By Christina Leslie|Correspondent

The clarion message to be strong in faith and unwavering despite societal pressures rang out clearly at the first N.J. Catholic young adult conference Jan. 25. Nearly 300 participants hailing from around the state gathered in the St. John Neumann Conference Center in Piscataway to hear speakers, participate in workshops, and pray together at Mass during the “Courageous: do not conform to the standards of this age” conference.

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Co-sponsored by the offices of young adult ministry from the dioceses of Camden, Metuchen, Paterson, Trenton and the Archdiocese of Newark, the day was punctuated by unique catechetical sessions with Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M.; Camden Diocese’s Bishop Dennis J. Sullivan; Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski, Diocese of Metuchen; and Auxiliary Bishop John W. Flesey from the Archdiocese of Newark.

During his afternoon session, Bishop O’ Connell shared a little of his experience as president of The Catholic University of America, Washington, saying it was a “wonderful opportunity for me to be with young adults.... to be involved in their lives.”

He used this time with young adults as an opportunity to talk about friendship, and explained how technology has, in many instances, gotten in the way of developing genuine relationships.

“A friend is someone who knows you as you are, understands where you’ve been, accepts what you have become and still gently allows you to grow,” he shared.

He then explained how Jesus offers “the most intimate friendship the world has ever known.”

Some of the young adults wanted to know more about Bishop O’Connell’s visit to Rome and encounter with Pope Francis earlier this month. The Bishop shared that the pope invited him to concelebrate Mass, and he was able to spend 10 minutes in the sacristy with the pope.

In separate sessions, Bishop Sullivan led attendees in a discussion of the Lord’s Prayer; Bishop Bootkoski engaged in a lively question-and-answer period, and Bishop Flesey encouraged his listeners to believe in Christ’s resurrection as they looked toward their futures.

Carrie Barillas, diocesan young adult ministries coordinator, commented on the co-sponsored gathering, saying, “We wanted to join forces to bring a stronger message,” she said. “We want them to see we are one Church that does care about young adults.”

Challenge of the World

The workshop’s keynote speaker Marcel Quinones recognized the challenge for young adults to go into a world where many do not hold the same faith or Christian values. “Faith starts the minute you walk out into the street,” he told the young adults. “It’s not easy to be courageous.”

Quinones, an outreach manager and liaison for Newark’s Covenant House, admitted he had grown up as a child of drug-addicted parents and often lived on the streets as a youth as he, too, entered into the drug culture. Though he eventually reformed his life, found faith and earned an education before beginning work with homeless youth, he found his calling was often fraught with failure. “God says, ‘You gotta go back out there, be that rock,’” Quinones said. “That one you lost, but maybe you can save 20 more.”

“Each of you has a testimony; there is not testimony without a test. You all have faced adversity. The excuses will have to stop, we have to grow,” Quinones continued, pacing the stage before the rapt audience. “What are you going to do after this conference? Christ sacrificed his life for us, the least we can do is sacrifice some time.”

The speaker advised the young adults to gird themselves in faith as they would leave the conference that afternoon. “Live what you are saying, live out the faith, tell your story, inspire someone. Put your armor on and head right into the fire,” Quinones urged the youth. “Let today be the day you step out and make a difference in this world, that people can see you are a child of God.”

Young adults were offered the choice of attending diverse workshops designed to educate and enrich their faith. A diverse panel of Catholics offered their insights during “Single? No Problem!” workshop, one woman likening her unmarried state to the travails of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. “Father, whatever is your will, let it be done,” she quoted, then admitted, “We have the freedom, peace and joy to use our time wisely.”

Marcel Quinones advised his group “Don’t Stress, be blessed” as he led them in an interactive examination of their major daily stresses. “God doesn’t want us to worry,” he consoled the group. “We just have to make choices.”

“Faith is Sweaty” admitted Michael Laskey, director of Life and Justice Ministries for the Diocese of Camden. “Pope Francis told us the concrete nature of love is action, not words,” Laskey continued. “To love Jesus is to show it through our choices and service.”

Christ at the Center

Father Rocco Danzi urged his group to “Be Courageous” during his examination of the works of Church leaders such as Thomas Merton and St. Ignatius. Suggesting the young adults keep a spiritual diary, Father Danzi said, “We are living in the days when it is hard to see our heroes diminishing … the center of our lives has to be Jesus. It is about keeping that connection alive.”

Workshops on time management and community building, as well as one conducted in Spanish about discerning Christ-baseddecisions, were also offered. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the chapel was accompanied by praise and worship music by band New Name before the afternoon session.

During the conference’s closing Mass, con-celebrated by Bishop O’Connell and those bishops in attendance, along with priests from participating dioceses, homilist Father Francis Hilton, parochial vicar, St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral, Metuchen, told the congregation to strive for an “immaculate perception” of other people, which is “when we have the grace to see another person as truly loved by God.”

He then challenged the young adults to ask themselves, “Where is the one place where you need to admit that you don’t have the immaculate perception,” and also “where is God telling you to go full steam ahead, where God is saying, ‘Not everyone can love them, but you can.’”

Conference attendee Ashley Avilleira, St. Aloysius Parish, Jackson, noted an important value of the day-long experience was networking. “We can learn a lot and connect with more people here.”

Two young adults from St. Mary Parish, Barnegat, were equally enthusiastic. “The theme ‘courageous’ brought me here,” admitted Maria Sicilia. “The speaker [Quinones] was amazing.” Anthony Saranczak was pleased to “build community within the young adult community. There is a gap among other groups in the state. It was great to see praise and worship.”

David Kilby, correspondent, contributed to this story.