National Meeting of Young Catholics of Switzerland (2004)
Address of John Paul II

Youth 2000:

The Youth 2000 Team of Chicago is hosting Holy Hours (a Eucharist-centered prayer service), to help youth and young adults grow in their faith and spiritual lives through an encounter with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. These evenings will feature dynamic and inspiring music (like at the Youth 2000 Retreat), Scripture readings, reflections, and prayer. Pizza, conversation and fun will follow! We especially invite and welcome teens, college students and young adults who are looking for hope, healing, guidance and strength in their complex lives, but anyone is welcome to attend!

Holy Hours are held from 6 – 7 p.m., and are followed by pizza, discussion & fun activities until 8:30 pm on the following Sundays:

Jan. 13
Feb. 10
March 9

Holy Hours will be held in the 2nd floor chapel of St. Benedict School. St. Benedict is located at 2215 W. Irving Park Rd. in Chicago. Contact Fr. Steven Bauer at
773-588-6484 or FrSteve@StBenedict.com for more information.

A Youth 2000 Retreat will be held Feb. 29-March 2, 2008 at St. Benedict's Parish in Chicago. Click on either of the files below for more information.

"Info - English"
"Info - Spanish"

Here I Am Lord:

"Here I Am Lord" is a Vocations Conference to be held October 10-12, 2008, at Our Lady of Victory Parish in Chicago. The goal of Here I Am Lord is to bring teens and young adults together to learn and experience the beauty and joy of all Christian Vocations. Click on the files below for more information.

"About Here I Am Lord Conferences"
"Here I Am Lord in Chicago"

Andrew Dinners:

This opportunity consists of dinner, evening prayer, informal conversations and the sharing of vocation stories with priests, an auxiliary Bishop, and those men who are interested in the priesthood. Scheduled Andrew Dinners are as follows:

Spend a day “as a seminarian” attending class, praying with the community, sharing meals together, and joining in our community Mass can be very helpful for discernment. You are encouraged to consider joining us this upcoming year. Contact Fr. Chris Ciomek at 847-970-4841 or e-mail him if interested.

Exploring Priesthood Weekend

Discernment weekends are hosted by Mundelein Seminary on the following dates:

October 10-12, 2008
January 16-18, 2009
March 20-22, 2009

These weekends will feature presentations on:

• Practical steps in discerning one's vocation
• Becoming more fully a disciple of Jesus Christ
• Vocational journeys of priests & how they came to understand God's call
• Prayer opportunities including the celebration of the Eucharist and Night Prayer
• Seminarian-led presentation on what life is like in a seminary, including its main components: academic, human, spiritual, and pastoral formation
• Additional opportunities to talk with seminarians candidly about their lives and vocations

We encourage men to make full use of the Weekend by asking questions, visiting our chapels for prayer and meditation, and utilizing the recreational facilities (gymnasium, pool, racquetball courts, weight room, lake, wooded paths) and by listening more closely to the voice of God speaking to their hearts.

Exploring Priesthood Weekends are held at Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois, about 40 miles north of downtown Chicago. Mundelein Seminary is easily accessible by car or train (Metra Milwaukee District North Line). Transportation is also available to and from O'Hare Airport. The address is 1000 East Maple Avenue, Mundelein, IL 60060 and phone number is 847-970-4814.

You can obtain further information or make a reservation by contacting Fr. Joe Noonan at 312-751-8298, jnoonan@archchicago.org.

If you will be studying for a diocese other than Chicago, please contact your diocesan Vocation Director. There is no fee for the Weekend, and dress is casual.