EmmaLee Italia | Correspondent

More than 20 youth of St. Veronica Parish and School, Howell, had an opportunity May 7 to encounter the message of Christ through an all-day retreat led by NET Ministries.

The eighth- through 12th-grade teens and members of the parish Adult Core group were invited to witness presentations on the theme “Fully Alive (True Happiness).”

“In a world where so many things compete for our teens’ time, I think this theme was particularly relevant,” said Sister Ann Elizabeth Norton, director of religious education.

NET Ministries – an international Catholic youth ministry led by young adults ages 18-26 – uses music, skits, games, large presentations and small group discussions to evangelize its Catholic youth audience. The St. Veronica Parish retreat also included Mass, Confessions and meals for the day.

“The retreat was fantastic,” said Philip Thompson, one of St. Veronica’s Adult Core Team leaders. “It was really energizing to see the young Catholics evangelizing, just to experience them and their unique stories.”

Sister Ann said the teens who took part in the day were very responsive to the NET members. The participants, she observed, made good use of private and group prayer time in the church, and many availed themselves of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

“I wanted them to meet young adults who are alive in their faith and on fire for serving the Lord,” she explained. “Our youth group has only existed since late January, so we are trying to strengthen and build it up.”

A secondary goal was for the Adult Core group members, who have great enthusiasm but not yet a lot of experience with youth ministry, to see what youth ministry can be like.

“Two NET team members did a small group with the adults, and that was very helpful,” Sister Ann said. “We know that [the teens] really enjoyed the small group discussions, so we will continue to incorporate small groups in our youth group sessions.”