By Mary Morrell, Contributing Editor
Empowering! Energizing! Inspiring! Youth across the four counties of the Diocese used these words to describe “Servant,” the 2019 Diocesan Youth Conference – a yearly gathering for teens in grades 8-12 in which they encounter Jesus through a joyful celebration of their faith while connecting with other young Catholics from across the Diocese.
Photo Gallery: 2019 Diocesan Youth Conference
Photo Gallery: 2019 Diocesan Youth Conference Mass
Held Feb. 9 in Holy Cross Preparatory Academy, Delran, more than 600 youth and their adult leaders, attended the day-long conference which called participants to discover their unique gifts and use them in service to God.
Young people moved throughout the day in what seemed like a sea of blue, wearing t-shirts illustrated with #BeGodsServant and the vivid Conference logo – a crown of thorns, a cross and the letter M, representing Mary as the perfect witness to life as a servant of Christ.
Mary’s words to the Angel Gabriel, “I am the servant of the Lord” (Luke 1:38), served as inspiration for the 2019 DYC theme.
Two keynote presentations, a breakout session, Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, Reconciliation and Mass with Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., were at the heart of a day designed to “make God’s call real in the lives of youth”, said Dan Waddington, diocesan director, Youth and Young Adult Ministries.
“This year’s DYC was meant to affirm young people for the many ways they are already living as God’s servants and to be an opportunity for them to grow as servants, to be intentional in their faith. We want them to realize how much they are loved by God, who gave them amazing gifts and talents and invites them to use those gifts for him and in the service of others. We want them to know that the calling they feel in their hearts comes from God,” Waddington shared.
The Servant Call
Youth from more than 40 parishes and schools in the Diocese began the day with praise and worship as the sounds of the DYC band, led by Gez Ford, youth ministry coordinator and leader of the praise and worship band in St. Raphael-Holy Angels Parish, Hamilton, filled the auditorium.
Franciscan Sister of the Renewal Mother Clare Matthias, from Our Lady of Guadalupe Convent, Bronx, N.Y., laid the foundation for the day with the first keynote presentation, “Called to Serve,” which enabled youth to reflect on the many gifts and talents they already possessed.
“She focused on all the things that make youth, and adults, qualified to be servants of God,” said Waddington, who noted that following the presentation teens had the opportunity to answer the servant call and practice it immediately through a special service project set up in the exhibit hall.
Tucked between exhibits from various religious communities, service organizations, respect life and vocations ministries, were five stations set up to fill Jenna’s Blessing Bags – backpacks for the homeless which would contain food, hygienic supplies, socks, emergency blankets, and Bibles. Slipped between the pages of the Bibles were spiritual and encouraging messages written by DYC teens.
Jenna’s Blessing Bags for the Homeless is a charitable outreach begun by Jenna Burleigh, a Temple University, Philadelphia, student who lost her life tragically in 2017, at age 22. Her memory is being kept alive by her family through the Blessing Bags initiative.
Jeff Siedlecki, youth leader in Holy Eucharist Parish, Tabernacle, knew Jenna’s family and contacted them for permission and to make arrangements for the DYC service project.
Teens picked up a backpack at the first station, which included directions on how to fill the bag. All the donations and items needed could be picked up at the other four stations. Donations of food, hygienic products, and other items were made by youth, parishes and private donors, including St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square, which donated 300 pairs of socks and a private donor who provided 150 Bibles.
The goal of 150 filled backpacks was exceeded, said Waddington who shared, “One of the best parts for me was that on Monday morning, 154 filled backpacks were dropped off at a local soup kitchen and would be distributed with meals to the homeless.”
Responding to God’s Call
An afternoon breakout session, offered in five simultaneous sessions to meet the unique needs of eighth grade boys, eighth grade girls, high school boys, high school girls and adults, addressed the challenges of culture, schools and families in making it hard to serve; obstacles that get in the way of hearing God’s call to be a servant.
Teens expressed appreciation for the sessions which provided time for bonding and shared learning with others who face the same challenges and share the same faith.
During the day’s second keynote address, Brian Greenfield, nationally known Catholic evangelist and youth minister who was featured as keynote speaker for the 2017 National Catholic Youth Conference, shared with teens the transforming power of an encounter with Christ, helped them set goals and learn to listen to the call of God in their hearts, especially if that call is to a vocation.
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, led by Father Martin O’Reilly, pastor of Mary, Mother of the Church Parish, Bordentown, and chaplain for Youth and Young Adult Ministry, brought youth into a transformed exhibit hall, which now housed a “burning bush” of lit candles upon which Jesus resided in the Monstrance.
The image of teens, kneeling in in full circle around the Monstrance to pray to Jesus in the Eucharist, was breathtaking, relayed Waddington.
The image of some 300 teens later standing silently in line waiting for Confession with one of 21 priest confessors was something “truly awesome,” he added.
At the close of Benediction, with hearts and minds well-prepared, youth and adults gathered in the auditorium for Mass celebrated by Bishop O’Connell, who reminded those present that the key to being a servant of God was trust in God.
Wrap Up
Waddington also stressed the importance of the many volunteers, noting that seemingly small things, like building a prayer loom or buying and cutting prayer ribbons, “have some of the greatest impact on the day.”
He acknowledged that the day unfolded as it did through the efforts of leaders from the four county youth ministry teams, who, with their youth, were responsible for the multi-level details of the conference.
Also deserving accolades, said Waddington, “was the amazing support from Holy Cross Academy and staff, especially a team of 15-20 volunteer students who went above and beyond to help us with set up during the day and with clean up. In conjunction with the great work of so many volunteers, they helped make the day a very blessed experience for our young Church.”