a tomar. Ellos sí me quieren. Ellos sí me escuchan y tú no. Tu te la pasas regañándome”. En cambio, cuando
ellos llegan, tú los recibas de buena manera. Es difícil pero lo viví, pero esa estrategia me ayudó. Entonces lo abrazaba, lo
besaba y le decía, “Qué bueno que llegaste a la casa. Te quiero mucho. Te amo mucho”. Expresarles uno sus sentimientos
porque uno los quiere porque son los papás. Como todo lo que le he enseñado de chiquito a caminar, a andar en bicicleta, a
nadar, todo eso son experiencias de vida que no se pueden olvidar. Y ¿quién les va a ayudar si no son los papás? La mamá o el
papá. Sea madre soltera o papá soltero o si son los dos juntos, pues con más razón. Los dos sacar al hijo adelante. Pero no
estar enojados con él sino guiarlos, ya si tú los recibes de buena manera al hijo a pesar que está en esa situación, decirle
solamente: “Okay yo no creo que esa es la manera en que tú debes estar actuando. A mí me gustaría que te portaras de otra
manera porque si tú estás haciendo eso, el que mal actúa, mal le va a ir. Va a pagar esas consecuencias y tú vas a sufrir y
nosotros vamos a sufrir también”. Y años que van viendo, dicen: “¿Por qué yo estoy actuando mal y mis papás me están
recibiendo bien? Están hablando bien conmigo, entonces mejor yo debo de cambiar porque ellos no están mal. Yo soy el que
estoy mal”. Que sientan más aceptados en la casa.
Siempre estar cerca de Dios y tener muchísima comunicación porque también entran en esa etapa de depresión, que no los
entienden nadie. Siempre estar en comunicación. Integrarse en sus vidas. Estar al pendiente de ellos. Yo sé que el trabajo es
importante, pero estar al pendiente de ellos. Hacer actividades con ellos. Eso es muy importante también. Que se den cuenta
que son importantes para uno como padre. Que no se desesperen, que es difícil pero es un proceso. Que hay luz al final del
túnel.
5
A Mother’s Perspective
A Conversation with M’s Mother
What positive changes did you see in your son when he returned home?
It was a lot of changes, I saw him mature. Mature in his adolescence. He was talking like a young man, a boy who valued life
more and also valued himself more and values his family more. His way of talking, how he expresses himself, and also the way
he acts. He also got closer to God. He reads the Bible more, he wanted to continue in his Confirmation process and he
completed his Sacrament of Confirmation, so he grew in many ways. He grew in a personal way because he finished High
School, he graduated, and now he is going to start college and study to be a doctor because he says he also wants to help
people, like the ones in his hands, help others. I think that is where it made him react and reflect, being there in detention.
Value life and value a different way. In every way, in a personal way, spiritual, and exercise. He exercises when he’s working.
And he shows he is responsible, because he isn’t just in the house he also works. And he helps with house activities as well. He
helps more.
Another thing that I also liked a lot, that he asked us for forgiveness. He told me, “I hadn’t told you, I want you to forgive me. I
want to ask forgiveness from my dad and my brother because it wasn’t the way that I should have acted, but I did it. I am very
sorry. You deserve the best. You don’t deserve how much I made you suffer through everything. None of you deserved it.”
The three of us have suffered here at home and he over there. So, for that reason he never wanted us to tell my youngest son
because he didn’t want him to have that image of him. Because for my youngest, he is his hero. He would say, “Daddy, where
is my brother? I want him to be here. Go and bring him.” “I still can’t do that.” He knew that mom was praying and praying,
having Masses and all that for him. We took him from the hands of the evil one, really. Thank God we have our little boy back
that we had before he landed in detention.
How did you feel when you found out that your son was being visited by the deacons?
I told M, “God sent you that person. I am so happy, I’m very excited, thank God.” Then, I felt more blessed when this storm
started, I felt peace at the same time because I knew he wasn’t alone, that he was there with him. Then when we had court
when the deacon came, he was there too. He said, “Tell me when you have court and I will be there. Let me know.” I told him,
okay, of course. What I liked most was that M was reading the Bible. I asked him if they were giving him the Eucharist and he
said, “They are going to bring it to me.” I answered, “That is something marvelous, that they do that even though you are
locked up but it is because you made that decision, no one else. It’s something that at the same time God is telling you that He
is with you, that you are not alone and that it is also a time for you to reflect.” So then I felt very happy and pleased and we
are always in contact. We would always ask Deacon Dan Gilbert to have him in his prayers. We would also pray for him.
