Print Issue: June 6, 2002

Flame Of Faith Burns Bright Among Teens

By Suzanne Haugh, Special To The Bulletin

Many teens danced, sang and gave praise to God during the opening song "Let the River Flow." Tom Booth called all teens to put away any fears or doubts they had and "to flow and go" with the Holy Spirit. (Photo by Ken Melvin/Archdiocese of Atlanta)

COLLEGE PARK - Dubbed "The Holyday Inn," the teen track of the "Stay With Me" Eucharistic Congress 2002 on June 1 sent forth 1,000 youth fired up in their Catholic faith and for their friend, Jesus Christ.

Performing on stage throughout the day was Atlanta's Ed Bolduc and band, along with Tom Booth, the director of music for Life Teen International, the Catholic youth ministry centered on the Eucharist.

Many teens danced and sang to the opening song, "Let the River Flow," while others watched, timidly smiling at their friends as they were enveloped by the spirited atmosphere. Booth called all teens to put away any fears or doubts they had and "to flow and go" with the Holy Spirit.

Emcee Paul George, the Southeast regional director for Life Teen International, welcomed the teens and expressed his hope for each of them: "Pray that you will walk out these doors a little bit different today."

The first in a dynamic lineup of speakers was Father Albert Cutié, a priest with the Archdiocese of Miami and the host of a live weekly television program, "America en Vivo."

Describing himself physically as 33 but mentally and spiritually as 15, Father Cutié recounted parables about having the courage to live the Catholic faith. "We need to be proud that we belong to the church established by Christ and proud of our faith," said Father Cutié, who was ordained in 1995.

"There are a lot of wimps in the church," he continued, and illustrated his point by calling up two brave teens to lead others in the chicken dance. He then told the story of a misguided baby eagle born in a field of chickens.

"We waste a lot of time as young Catholics doing what everyone else is doing," he said, and later added, "Look up and use what you've got. Look up and say, 'Hey! Wow!' I'm being called to do something different."

As the Catholic faith has come under attack with the recent accusations of sex abuse by a relatively few number of priests, Father Cutié reassured the youth that Jesus often takes what seems to be the worst situation and "transforms it into something good."

During the teen track, Brian Johnson, the diocesan director of youth ministry in Galveston-Houston, Texas, gave a presentation full of song and humor, challenging the youth to "try to live an Easter Sunday faith in a Good Friday world." (Photo by Ken Melvin/Archdiocese of Atlanta)

Father Cutié pointed to the truths of the church, particularly the Eucharist, for guidance and strength. "There's nothing better than the sacraments to follow Christ. When you've got the sacraments, you've got it all." Before ending with a prayer, Father Cutié told the youth to keep their faith strong. "Don't be chickens, but eagles soaring . . . because Jesus lives in (you)."

Lunch followed and priests lined up along the back wall to administer the sacrament of reconciliation. Members of St. Michael's Life Teen group sat in a circle on the floor eating sandwiches, Doritos and chocolate chip cookies. Senior Andrea Elmore said she was enjoying the company of people who share her beliefs, and that she is not afraid to witness to her faith in places like school, or in groups like the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, an interdenominational group.

"If someone says something that is not what I believe, I give them my opinion," she said, and added while smiling at her Life Teen friends, "I do that quite often."

Junior Ben Frye told how, at his school, the Catholic Church and morals come up more often than his personal faith life. "Especially now, people talk about (the allegations against certain) priests. I tell them that it's not all priests, but when others make fun of them, it's difficult."

His confirmation was an awakening in his faith life, he said. "It's when I started putting my faith into action. The more I learn the greater appreciation I have."

After lunch, Msgr. Richard Lopez, a beloved religion teacher at St. Pius X High School in Atlanta for over 20 years, addressed the crowd. He paralleled a humorous worm-eating story to that of Christ, who, 2000 years ago, lovingly endured a much more significant and lasting meal - the "venom of sin and poison of death" in his crucifixion for the world's salvation.

Raised in a Spanish-speaking home, Msgr. Lopez shared how some words and phrases from one language are inadequate in another. He explained that Jesus' Last Supper, crucifixion and resurrection together constitute the Mass, at which the priest says: "Do this in memory of me."

