By Mary Stadnyk | Associate Editor
Hear the word “reboot,” and it’s easy to think that it has something to do with hitting “control,” “alt” and “delete” on a computer keyboard at the same time.
But in Monmouth County, “reboot” is the word that a Catholic high school and three parishes are hoping will help get people excited about their Catholic faith – really excited.
On Feb. 1, the campus ministry in Red Bank Catholic High School and the parishes of St. James and St. Anthony of Padua, both Red Bank, and Nativity, Fair Haven, are hosting “Reboot! Live!,” a multimedia event that’s designed to motivate and encourage faithful to become more engaged in their parish communities and energized about being Catholic.
Open to anyone regardless of where they are on their faith journey – regular Mass-goers, those who have been away from the faith, those who are new to the faith, as well as teenagers, young adults, married couples or single people – the evening will feature Chris Stefanick, an internationally renowned Catholic speaker and author who has devoted his life to inspiring people to live a bold, contagious faith.
Stefanick’s live broadcasts reach more than 85,000 people per year and his videos and radio spots reach more than 1,000,000 people per month. He has authored the Confirmation program “Chosen,” which is used by almost 100,000 teens per week. For “Reboot! Live!,” Stefanick will be accompanied by Catholic recording artist John Niven. Together, through their presentations and witnesses, they will help Catholics learn to appreciate the beauty and brilliance of the Gospel and apply it to every aspect of their lives including in prayer, spirituality, work, dating, marriage and health.
Focusing on how it came about for the three parishes and RBC to host “Reboot! Live!,” Ann-Marie De Stefano, who serves on the RBC campus ministry team and is youth minister in St. James Parish, said it essentially stems from the diocesan Faith In Our Future initiative, in which the three parishes are part of Cohort 16, are working together “to develop plans to invigorate the faithful and reach out to those we haven’t seen in a while.”
“We’re hoping to team with the other parishes to share or strengthen ministries together,” De Stefano said, and with “Reboot! Live!,” “the opportunity arises to take an inspiring evening and use it as a catalyst to strengthen our parish communities.”
“It is an evangelization event through which the Holy Spirit can reignite the spark of faith in some or, fan that flame in others,” De Stefano said. “It’s an incredible opportunity, one that I believe will bear fruit for a long time after the chairs and stage are put away,” she said, adding that she and her family had an opportunity to see Stefanick and Niven lead a “Reboot! Live!” presentation last year in St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square.
“Reboot! Live!” will run from 7 to 9:30 p.m. in the gymnasium of St. James School.
In addition, De Stefano said that Stefanick has also agreed to address some 600 Confirmation students representing five area parishes Jan. 31 in Nativity Parish and “it’s already sold out.”
“What a blessing it is that these kids will get to see Chris live,” she said, noting that there are parishes that use Stefanick’s Confirmation “Chosen” program as part of their Confirmation curriculum.
Also, De Stefano added, Stefanick will give a presentation on chastity to the entire Red Bank Catholic student body during the school day on Feb. 1.
“This presentation aptly takes place during Catholic Schools Week,” De Stefano said. “The Holy Spirit is at work!”
“Reboot! Live!” tickets are available at: www.realLifeCatholic.org/reboot (select the Red Bank NJ event); on Facebook: Reboot! Live! Red Bank NJ; or by contacting Ann-Marie DeStefano SJYM@verizon.net or Annie DiDomenicoVBS@NativityChurch.org.