Through it all, through the difficulties, I didn’t feel that we were abandoned. It was nice.
That is why I think it helped him a lot to be closer to God, to be stronger. Now he is reading his Bible because when he goes
to his room, I see that he has a book and it is the Bible. One time the deacon gave it to him. He has another book that I gave
him from church and he is there reading the books. We have an image of the Virgen Mary and he does not leave the house
without first making the sign of the cross on himself. When he gets home, he does the same, he makes the sign of the cross on
himself. I also think that she was covering her son because nothing bad ever happened. When he was in the detention center
he was behaving himself because they would tell me that he wasn’t fighting, he was behaving. And I told him that hopefully this
has been an experience for him. When he was there, he was another person. But thanks be to God, it definitely was God that
arranged everything so he would get out quickly.
How did you feel when M was being confirmed?
I was praying. I was saying, “My God, in the name of my son I thank you because he is receiving his Confirmation and in his
name I put all of the young people in the world that are at this moment, or this season, doing this holy Sacrament of
Confirmation. Please pour out your Holy Spirit over him and everyone. Touch their hearts so that they return to the right
path and do not abandon them, and always protect them.” It was something very beautiful. He said, “I felt a lot of peace, I felt
free. I felt that I had a lot of burdens and then I felt very relaxed. I was able to feel it.”
(Continued on page 6)
6
A Mother’s Perspective-Continued
And how do you feel?
Very happy, very pleased. For me, if my children are doing well, if they are happy, if they’re healthy, of course I feel happy and
fulfilled. Like, mission accomplished. I accomplished my mission. But we would always go see him together. Like 80% of the
time, we would both go. And I would see that a lot of times the parents would not go there. There was the poor child that
would come out and his parents wouldn’t go visit him or sometimes only the mom would go, the dad wouldn’t go.
What message do you have for parents who are going through difficulties with their kids?
First of all, however your kids may be, how they are acting, not because of that will you stop loving them. Whatever happens,
keep loving them. And although it is very difficult to, I know it is difficult to deal with that situation but there isn’t anything
impossible. Remember all of the good times you all went through and remember that he is your child. A child is something
very valuable, a treasure, a diamond. And although we are only adoptive parents, in reality the father is God and God is going
to ask, “What did you do? There was a little tremor and you fell? You lost?” One has to be very strong and take the hand of
God and always be begging, praying, on your knees, with your husband, be both together, make decisions together to give
them a good example. Talk to them about religion, that God loves them. Don’t be depressed, they also love us. And if you’re
not affectionate, be affectionate because if one starts them off with scolding, with mistreatment, they wash their hands of it and
say, “Oh, okay well you are treating me bad so I’m going to go with my friends to smoke, to drink. They love me. They listen
to me and you don’t. You’re always scolding me.” However, when they get home, you welcome them in a warm way. It’s hard
but I lived it, but that strategy helped me. So I would hug him, I would kiss him, and I would tell him, “I’m so glad you came
home. I love you. I love you very much.” Express to them your feelings because we love them because we are their parents.
Like everything you have taught them as children like walking, riding a bike, swimming, all of that are life experiences that can’t
be forgotten. And who is going to help them if not their parents? The mom or the dad. Whether it be a single mom or single
dad or if they are together, even better. Both of them help to give their children a good life. But to not be mad at them, but to
guide them, now if you welcome your child in a warm way even though they’re in that situation, just tell them, “Okay, I don’t
think that is the way you should be behaving. I would like for you to behave in a different way because if you are doing that, if
you act bad, there will be bad consequences. You are going to pay the consequences and you are going to suffer and we are
also going to suffer.” And as the years go by, they will say, “Why am I acting up and my parents are treating me well? They are
talking to me nicely, so maybe I should change because they aren’t wrong. I’m the one who’s wrong.” Let them feel more
accepted at home.
