"Stuffed with Love" Project
01/10/09 by Terri
On Monday, December 22nd, St. Cecilia's teens participated in the
First Annual "Stuffed with Love" project. The weather was horrible, the roads almost impassable
and yet 44 high school students from St. Cecilia's and St. Joseph's in Camillus waited at Carousel
Mall at 8:30 am. Not to be the first in line for Best Buy or to get the latest electronic gadget,
but to meet 44 1st graders from Seymour Elementary School. The children arrived, driven
by the Santa Bus from Centro, and we all converged on Build-A-Bear. Each high school
student paid for a child to pick out a bear, stuff it and fill it with love. It was just
the most fun we have had in a long time. The children were paired up one-on-one with a
high school student, friends were made and hugs were given all around. The teachers from
Seymour were in tears, they said it was the best field trip ever. The children were just
so happy. They had cupcakes, colored pictures with each other, rode the Carousel and
spent a wonderful morning together. We hope to do more activities with the youth from
St. Joseph's, new friends were made there too! All-in-all, it was a joyous holiday, one
the young teens from our parish will not forget.
Born March 17, 1953
Ordained October 25, 1980
Entered into Eternal Peace
November 26, 2008
Thanksgiving is a time when we thank God for all our blessings. This Thanksgiving was saddened for so many
of us from St. Cecilia's with the passing of our dear friend and former Associate Pastor, Msgr. Michael P. Minehan,
know to all of us as "Father Mike".
For me, personally, this sudden news was devastating. Father Mike was the reason that I took a job here at
St. Cecilia's. He talked me into working part-time at the rectory and then into signing up for the Formation
For Ministry program in which I studied to become a Youth Minister. He was a personal friend of my family and
introduced Keith and I to Mike and Donna Alberts, who became lifelong friends of ours. Father Mike attended
every youth activity that the CYO planned and was even known to hear confessions on the Ranger ride at
Darien Lake. At a time when there is a shortage of priests, losing a young priest at the age of 55 is so
hard to understand. Donna Alberts and I attended his funeral in Binghamton and there were chartered busses
in the lot and over 100 priests in attendance. Bishop Moynihan and Bishop Costello concelebrated along with
several of Father Mike's dearest friends. Father Carey gave the homily at the vigil for Priests and
Father Chryst spoke at his funeral. There was standing room only; it was a liturgy of love for
someone who will be missed dearly. Please pray for his sister Mary Jo and his two nephews and nieces.
Mary Jo lost her father within the year and her mother several years ago. At Thanksgiving we do
remember all our blessings, Father Mike was a blessing to the community of St. Cecilia's, we loved
him dearly.
Terri Condon
Youth Minister
Retreat at Stella Maris, Skaneateles
11/28/08 by Terri
On November 16th, our Confirmation 1 candidates went on retreat at Stella
Maris in Skaneateles. The Sunday retreat started with a Mass of Commitment at
St. Cecilia's and then we traveled by bus to Stella Maris. We had 14 Peer
Ministers who also attended and helped to facilitate the retreat. The retreat
focused our how we view ourselves and how God views us. The candidates and
peer ministers came up with very creative
posters depicting our body as a temple:
our foundation, our support, our protection from the elements and naming the
harsh elements that attack our character. It was a great afternoon spent with
friends and sharing our beliefs. A great thank you to our teachers and peer
ministers whose commitment is unsurpassed.
