Here is text of Ralph & Amy's talk from 5 pm Mass (unfortunately I have no recording):  

Amy:
Hello, I am Amy Chestine, and this is Ralph Chestine, and we assist with the youth group. 
 
Father asked us to give an update on our United youth group and how it relates to the annual appeal, since we began a year ago one of our youth leaders, Abby Jacobo, is taking the youth minister certification classes through the archdiocese, she received a scholarship to attend a two-year program to assist our parish in helping develop our youth programs.  Without the annual Catholic appeal, the archdiocese wouldn't be able to offer that service.
 
 Later, at our planning meetings she shares what she learned with the other volunteers.  The archdiocese also holds free formation workshops and retreats for youth ministers. 
 
Our youth have attended the high school convention which is put on by the archdiocese with dynamic speakers and wonderful experiences for our youth. 
 
The archdiocese also presents many retreats and camps for the youth.  Most especially the ascend leadership camp that several of our youth attended, all of these offer financial assistance from the archdiocese. 
 
The youth have assisted with many service projects this year giving back to the community and we appreciate all the support and assistance you have given them.  
 
Through the parish survey we completed a few years ago, youth was one of the top priorities and the archdiocese recognizes this and has put many resources together to aid us.
 
We would like to ask you to help support and donate to the annual appeal for all the unseen good and support they provide individual parishes.
 

Ralph:
Good evening the 2017 annual Catholic Appeal theme is a future full of hope
 
Our future is our youth and we have hope that they will be Orthodox in their faith in their actions through the Holy Spirit and the teachings of our church.
 
We have brought together the parish communities the Spanish and English speaking youth and adults to form the United youth group.  We regularly have 30 to 40 children participating during our bimonthly catechesis.
We are using Matthew Kelly's decision point youth program augmented by resources provided by the arch diocese.
 
This week the youth are learned about The prayer process the importance of quiet during prayer and focus on our lord.
 
Our parish youth made and distributed over 240 lunches to the homeless and provided food for their pets assisting with local nonprofit Becks Place
 
The Youth have donated and gave of their time to sell desserts at the Sana show which provided money for orphanages and the Mary bloom center
 
Our youth have assisted our local Saint Vincent DePaul group to provide dinner to the parish and the homeless
 
The youth group has spent an hour in front of the blessed sacrament In adoration while also attending confession
 
I would like to remind everyone that we are always in need of adult, young or old support to assist with our youth meetings, adoration, conventions and other activities 
 
I would like to close with a prayer
 
Generous Lord, 
Create in our hearts a deep spirit of gratitude for the many blessings You have given to us. Help us to see those in our community who need our time, talent and treasures and help us to be generous. 
We ask You to bless the Annual Catholic Appeal which gathers the gifts that are offered to You and strives to fulfill the needs of so many.  We ask that you bless our youth with kind and loving hearts and minds to see the truth and to always put you first.  We ask this through Jesus the Christ our Lord and savior
Amen. 


Here is text of Abby's talk:

Good Morning,
My name is Abby Jacobo. My husband and I serve in our parishes United Youth Group. September 12 2016; a day I will never forget. This was our first youth Ministry gathering. We met in room 8. I recall being so excited but at the same time so nervous. I remember asking one of our leaders, Amy Chestine around 6:45 pm. Do you think they will show up?  How many kiddos do you think we will get? We both agreed may be 10-15. Five minutes passed, and about five kids walked in through the doors, we were so happy to greet our youth and as each minute passed the number of youth walking in room 8 increased. As I greeted youth and handed out registration forms to parents I would glimpse inside and look at other leaders standing in awe and amazement. I was just immensely overjoyed of what I was witnessing. By 7:00 our small little room was packed with 36 kids with barely any space to get around. All those nerves and anxiety I was feeling went away by looking at all these kids, their enthusiasm, their smiles, and their desire to learn was contagious.
Our Youth ministry coordinating team invested so much time, effort, dedication and energy in putting this ministry together. We had so many meetings prior to the commencement of the ministry but it was all so worth it. It never ceases to amaze me how the Holy Spirit works. How He has guided and brought resources and help when we need it.
  The archdiocese of Seattle was very instrumental in the development of St. Mary’s youth ministry. They provide formation for New Youth ministers. The formation is designed to provide reflection on relevant church documents, connections and community between those new to youth ministry, practical skills for ministry and leadership, and orientation to diocesan policies and procedures. I cannot forget to mention; this is free thanks to the Annual Catholic Appeal
We are blessed to be part of an archdiocese that cares so much for the spiritual and personal needs of our young people and one that supports youth ministers and  youth leaders in so many ways. The archdiocese brought a certification program to Seattle.  It equips leaders with the knowledge, skills, practical tools, and techniques needed for creative and comprehensive ministry with youth. I am currently achieving this certification in youth ministry studies and I am very grateful to the archdiocese of Seattle for giving me a scholarship. The financial help that I was able to receive from the archdiocese is because of the Annual Catholic Appeal.
Our youth at St. Mary of the Valley benefit from the Annual Catholic Appeal as well. We participate in events at the diocesan level such as Catholic Youth Convention, Junior High Rally, Leadership training for our youth such as Ascend, and CYO camps. The Archdiocese can put on these events for our youth thanks to the Annual Catholic Appeal. These events have contributed to spiritual and personal growth of our young people in tremendous ways. And as a minister, I am grateful for them and I am sure that many parents feel the same.
Gifts to the Annual Catholic Appeal support more than 60 ministers and services throughout  Western Washington such as Catholic Community Services, retired priests’ medical benefits, seminarians, tribunal faith formation, CYO camps, Catholic schools and much more.
Your support is essential to the mission of the church.  Together we can make a difference; together we can make an impact that touches the lives of so many through the Annual Catholic Appeal. Today, I invite you to make your pledge to the Annual Catholic Appeal. Any gifts of any amount are welcome. If you are not doing so already, please consider giving a dollar a day that is $365 a year
There are many ways to fulfill your pledge which are listed on the pledge envelopes found in the pews.
If you can’t support financially, you can support with prayers and so we ask you to fill out the envelope anyways and write down prayers..
Thank you for your time, support, and generosity                    
I would like to end with this year’s annual Catholic Appeal Theme which serves us as a beautiful reminder of the impact of community.
 