Always be close to God and have a lot of communication because they also get depressed, that no one understands them.
Always have communication. Be a part of their life. Take care of them. I know work is important, but keep an eye on them. Do
activities with them. That is also very important. Let them realize that they are important for us as parents. Don’t give up, it’s
difficult but it’s a process. There is light at the end of the tunnel.
7
Delores Gibson, JJC
A Volunteer’s Perspective
Delores Gibson, JJC
I am an SYS Bible Study volunteer at the JJC. Unfortunately, we have not been able to make our weekly Wednesday evening
visits since March. It is such a rewarding experience to meet with the youth and to bring God to them through His word in
the Bible. I miss being able to explain how to pray, how to understand the Bible, and encourage them to make prayers and
Bible study a part of the lives of the youth at the JJC. I miss being able to bring the message of God’s unconditional love for
each and every one of us and the message of God’s forgiveness to the young people. I miss the opportunity to encourage
them in their future endeavors to change their lives into the best life that they can have.
Every day I pray for the youth whom I have met in the past at the JJC. I pray for the JJC staff and the SYS folks. I also pray
for the youth who are there now whom I have not had the opportunity to meet yet.
I attended the SYS Saintly Saturday event and really enjoyed it. I was touched and inspired by Fr. Agustino and “Big Cease”
and their presentations and talks. These men are truly men of God and I hope that their messages touched the hearts of the
youth who attended with us.
I would encourage all of the youth who are being detained to spend some time every day connecting with God through
prayer and Bible readings. I also encourage them to help each other when an opportunity arises to help/serve their brothers/
sisters, for it is in giving that we receive, for we are called to serve one another.
God bless us all,
Delores
Soy una voluntaria de estudio bíblico en JJC. Desafortunadamente, no hemos podido hacer nuestras visitas semanales los
miércoles desde marzo. Es una experiencia tan gratificante el poder convivir con los jóvenes y traerles a Dios por medio de
Su palabra en la Biblia. Extraño poder explicar cómo orar, cómo entender la Biblia y animarlos a hacer las oraciones y el
estudio bíblico parte de su vida a los jóvenes de JJC. Extraño poder llevar el mensaje de Dios de Su amor incondicional para
cada uno de nosotros y el mensaje del perdón de Dios a los jóvenes. Extraño la oportunidad de animarlos en sus planes para
el futuro para cambiar sus vidas a la mejor vida posible que puedan tener.
Cada día yo oro por los jóvenes a quienes he conocido en el pasado en JJC. Oro por el personal de JJC y los de SYS.
También oro por los jóvenes que están allí que todavía no he tenido la oportunidad de conocer.
Asistí al evento Saintly Saturday de SYS y me gustó mucho. Me conmoví y me sentí inspirada por el padre Agustino y “Big
Cease” y sus presentaciones y charlas. Esos hombres son verdaderos hombres de Dios y espero que sus mensajes tocaron
los corazones de los jóvenes que asistieron con nosotros.
Animaría a todos los jóvenes que se encuentran detenidos a pasar tiempo todos los días conectándose a Dios por medio de
la oración y las lecturas de la Biblia. También los animo a que se ayuden el uno al otro cuando se presenta una oportunidad
para ayudar/servir a sus hermanos, porque es por medio del dar que recibimos, porque estamos llamados a servirnos el uno
al otro.
Que Dios nos bendiga a todos,
Delores
La perspectiva de un voluntario
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Saintly Saturday “From Sinner to Saint”
SYS continues to stay busy throughout 2020 and our yearly Saintly
Saturday was no exception. We knew that we had to find a way to
still have this event for the kids amid the obstacles of not being
physically present, so we hosted our first Virtual Saintly Saturday.
Using Zoom Webinar allowed us to be present to the kids without
seeing them, which is in compliance with the county’s privacy
policies. Not only were we at one facility, but at two! We were
broadcasting to both Leadership Academy in Katy and BBRC in
Southwest Houston.
