Print Issue: May 16, 2002

Special Theme For Teen Track Underscores Christ In The Eucharist

By Erika Anderson, Staff Writer

ATLANTA - Approximately 1,200 high school teens are expected to attend the June 1 Eucharistic Congress.

Building on the event's main theme of "Stay with Me," speakers for the teen track will welcome teens to the "Holyday Inn."

Speakers include Father Albert R. Cutié, of the Archdiocese of Miami, whose topic will be "Check in: Unpack your bags" and Msgr. Richard Lopez, religion teacher at St. Pius X High School, Atlanta, whose talk will be "Room Service: Free spiritual breakfast with every stay."

Brian Johnson, youth minister of the Diocese of Galveston-Houston, Texas, will speak on the topic "Room with a view: Seeing the world through God's eyes," and finally, Jim Beckman, HUB coordinator for the Life Teen Rockies Region will give a talk entitled "Check-out: Y'all come back now, ya hear?"

Barb Garvin, archdiocesan director of youth ministry, said that archdiocesan youth ministers are eagerly anticipating the event.

"Everyone is really excited about our speakers and are expecting it to be a wonderful day," she said. "And it will be."

Youngsters from the archdiocese participate in the spirited and upbeat teen track in 2001, which featured various speakers and music by Ed Bolduc and Band.

Garvin said that the Eucharistic Congress offers teens a unique opportunity to grow in faith together.

"It gives our kids the opportunity to see what the big church is. A lot of our kids, even in metro Atlanta, still live in areas where they go to school in the minority - there aren't a lot of Catholics," she said. "Events like this give them an opportunity to give praise to their faith in the large group, which strengthens them and sets them on fire, because they are able to see Christ at work in the large church."

Garvin also said that it brings teens back to the core of their Catholic faith.

"Our young people are hungry for the presence of God in the Eucharist," she said. "This will give them an opportunity to spend a day with that being the focus."

Youth ministers should go through their pastors for tickets.

For more information about the youth track, contact Garvin at (404) 885-7491.