When We come together, We create a Future full of Hope
 
God bless you all

​Buenos días,
Mi nombre es Abby Jacobo. Mi esposo y yo servimos en ministerio  de Adolessentes parroquial.El  12 de Septiembre de 2016; es un día que nunca olvidaré. Esta fue nuestra primera reunión del Grupo Juvenil Unido . Nos reunimos en el salon  8. Recuerdo estar tan emocionado pero al mismo tiempo tan nerviosa. Recuerdo haber preguntado a una de nuestras líderes, Amy Chestine alrededor de las 6:45 pm. ¿Crees que vengan? ¿Cuántos adolescents crees que vayan a venir? Las dos dijimos como unos 10-15 jovenes.. Pasaron cinco minutos y unos cinco  jovenes entraron por las puertas, estábamos tan felices de saludar a nuestra juventud y cada minuto que pasaba el número de jóvenes aumentaba. Mientras saludaba a los jóvenes y les entregaba registraciones a los padres, me asomaba a ver a  dentro y miraba las carras de otros líderes de  admiración y asombro. Yo estaba inmensamente encantad de lo que se estaba llevando acabo. A las 7:00  el pequeño salon 8   estaba lleno de 36 jovenes que apenas tenian espacio para moverse.Todos esos nervios y ansiedad que sentía se fueron mirando a todos estos jovenes, su entusiasmo, sus sonrisas, y su deseo de aprender fue contagioso.
Nuestro equipo de coordinación del ministerio  Juvenil invirtió tanto tiempo, esfuerzo, dedicación y energía en unir este ministerio. Tuvimos tantas reuniones antes del comienzo del ministerio, pero todo valió la pena. Nunca deja de sorprenderme cómo funciona el Espíritu Santo. Cómo Él ha guiado y traído recursos y ayuda cuando lo necesitamos.
  La archidiócesis de Seattle fue muy instrumental en el desarrollo del ministerio juvenil de Santa María. Ofrecen  formación para los ministros nuevos de la juventud. La formación está diseñada para offrecer una reflexión sobre los documentos relevantes de la iglesia, las conexiones y la comunidad entre los nuevos  lideres, aprender las habilidades prácticas para el ministerio y el liderazgo, y la orientación a las políticas y procedimientos diocesanos. No  se  me puede olvidar mencionar; Esto es gratis gracias a la Campaña Católica Anual
Tenemos la bendición de ser parte de una archidiócesis que se preocupa tanto por las necesidades espirituales y personales de nuestros jóvenes y que apoya a los ministros  y líderes de jovenes de muchas maneras. La arquidiócesis trajo un programa de certificación a Seattle.que offrece a líderes los conocimientos, habilidades, herramientas prácticas y técnicas necesarias para el ministerio creativo y comprensivo con la juventud. Actualmente estoy logrando esta certificación en estudios de ministerio juvenil y estoy muy agradecido a la archidiócesis de Seattle por darme una beca. La ayuda financiera que  recibie de la arquidiócesis se debe a la Peticion Católica Anual.
Nuestra juventud en St. Mary del Valle también se beneficia de la Peticion Católica Anual. Participamos en eventos a nivel diocesano tales como Convención de la Juventud Católica, Rally Junior High, entrenamiento de liderazgo para nuestros jóvenes como Ascend, y los campamentos de CYO. La Arquidiócesis puede poner estos eventos para nuestra juventud gracias a la Peticion Católica Anual. Estos eventos han contribuido al crecimiento espiritual y personal de nuestros jóvenes de manera tremenda. Y como ministro, estoy agradecida por ellos y estoy seguro de que mucos lideres, y padres presents aqui sienten lo mismo.
Las donaciones a la Peticion Católica Anual apoyan a más de 60 ministerios y servicios en el oeste de Washington, tales como Servicios Comunitarios Católicos, beneficios médicos de los sacerdotes jubilados, seminarios, formación de fe del , campamentos CYO, escuelas católicas y mucho más.
Su apoyo es esencial para la misión de la iglesia. Juntos podemos hacer la diferencia; Juntos podemos hacer un impacto que toca la vida de tantos a través de la Campaña Católica Anual. Hoy, los invito a hacer su compromiso a la Peticion Católica Anual. Cualquier regalo de cualquier cantidad es bienvenido. Si usted no lo está haciendo ya, por favor considere dar un dólar al día que es $ 365 al año
Hay muchas maneras de cumplir su compromiso. Los sobres  se encuentran en los bancas.
Si no puede apoyar financieramente, puede apoyar con oraciones y por eso les pedimos que llene el sobre  y escriba  oraciones.
Gracias por su tiempo, apoyo y generosidad
Quisiera terminar con el temal de la Peticion Católica  Annual que nos sirve como un hermoso recordatorio del impacto de la comunidad.
 
Cuando nos unimos, creamos un futuro lleno de esperanza
 
Dios los bendiga a todos