"Oh, but the English falls so short," he said, adding that the more accurate translation is: "Every time you do this, I'll show up."

"If the Mass makes present the presence of Jesus Christ, our first response should be gratitude, stunned gratitude."

Msgr. Lopez used the misadventures of a former student journeying to visit his girlfriend to show how one's desire to spend personal time with Christ must outweigh any obstacles in one's path.

"You don't care how boring the sermon is or that the baby sitting on the lap of the lady next to you is drooling on your leg," he said. "That doesn't matter because you know that Jesus will meet you there (in the Eucharist). You expect it."

"The extent that we appreciate the holy Eucharist is the extent of our personal friendship with Jesus Christ, which calls us to Scripture, to spend time with the poor," to participate in adoration.

Teens from St. Brigid Church, Alpharetta, gather outside the exhibit hall to watch the long assembly of clergy prepare to process in for the closing Mass of the 2002 Eucharistic Congress at the Georgia International Convention Center, College Park. (Photo by Michael Alexander)

Through the example of St. Therese, the Little Flower of Jesus, and another story about the gift of a handful of seashells, Msgr. Lopez illustrated how the "hard journey (is) part of the gift."

"It's the sacrifice of Jesus Christ that the Eucharist represents, His real presence in the Eucharist," Msgr. Lopez explained. "My question to you is: What sacrifice of your own do you bring in love and thanksgiving?"

Msgr. Lopez ended by saying that the heavenly reward for one's sacrifices would be that upon one's death, "the first thing we'll see is Jesus and his smile to us."

After a break filled with uplifting music and some light-hearted contests among the teens, Brian Johnson, the diocesan director of youth ministry in Galveston-Houston, Texas, began a crowd-rousing presentation full of song and humor that focused on being a life-giving influence that transforms the world.

He used the gift of his booming voice to sing, "Lord, I know I've been changed!" The crowd was entertained by Johnson's present-day portrayals of Mary, "Joe" and "Little J" in what he called "the Gospel according to Brian."

"Even at a young age, Jesus knew his mission," said Johnson. "Jesus knew that he'd be out there teaching the word of the Father and teaching how to love, to minister to one another."

Johnson challenged the youth to do as Jesus has done. "What Jesus asks of us is to transform the world by loving it to life. Try to live an Easter Sunday faith in a Good Friday world."

Find strength in the Eucharist and remain mindful of what takes place when receiving Christ in the Eucharist, Johnson said. "Say 'Jesus, I'm ready. Jesus, my heart is open. Transform me. Help me get out of my comfort zone. Use me as you will.'"

During the break between speakers, teens paired up and answered questions of faith, one being to rate their relationship with Jesus Christ on a scale of 1 to 5. Senior Rebecca Keyser and junior Ashley Sawtelle agreed that theirs was around a 4. "There's no way it could be a 5 like Mother Teresa," Keyser said. Still, "God is always on my mind," confided Sawtelle, who tries to go to daily Mass and participate in the sacraments.

Megan Wilhelm and Rich Dittus, students at Blessed Trinity High School, Roswell, and members of St. Peter Chanel's youth group, then took the stage to perform a moving version of "Come to Me," a song written and composed by Rich's mother, Kathy Dittus.

A self-described "psycho for Christ," Jim Beckman, coordinator of the Life Teen of the Rockies hub and regional director of the national Life Teen program, traveled from Littleton, Colo., to speak to the youth.

He addressed some of the misconceptions people have in following Christ and helped to clarify for the youth what being a disciple of Christ entails. "To follow Christ is to be in relationship with him."

"Everyone has a gaping hole inside that needs to be filled," he said. "(Some) are not filling it with the right things-money, popularity, false intimacy . . . I've found in life that there is only one thing that can fill me. It's being in relationship with Jesus Christ."

He recalled being in high school and dealing with the tragedy of a former girlfriend who took a "downward spiral" into drugs and sex and ended her life after a chance conversation with him at a high school dance. Through this experience, Beckman has learned that "no teen can tell me that they can be high and drunk and be happy. They have to be broken and empty inside to give in to all of that."