We had another amazing line up this year. Deacon Mike Krall
started the day with an opening prayer and the volunteers made a
quick appearance to say hi to the kids. Although Cardinal DiNardo
could not join us this year due to the visitation restrictions, he did
write a heartfelt letter to the kids that was read to them and later
given a copy. Our first guest speaker was Fr. Agustino Torres, CFR
from Corazón Puro in the Bronx, New York City. His message
focused on our theme of “From Sinner to Saint”, sharing about St.
Francis’s conversion while he was in jail and Luke 5:31-32, which
tells us that Christ came to save sinners. Our second guest speaker
was a SYS volunteer, César Lozano. Big Cease, his stage name, used
to be a secular rapper and now makes Christian music. He shared a
couple of his music videos, his conversion story, and how God truly
turned his life around. The second half of the day provided time for
reflection. We shared a “Letter from Satan”, followed by the
“Everything” skit, and then “A Letter from God.” The kids watched
these videos and also received copies of the letters. We topped the
event off with pizza for everyone and our traditional Hope Bags,
with letters written by Leadership Academy volunteers and
students from St. Francis de Sales Catholic School.
We continue to adapt to the new way of doing things and we
enjoyed being able to reach out to two facilities at once this year.
We thank all of our volunteers who joined us and provided snacks
and letters. We send a special thanks to the staff of Leadership and
BBRC for all the work they put in to setting up, practicing with us,
and making sure the day ran smoothly.
Volunteers saying hi to the kids
Fr. Agustino Torres praying over the youth
Big Cease sharing his story
Cover of the letters for youth from St. Francis de Sales
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Please pray for the class of 2021, which will be ordained on January 29 & 30. Among the candidates are four
SYS volunteers: Fritz Claydon, John Kyle, Paul Nguyen, and David Djezierski. We pray that they may have the
experience of receiving this Sacrament of Holy Orders fully and safely.
Clergy Corner
It’s that time of the year! Every December SYS and our Christian ministry friends get together to host a Christmas Party at
JJC. We will still have the festivities this year, but because of COVID restrictions, we will have a virtual event. Because it will
be virtual, we will be broadcasting to JJC, BBRC, and Leadership Academy! We are looking forward to an afternoon of food,
fun, and virtual connection. Please pray that this event bring joy to the youth this holiday season.
SYS will host its second annual Christmas Card Contest this year in Harris, Fort Bend, and Galveston Counties. The winning
artists (one per facility) will receive a restaurant gift card to use when they go home, a treat to eat at the facility, and their
design will be featured on the cover of the Christmas card we distribute to our friends in that county.
Leadership Academy held their annual pumpkin painting contest this past October. The youth expressed their creativity on
pumpkins donated by SYS. The facility staff does a wonderful job coming up with and leading activities for the youth to pass the
time. Check out some of the entries below.
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SYS Angels Special Youth Services would like to thank another group of angels that have blessed us these past few months. We thank
them for strengthening the ministry and for extending their kindness to the youth we serve: the volunteers from Leadership
Academy who generously donated their treasures and snacks for Saintly Saturday; Fr. Agustino and César “Big Cease”
Lozano for donating their time to the event; and to Norson Fernández and the students at St. Francis de Sales Catholic
School for reaching out to us again this year to write letters to our youth.
Would your group like to reach out to SYS youth? Please contact us at [email protected] or (713) 741-8739.
SYS sends our biggest congratulations to Jennifer Hunley (Leadership
Academy) and Rosalind Carter (Youth Village) for their new positions as
Facility Administrators. We wish them all the best and look forward to
our continued collaboration.
This Sunday, November 29 is the first day of Advent in the Church. Not only does this day mark a new year on our liturgical
calendar (we start Year B, dedicated to the Gospel of St. Mark), but it begins the time we wait for the birth of our Savior
Jesus Christ. It seems as if we have been in an advent since March. Many of us have been confined to our homes on a daily
basis and we all have been waiting for the “good news” of an effective vaccine, an end to social distancing, and the ability to
return to Mass. We have been waiting and continue to wait, not knowing when this will all end. As Christians, we also do not
know when the second arrival of Christ will come, but we have already received our Good News: Christ has died, Christ has
risen, Christ will come again! We know He will return and we await Him with longing hearts. This Advent and Christmas
seasons, let that be our focus. Longing for Christ. Longing for His comfort. Longing for His
arrival. As we light our Advent candles, put up our Christmas tree, and set out our Nativity
scenes, may we remember that the Good News is greater than any “good news” we receive.
