Youth answer call to Christ
Teens experience Christ through sacraments, workshops, fellowship
By Chris Donahue
Staff writer
SOUTH PLAINFIELD — Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski urged the 312 teenagers who attended the annual Diocesan Youth Day Mass in Sacred Heart of Jesus Church to be “the leaven to challenge others to meet Jesus.”
The Mass followed a day filled with workshops that offered 20 topics ranging from contemporary Catholic music to Catholic social justice teaching; exposition of the Blessed Sacrament; reconciliations; skits and singing.
After dinner in the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish hall, the event concluded with a concert by Steve Angrisano in the church.
“The young people that attended had a rich experience of God’s love and call to serve him and each other in their school life and families and communities,” said Michael Wojcik, director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, which sponsored Diocesan Youth Day. “It bonded them with a greater awareness of many other teens from throughout the diocese who are faith-filled Catholics seeking to make a difference. They know they are not alone — there are many other people their age that are trying to live a good and faithful life in a culture which does not support their values.”
Walking with Jesus
In his homily, Bishop Bootkoski challenged the teens to imitate Christ and not to be occupied with “earthly things” because their “citizenship is in heaven” (Phil 3:17-4:1).
Referring to the Gospel reading (Lk 9:28-36), Bishop Bootkoski also likened the Youth Day participants to Peter, John, and James “who went up the mountain to pray” but became frightened “when they entered the cloud.”
“Lord, it is good to be here,” the bishop prayed. “We have come to the mount today to experience Christ like Peter, James and John, and we can identify with them because they were very human.”
Despite the disciples’ frailties, Jesus was proud of them, said the bishop, who in turn praised the teenagers for taking time to increase their spirituality.
“As teenagers, we may sometimes feel that we are alone, but through the waters of baptism we are part of the covenant,” the bishop said. “Jesus is always there for us. We are never alone.
“Know your worth,” he added. “What a gift to have faith in a world that sorely needs it.”
Faith in action
Students from Bishop George Ahr High School, Edison, opened the day with a comedic interpretation of the Gospel reading of Jesus taking his disciples up to the mountain.
Throughout the day, several priests were available for the sacrament of reconciliation in the school gym. Prior to celebrating Mass, Bishop Bootkoski also took the time to hear confessions and socialize with the teenagers.
Bishop Ahr teacher Susan Williamson was delighted to see that so many of the teenagers were inspired to participate in the sacrament. “It was great to see them taking to heart what was being said and putting it into action,” she said.
Among the most popular workshops were Sports and Spirituality and Beauty’s Only Skin Deep, Wojcik said.
“The workshops were interactive with opportunities for question and answers so that the teens were given a chance to process what they were experiencing in their lives and throughout the Youth Day,” Wojcik said. “In their program booklets, we also gave them pages for journal notes and questions about the day that helped guide them in their reflections.”
Positive feedback
Several teens who attended said that they made new friends and the variety of activities kept them interested and focused.
“It’s different not being around kids from your own parish, but after a while you get used to it,” said Amanda Alemezohu, 16, a member of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish. “I enjoyed being with them. It makes me feel better about my religion.”
Sean Gale, 14, attended Youth Day with about 30 fellow members of St. Mary Parish, Alpha. “It was a good experience,” he said. “More kids our age should do it. It makes you feel that you are not alone in what you believe.”
One of the main things Gale said he learned in a workshop is that it is important not to get “caught up in all the new technology” and to make time to pray.
Lidia D’Armiento, director of youth ministry at St. Luke Parish, North Plainfield, said it was nice to see young people gather to meet people like themselves and share in celebrating God’s love.
“Our world is starved for the word, not just the youth, but the youth is important and there is a need to acknowledge them and bring them together,” D’Armiento said.
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*The attached/referenced article was originally published in The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, and is protected under U.S. and international copyright law