Another tragedy closer in time was Beckman's involvement in the wake of the shootings at Columbine High School, which claimed the lives of three teens and injured four others from his parish's youth group. He shared events that preceded the horrific Tuesday that clearly showed God's desire to thwart what eventually took place and the miracles that minimized fatalities.

Everyone longs for a purpose in life, Beckman said. "It's all about having a relationship with the person of Jesus Christ. He is dying to be in relationship with you, literally. He gave up his life for you."

The journey is not easy, he added, but when people forge a relationship with Jesus and then come close to sin, they "don't want to sin because it hurts my best friend, Jesus."

Living life to the fullest happens only by choosing to follow Christ, Beckman said. "It doesn't mean that you're always happy, always joyful. It's not always fun, but you will find joy in every circumstance."

Performing on stage throughout the day was Atlanta's Ed Bolduc and band, along with Tom Booth, the director of music for Life Teen International, the Catholic youth ministry centered on the Eucharist. (Photo by Ken Melvin/Archdiocese of Atlanta)

To close the teen track, Beckman, joined on stage by George, Booth, and Ed Bolduc and band, asked the youth to close their eyes and to pray about where they were in their decision to live for Christ. In a weighty stillness among the crowd, those who were ready then had an opportunity to stand and publicly profess their desire to give their lives to Christ. One teen stood up among a sea of her seated peers, and moments later was joined by others until the majority were on their feet and the band began to play, "I Will Choose Christ."

As the youth filed out of the convention hall, they received cards with information on XLT (short for "Exalt"), a Tuesday night of prayer and praise held at Blessed Trinity High School from 7:30 to 9 p.m.

High school freshman Crystal Agu, a parishioner at St. John the Evangelist Church, Hapeville, described the public profession of faith as "a little scary. I didn't know if I should stand up."

She enjoyed the music and speakers, adding that the event was "a chance to be with God and be with other Christians." She sat beside friend Adora Adibe, an eighth-grader, who attends an Episcopal church.

For Kristian Baena, his faith life was "pretty vague" before becoming involved in retreats and events like the eucharistic congress through the youth group at St. Gabriel Church, Fayetteville. "Now, it's clearer," he said, "and fun, especially the trips we go on and the different people." Baena finds himself now "into" a relationship with Jesus. "It wasn't strong before," he admitted, "but since I started, I have a relationship with Jesus and it gets stronger every day."

Melissa Ayala and "Izzy" Brown, both high school juniors who attend St. Pius X Church, Conyers, described the challenges of sharing their faith with friends who are not as close to Jesus Christ.

"You want to stay with the crowd and be cool, enough so that they'll hear you and want to listen to you," Brown said.

Ayala added, "It's like the DC Talk song, 'What will people think when they hear that you're a Jesus freak?'" She confided that a few years ago she questioned her faith. "I almost gave up on prayer and God. I thought, 'Why doesn't God answer my prayers?' It takes patience and time. It doesn't happen right away."

She "was blown away" by the day's events. "My faith grows bigger as I learn more about the church."

Brown's understanding of his faith has also increased, particularly his appreciation of the Eucharist.

"Some people think it's nothing. They just go to Mass-it's just bread and wine," he said. "Sometimes I underestimate it. I haven't always realized how important it is to me as I look back. I see the mistakes I made before. Now, I get to church and he's right there."

Barb Garvin, archdiocesan director of youth ministry and mother of two children in their 20s, confessed to being nervous as the day began. Later, though, she seemed to bask in the youth's exuberant faith.

"They're not the church of the future," she said. "They're the church of today. Their faith is alive and real. Lots of kids in this room have a deep faith. It's not just the parents passing on their faith to them. The kids are passing their faith back to their parents."

Garvin co-coordinated the day's events with Jennifer Garrard, director of development at Queen of Angels School in Roswell. Garvin's hope for the youth is twofold. "First, that they have a sense of unity in the church, and second, that they come together as a community to celebrate the Eucharist . . . The Eucharist is the center of everything we believe."

She hopes that more teens will want to experience weekly the type of prayer and praise offered in the teen track by coming to the weekly XLT gatherings. "We don't want the flame to go out."