By Father Martin O’Reilly | Special Contributor
“For where two or three come together in my name, I am there with them.” Mt. 18:20
I’m delighted to say that there were more than two or three gathered on Saturday, March 4, for the Diocesan Youth Conference. As a first-timer, I didn’t know what to expect, and yet I knew within my heart that it would be an exciting day for all the young people attending. My own experience has taught me God makes all things good when we make an effort. I can honestly say that the Diocesan Youth Team with all their volunteers made a wonderful effort. And, I can honestly say the day was a roaring success.
So, how do I quantify success? Is it bums on seats, the mix of male and female? Or simply the joy that was expressed by those gathered? All of the above, but I’m going with the joy of those gathered. I spoke to several young people about their experience at DYC – the positives, the negatives, what they would do differently and what stood out for them.
The welcome by young people toward young people as they arrived to register really set the tone for the day. I was so impressed by their enthusiasm – given the time of the morning and without coffee, I don’t know if I could do it.
I asked some of my young friends what struck them initially, and they said: “The numbers – it was great seeing so many people,” and “Knowing that there were others who were like me and wanted to be there.”
We all have a craving to belong, and our young people are no different. It got me thinking what would be the possibility of creating opportunities within our parish Cohorts at Christmas and Easter, where our young people could be approached to organize, lead and deliver a liturgy by the young for the young? This could be a wonderful discussion topic for our youth ministry leaders: evaluating DYC and what it means to the parish, Cohort and county.
Two young people I spoke to, Sarah Sablom and Zelda Wagner, said they found the speakers fun and interesting: “We felt they connected with us. Their personal stories, shared with humor at times, enabled us to relate to their lives.”
Both Zelda and Sarah and their friend, Olivia, really loved the verity of the day. I think Zelda and Sarah sum it up beautifully:
“DYC was very uplifting. Being a teenager is very difficult, but I left feeling secure that everything is OK in the hands of God. He is the only one that will love you perfectly,” Zelda said.
“The experience I had at DYC was very moving and spiritual. It is more comforting seeing how many people my age participate and believe in the same thing as I do,” Sarah agreed.
All said and done, DYC was a success in my eyes, but as anyone involved in youth ministry knows, it’s not what has been done that matters, it’s what you do to follow up. How do we tap into this faith-filled experience these young people experienced and utilize it for the positive? This is the exciting challenge we face.
Father Martin O’ Reilly is the diocesan chaplain of youth ministry and parochial vicar in St. Catharine-St. Margaret Parish, Spring Lake.