We are mercifully loved by a Father and selflessly saved by a Son, who in return ask us to love
them with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind and to love our neighbor as
ourselves (Matthew 22: 34-40). Happy Advent and Merry Christmas.
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Correctional Ministries for Adults
This office offers pastoral care for adult Catholics who
find themselves incarcerated in the 26 state prisons,
10 county jails, one federal facility, INS detention and
numerous city jails within the boundaries of the Arch-
diocese. For more information, or if you would like
to volunteer, visit www.archgh.org or call
(713) 741-8732.
Ministerio Penal para Adultos
Esta oficina ofrece cuidado pastoral a adultos católicos
quienes se encuentran encarcelados en las 26 prisiones
estatales, 10 cárceles del condado, una instalación fe-
deral, detención migratoria, y numerosas cárceles de la
ciudad dentro de los límites de la Arquidiócesis. Para
más información o si le gustaría ser voluntario, visita
“Venerable Augustus Tolton is a remarkable example of a man who overcame great odds and institutional racism to
become a priest. Fr. Augustus Tolton is one of six Black Americans, including Julia Greeley, Thea Bowman and Pierre
Toussaint, who are on the path towards officially being recognized as saints in the Roman Catholic Church. Fr. Augustus
does not yet have an official feast day, so he is featured today in celebration of Black History Month.
Augustus was born to Catholic parents in 1854 in Missouri, which was then a slave state. During the Civil War,
Augustus' father escaped into the Union Army and fought for freedom. Augustus' mother fled with her children,
crossing the Mississippi River into Illinois, which was a free state.
Augustus and his family settled in Quincy, Illinois, which had a substantial Catholic population. Fr. Peter McGirr, an Irish
priest enrolled Augustus in the local Catholic school during the winter. Even in this abolitionist town, many of the
parishioners objected to Fr. McGirr's inclusion of a black child in the predominantly white school. Fr. McGirr and Augustus were undeterred, however,
and Fr. McGirr instructed Augustus at the school and tutored him individually, preparing him for seminary.
With McGirr's support, Augustus studied at the Franciscan Quincy University. He was rejected from every American seminary. But Augustus worked at
becoming fluent in Italian and attended the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome. In Rome, Augustus was finally ordained a priest in 1886, when he was
thirty-one. His first Mass was said at St. Peter's Basilica on Easter Sunday 1886. Augustus expected to be sent to Africa, but he was sent back to America,
to his hometown of Quincy.
Soon, Fr. Augustus was sent to Chicago, where he developed the "national parish" of Black American Catholics, St. Monica's Catholic Church, on the
South Side of Chicago. St. Katherine Drexel was one of the philanthropists who contributed to its construction. From thirty founding parishioners, in
1889, who met before the church even had its own building, St. Monica's grew rapidly after its opening in 1891 to a bustling urban church with over 600
parishioners. On July 8, 1897, at the young age of forty-three, Fr. Augustus collapsed and died as a result of the Chicago heat wave. Fr. Augustus was
lovingly buried in the priest's lot of St. Peter's, back in his hometown of Quincy.
In 2010, Cardinal Francis George of Chicago announced that he was beginning an official process to open Tolton's cause for canonization. On February
13, 2012, the Sacred Congregation for the Causes of Saints granted Tolton the title "Servant of God." On June 12, 2019 Pope Francis advanced his cause
with a "Decree of Heroic Virtue," granting him the title of "Venerable." The next step in his canonization would be beatification, which would grant him
the title of "Blessed."
For a full biography of Tolton and a timeline of his cause for canonization, please visit the Archdiocese of Chicago website https://tolton.archchicago.org/.
Venerable Augustus Tolton, the first black Roman Catholic priest of the United States—pray for us!”
“The harvest is plentiful, laborers are few” Luke 10:2
SYS would like to thank you all for your continued support to this ministry. We welcome all
to share this newsletter with anyone who might have an interest and to share with us if you
would like to see something in the Oratorio. If you know someone who may be interested
in becoming a volunteer with SYS, please contact our office at: [email protected] or
