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A game night at Holy Mother and Child parish in Corinth/Lake Luzerne in February was well-attended and, religious education administrator ALEX GHENT noted, promoted POPE FRANCIS' emphasis on the family. A March game night was planned. Also, the parish's Bethany Guild will award a college scholarship to a young parishioner in the spring.... Blessed Sacrament parish in Albany asked parishioners to take flyers and lawn signs on an open house at the parish school to display at home or distribute wherever possible as a way of promoting the school....

Habitat for Humanity mission trip delegates at St. Kateri Tekakwitha parish in Schenectady hosted an underwater-themed family fun night fundraiser in the school gym, with games, a showing of the movie "Finding Nemo," a bake sale, raffles and all-you-can-eat popcorn....

All Saints Catholic Academy in Albany published a "top 10" list by eighth-graders of why they like their grade: 1. Everyone is so nice, helpful and grateful to be here; 2. Classes are small and you can get extra help from your teacher if you need it; 3. I like my friends (classmates); they are all very welcoming and friendly; 4. I like Spirit Days; we help people in need by giving food or money while dressing up; 5. We go on an end-of-the-year class field trip; 6. The teachers and principal care about me and treat me as if I was their own; 7. I love knowing that the education I'm getting is the best; 8. I like having Mass while in school and having religion; it helps us connect with God better; 9. Everyone is treated equally and fairly; and 10. ASCA offers programs such as sports and activities that involve giving to those in need in the community.

Fifth-graders, for their part, listed why they like their grade: 1. My teachers come up with really fun ideas; 2. Everyone here is my family; 3. I like science class because I enjoy learning how the world works; 4. I like Mass because the school gets together and prays; 5. My friends are great people and we work as one; 6. I like recess because we get to have fun; 7. I enjoy the places we go on field trips; 8. Student Council is a way to say kids' own ideas; 9. I like half days, because we squish all the days classes into half a day; and 10. I love the kindness I have been shown from the community.

ASCA students participated in their first-ever Jump Rope for Heart campaign, raising $1,661 and learning to keep their hearts healthy as they jumped rope in gym class. Third-grade teacher MR. MCGRATH organized the campaign.... At All Saints parish in Albany, six Girl Scouts -- SOFIA CANNISTRACI, MINA KAHN, ANTONELLA MARANDO, ANGELINA REISH, VICTORIA ROLLINS and JESSICA HELOU-TOPINI -- earned "family of God" religious medals. They wrote about their place in the family of God, interviewed family members and talked about family and Church traditions and the importance of God and family....

Youth and adults at Our Lady of Fatima parish in Delanson who missed recent "GIFT" intergenerational faith formation sessions can check out an E-kit available monthly on the parish website. It includes videos, songs, stories and more (see the faith formation link at www.rcda.org/churches/OurLadyOfFatima)....

The youth ministry at St. Edward's parish in Clifton Park held a workshop called "Tweet This" recently. "How many followers do you have? What sites do you troll? Does any of it matter?" noted the announcement of the workshop on social media for middle-schoolers and high-schoolers.

Parishioners raised $2,204 for Ronald McDonald House in Albany to help families of seriously ill children; the money will fund 10 additional beds at RMH...

The youth ministry at Our Lady of Grace parish in Ballston Lake has a new website: olgsjym.org. St. Joseph's in Scotia and Our Lady of Grace are holding a Rice Bowl picture contest during Lent, with prizes going to youths who take creative pictures of their Rice Bowl donation containers and collect the most money. They can post photos to the youth ministry's social media sites....

Young adults TIFFANY CARPENTER, JON CSONTOS and SAM HOTALING of St. Margaret of Cortona Church in Rotterdam Junction, a mission of St. Joseph's parish in Schenectady, met with DEACON AL MANZELLA and faith formation coordinator MARIE BOROWSKI to discuss why some young adults are not coming to Mass. Ideas included: "[The late pastor] FATHER HOGAN, had a wonderful way of reaching out to them and sharing his faith; he is missed....Society does not value religion; religion is low on the list of priorities....Some of the young adults' friends may have been victims of child abuse....The parish website needs updating."

"Our goal was to discover ways of encouraging more young adults to attend Mass," the bulletin noted. "Please pray for the young adults in our community and when you see them at Mass make an effort to make them feel welcomed."[[In-content Ad]]

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