Singing, cheering,
and clapping, more than 300 teens from the Diocese of Syracuse joined 2,000
other teens in the Finnegan Fieldhouse on July 9, impatient for the worship
band to take the stage and open the 34th annual High School Youth Conference at
Franciscan University of Steubenville.Several teens ran back and forth in front of the stage, leading the rest
of the audience in the wave.
“I’m
looking forward to learning more about the sacraments, so that I can teach a
friend back home what they’re all about,” said Patrick Pennise, of St. Helena’s
in Sherrill.
Worship
leader Bob Rice and his band bounded on stage as the lights came up and the
fieldhouse erupted in cheers. For the rest of the evening, Rice led the youth
in songs of praise to God, while popular Catholic musician and youth minister
Bob Lesnefsky and other speakers began to unpack the weekend's theme, "The
Word Became Flesh."
Lesnefsky
shared the story of his past year with the teens, in which he suffered three
strokes.“The third time, I was
completely alone,” he told them.“You
are never alone.The Word of God
became flesh to die our death, so that we would never have to be alone.”
After
Eucharistic adoration, the teens gathered to discuss the evening.
“It’s
amazing to find others the same age, who believe the same things and are
experiencing Christ and who he is together with you,” said Catherine Gibbons,
from the Church of the Nativity in LaFayette.
Chaperone
Tricia Pennise, from St. Helena’s, agreed.“Coming here they can see so many other young Catholics
together, and learn that they can be Catholic and still be cool.”
Saturday
morning dawned gray and chilly, but the Syracuse teens woke up quickly during
an energetic talk by Catholic musician Kelly Pease. “Our
culture says that sexuality is something that you take and use for yourself,
but when you do that, you’re saying that the human person is disposable,” Pease
told the teens.“Sexuality is
something that you give, and that gift really only works in the context of
marriage when you commit to each other freely, fully, faithfully, and
fruitfully.”For
the rest of the day, teens and chaperones had the opportunity to participate in
workshops on personal prayer, the Mass, evangelization, and purity in dating.
Confession was also available, and youth eagerly embraced the opportunity,
standing in long lines for more than an hour for the chance to talk to a
priest.Over the weekend, 1,300
teens received the sacrament.
“It’s
incredible how it touches them,” said Jason Hage, seminarian for the diocese
currently serving at Sts. John & Andrew in Binghamton.“Some girls from our group were talking
about how confession opened their hearts to Christ.”
For
many teens from Syracuse, Saturday night’s Eucharistic adoration was the high
point of the weekend.
“The
presence of God is so powerful!” said Chrissa Guy of St. Joseph’s in Endicott,
who will be attending Franciscan University in the fall.Father
Chris Celetano, from Sts. John & Andrew, explained to teens from his parish
that the monstrance is made of gold “because we give God the best we can.We’re called to do the same in our bodies.”
Sunday morning, the boys
gathered in the Glory Tent with John Beaulieu, director of Youth and Young
Adult Outreach at Franciscan University, and the girls gathered
in the fieldhouse with Kelly Pease to talk about chastity and how to become the
person God intended them to be. Chastity pledge cards were handed out to all of
the youth, and they were encouraged to take them home and pray about the
decision to sign them.
The
weekend concluded with Mass, which was alive with the energy of 2,200 youth in
love with their faith and the Lord, fully participating in the liturgy.
“I’m
amazed and impressed by their focus, commitment, and passion about Christ,”
said chaperone Mike Swan, of St. Leo’s in Tully.
“You
can feel your faith physically here,” said Stephen Gibbons, of the Church of
the Nativity.“Leaving here you’re
not afraid, because it gives you strength to go out into the world.”
Story By Rosalie Doudna, Photos by
Elizabeth Benette.
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 28 July 2010 )
World Youth Day 2011
Tuesday, 06 April 2010
We have two options this year, one includes the basic WYD week-long series of events with our Holy Father as well as an excursion to Avila (Aug. 14-23, 2011) for $2,295. With 7 paid participants the Group Leader attends for free, this allows for parishes to send an adult to lead a contingent for a parish or group of parishes. Our extended pilgrimage includes 5 extra nights in Northern Spain and Lourdes (Aug. 9-23, 2011) for an additional $990.
Some of the highlights in addition to Lourdes are holy sites in Barcelona (Sagrada Familia Church), Montserrat (Benedictine Monastery where St. Ignatius reaffirmed his vocation before the statue of the "Black Virgin"), Pamplona ("Way of St. James" and city of the "Running of the Bulls") and Segovia (St. John of the Cross and St. Dominic). All flights, ground transportation, hotels and WYD fees as well as most meals are included in these prices. At this meeting we will explain our trip details, breakdown of costs as well as parish funding/promotion ideas.
Please contact
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via email if you have questions or want more information.
Singing, cheering,
and clapping, more than 300 teens from the Diocese of Syracuse joined 2,000
other teens in the Finnegan Fieldhouse on July 9, 
We have two options this year, one includes the basic WYD week-long series of events with our Holy Father as well as an excursion to Avila (Aug. 14-23, 2011) for $2,295. With 7 paid participants the Group Leader attends for free, this allows for parishes to send an adult to lead a contingent for a parish or group of parishes. Our extended pilgrimage includes 5 extra nights in Northern Spain and Lourdes (Aug. 9-23, 2011) for an additional $990.