Print Issue: December 19, 2002

'On Fire For The Lord,' 600 Teens Celebrate With Archbishop During XLT

By Erika Anderson, Staff Writer

Jacquelyn Lasker, a 15-year-old sophomore at Blessed Trinity High School, Roswell, praises the Lord during XLT (Exalt) in her school's auditorium, Nov. 19. (Photos by Michael Alexander) Brandon Jacques, center, a youth minister at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Smyrna, falls on his knees as XLT participants kneel in fervent prayer. With the thurible in hand, Archbishop John F. Donoghue censes the monstrance containing the Eucharist during eucharistic adoration. The archbishop made a special guest appearance at XLT, a 90-minute praise and worship program for teens in its second year at Blessed Trinity High School. The crowd stands on their feet as they join the Life Teen band in singing the closing hymn.

ROSWELL - The electricity was palpable among the standing room only crowd of teens that filled Blessed Trinity High School's auditorium Nov. 19 for XLT.

XLT, or Exalt, is held each Tuesday at the Roswell high school, but the Nov. 19 event was special - Archbishop John F. Donoghue was there to make a guest appearance.

XLT is a powerful hour and a half during which teens experience praise and worship, speakers and eucharistic adoration. Now in its second year, the program draws hundreds each week, but the archbishop's visit drew teens from across the diocese.

With a full Life Teen band, made up of musicians from St. Ann's Church in Marietta and St. Peter Chanel Church in Roswell, the music during XLT leads teens through various emotions - from enthusiastic praise to somber surrender. A large screen in the middle of the stage displays the words of the songs, then gently fades to reveal pictures of Jesus, as well as those in the audience.

On Nov. 19, Paul George, Southeast regional director of Life Teen, spoke to the teens, as Archbishop Donoghue observed from the crowd. George encouraged the teens to pray for courage in times of crisis.

"Crisis is gonna happen in our lives," he said. "In times of crisis, we basically come to a fork in the road where we have to say 'what do I believe?'"

"If you pray for one gift in your life, pray for courage - for Godly courage," he said. "Courage means being scared, but clinging to God, clinging to faith in Him and in the church."

After George's talk, Father Tim Hepburn, chaplain at Blessed Trinity, brought the monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament to a podium on the stage. Then, vested in a simple white alb and green stole, the archbishop incensed the Eucharist.

As teens and their leaders knelt in prayer, the archbishop led the Divine Praises. Then, as the lights brightened and the music swelled, he slowly made the sign of the cross with the monstrance, blessing all in attendance.

Nicole Warechowski, a sophomore who attends St. Ann's, came to the stage to lead a blessing over the archbishop. With her hand extended, she encouraged others in the audience to raise their hands as a symbol of blessing.

"Thank you so much for the gift of the archbishop," she said. "Thank you for the support he gives us teens . . . Please give him the courage he needs to lead each day."

The archbishop, clearly moved by the unconditional love expressed by the teens, thanked them for their support.

"I can't tell you how pleased and delighted I am this evening to see so many young people giving honor and glory and praise to God," he said. "I'm always delighted when people say they pray for me every day. I need your prayers. I pray also for you every day."

"You have so many gifts and talents and so much to offer to the Lord," he said. "And I want you to know that I love you, every single one of you, and the Lord loves you. May God bless you all."

Although admitting she was nervous to pray for the archbishop, Warechowski said it was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

"He's just on fire for the Lord. It was just awesome," she said, adding that his visit to XLT was special. "It shows he actually cares for us and he's not just dealing with the matters of the church. He really is a kind, down-to-earth guy who loves the Lord just like we do."

David Palasek, a teen from Prince of Peace Church in Buford, said that XLT is a weekly highlight.

"It lifts up my week. I can't not come," he said.

Palasek also said the archbishop's support was exciting.

"I haven't ever seen him," he said. "It's awesome. We don't usually have guests like that."

Randy Raus, national director of Life Teen, said that the archbishop's attendance was a testimony of his love for teens.

"It means that he cares for them deeply and considers them not just to be the future of the church, but the church," he said. "For him to come made 600 people's day."