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Hi my name is Deborah Lynn Scott, but I go by Debbie. Born, April 6, 1961 to Leo and Joan Rose in Ottawa, but raised along with my 3 brothers here in Oshawa. Second oldest in our small clan. Met then later married my John 30 years ago this July and we have been blessed with two beautiful daughters, Jennifer Lynn and Tara Ann, not to mention our sweet and good natured puppy Phoebe who is now four. This past August we became grand-parents to Jaxon Scott Pollard. What a wonderful blessing he is to us all and I am loving this Nana thing. I have been a member of the Holy Family Associates in Oshawa, with the Toronto group, for the past 14, spiritually enhanced, years. I have also been involved in Youth Ministry for the same at St. Joseph The Worker Parish. How or why does one go about becoming involved in youth ministry? Well, for me it was because I wanted to help our daughters, whom at the time were 13 and 12 years old, go through the teen years with love of self, love of God, love of neighbour and community, but mainly to keep them off the streets and keep them from hanging with the wrong crowd. So when Fr. Norbert Gignac, then Pastor of St. Joseph's, decided it was time to create a Youth Group at our parish I was immediately interested. Throughout the years the parish has supported and encouraged me to take the necessary courses and as they say the rest is history. At the time I was a full time day care provider in my home but these days youth ministry is my full time ministry along with my family. Our youth group gathers weekly, most Tuesday evenings, in the parish hall. We provide a spiritually warm and caring environment where youth can gather, express their views, join in activities, participate in community service and experience spiritual growth in a positive and safe environment. We strive to lead our youth closer to God by connecting them to other Catholics, by worshiping God with them, especially in the Mass, by equipping them to grow in their faith, and be empowering them to serve others. This is our goal, our mission statement, but sometimes the youth have other ideas and although we do have an agenda for most get-togethers we rarely get through one. Lots of laughs, good times, some tears, lots of good memories and close friendships. One of our biggest claim to fame, you might say is our World Youth Days. I have had the honour of organizing and participating along with approximately 80 youth from our parish community to pilgrimage to the past 5 World Youth Days. In 1997, Paris, we sponsored 9 pilgrims, in 2000, Rome, 19 young adults, in 2002, Toronto 40 (the final WYD with our beloved Pope John Paul II), 2005, Germany 23 amazing young people with Pope Benedict XVI for the first time and this past July in Australia, 6 of us. AWESOME ! I believe it is vital for all young adults to experience at least one WYD to enhance their faith journey and I do my best to make sure all who wish to participate do. About four years ago I had an idea to bring the wisdom, love and caring qualities of the Holy Family Associates together with the enthusiasm, youth and energy of the youth group members by connecting them, but how? That's when the Prayer Partner thought came to mind. So I paired the two groups, some Associates with 2 or 3 youth prayer partners because we had so many. The Associates would pray for the youth as exams came and went, new school years, birthdays, Christmas, new friends, new experiences and in turn the youth would pray for their partners at our weekly meetings as well as in personal time. As I had the opportunity to observe both groups and through their reactions and comments time came for a get together. It is now a very anticipated event we all look forward to twice a year. At Christmas time with our Prayer Partner Pot Luck / Secret Santa and again in June with our year end Prayer Partner TEA. The youth hosts these events at St. Joseph's Parish Hall with food, drink and entertainment. It's very exciting and animating with lots of passion. The Associates sometimes juggle to keep the names of their prayer partners straight as I keep adding new youth group members to their prayer list. Both groups have benefited in countless ways to our Prayer Partner Program. It's a win, win all round. The youth move on as our children should and do to university, college, or the work place and every now and again I'll get a visit, phone call or email and they always ask how their prayer partners are doing. I believe that the Associate Program has made me a better and truer witness to my faith, has enhanced my spirit of generosity with a positive attitude and caring nature and as a whole completes me as a daughter of our Lord. I look forward to our monthly meetings and spending time with each and everyone of my Ladies. |
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