Office of Campus, Youth and Young Adult Ministry
When you walk into an arena without an empty seat, thousands upon thousands of young adults with whom you instantly identify, the scene and the awe that the scene evokes is simply breathtaking. Now back in our home diocese, it is hard to describe how amazingly profound this experience was for me, the youth group of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, and the entirety of those in attendance from the Diocese of Shreveport.
The energy of a place like the National Catholic Youth Conference is unbelievable. As soon as the music begins, you cannot help but smile with the greatest sincerity. It is a pulse that immediately overtakes your body. Even if you’re not one to get up and dance, you’re so excited in this place that it is easy to come out of your protective shell, and you love it.
An important component of this experience is all of the people involved, seen and unseen. Those who conveyed the theme of the weekend, Christ Reigns, namely the MC’s Steve Angrisano and Jesse Manibucan did an amazing job. I know, as a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s youth group, we had opportunities to see some speakers that we have previously heard speak at conferences and our retreats such as Christina Theroit, Bob Perron, Chris Padgett, and Mike Patin. There were also speakers that were new to all like Jason and Crystalina Evret who, as a couple, delivered a touching and real chastity talk. Other components that stood out were Adoration, and ultimately the sharing of the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist.
As we try to prevent the ending of the “mountain top” experience, I recall something Deacon Nash shared with us on the bus ride home. When he was in the Marine Corps, each one of the men was challenged to hoist a telephone pole. Being incredibly heavy and cumbersome, it was not possible for any one man to do it on his own, but when they all gathered and lifted it, it was not impossible. I have learned through this experience we are called to join together to lift up the Church and involve ourselves, especially those youth of the Diocese of Shreveport.
In order for this experience to have happened, we needed serious funds to make it easier for those in attendance, thus an enormous and heartfelt thank you to Bishop Duca is in order, for he made this life changing conference monetarily possible. Bishop, you have no idea how much this means to each and every one of us.
Now, as youth, we know Christ Reigns, and we go out to proclaim that which we are called to proclaim.
Your sister in Christ,
Rebecca Gorham
2008 Diocese of Shreveport