METUCHEN — “Courageous Love” was the theme at the annual diocesan Youth Day Celebration Feb. 8 at Saint Joseph High School.
More than 250 students between grades seven and 12 from the diocese gathered in the school’s gymnasium to participate in activities, listen to speakers and worship at a Mass celebrated by Bishop James F. Checchio.
Father Timothy A. Christy, diocesan Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia, welcomed the attendees with an inspirational address aimed at the high schoolers receiving the Saint Timothy Award. Presented by the diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, the award is given for “faithfully living out the baptismal promises and call to discipleship.”
Certificates given to honorees included that wording as well as a quote from St. Timothy: “Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity” (1 Tm 4:12).
Each honoree also received a 2020 Daily Devotion Bible Diary.
“The only way to be happy is to give ourselves away,” Father Christy said to the honorees, family and friends. “The gifts that you’ve been given, you are now called to share them.
“At the end of the day, the most important thing that you and I have to do is to become a saint — someone who realizes that God is number one and they live their life that way all life long. This is our moment, in this room, that we respond to becoming a saint.”
Award winner Jessica Krok, a senior in high school, is a youth group member at Mary, Mother of God Parish, Hillsborough. She is a committed Girl Scout and recently earned her Gold Award for creating a talent showcase for Play Unified summer participants. She also serves as co-president of a program that focuses on social inclusion.
“The main criteria [for the award] is that while you’re involved with your church, you’re involved with your community,” Krok said. “So, with me, I’m heavily involved with Special Olympics New Jersey.”
Several students also received the St. Teresa of Calcutta Award as witnesses to their faith who work with the poor, sick, and homeless while exhibiting Catholic morals, integrity, service, and leadership.
Youth Day offered a unique opportunity for young people to enjoy fellowship with others and to learn about the Church beyond the boundaries of their parishes.
“When we thought about what we wanted this day to look like we read a lot of the Gospel of John,” said Carol Mascola, director, diocesan Office of Discipleship Formation for Children, previously known as the Office of Catechism. “In his famous Gospel about love we pulled out the theme of courageous love because for young people today living in the world and the society that we live in it takes courage to be a person of faith.”
In his homily, Bishop Checchio spoke about the Gospel of Luke (2:22-40) to illustrate how the faithful can serve others and bring them closer to God.
“In today’s reading we know that when Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the Temple, Simeon grabs the child, Jesus, and calls him a light to the world. Think of that. What is the purpose of light? What does it do? Light helps others to be able to see. What are his desires for us? Be the light that helps others to see what God wants for us. Give the Lord a chance. Give him permission. The Lord knit you together in your mother’s womb. He has a plan for each and every one of us. And don’t forget the Lord loves you.”
In keeping with the theme of courage, keynote speaker Jonathan Alexander of Houston and president of Adore Ministries, a grassroots ministry centered on knowing, loving and serving God, captivated the audience with his account of his first skydive.
“The ascent is like slow torture,” said Alexander. “As you go higher and higher and higher, it gets colder and colder and colder and the noise from the plane gets louder and louder and louder. Then there comes a point when you are all lined up single file in front of an open door and the instructor puts his hand on the shoulder of the first person in line and asks them if they are ready. Next thing you know, whoosh! They are gone. Then the person behind that one, whoosh! Then the person behind them. Finally, it gets to be your turn and I’m telling you when his hand goes on your shoulder and he asks the question everything is a blur. The next thing I remember was hurtling towards the ground with the sound of air rushing all around me. I could barely hear the sound of my own screaming. It is chaotic. But then, somehow, you pull the release cord and the chute opens and everything changes in an instant. There is a sudden jerk and you stop falling at breakneck speed and all at once it is peaceful, serene and quiet and you can see for miles in every direction. It is beautiful.
“As I was descending, I wondered what God thinks of us. I mean, doesn’t he ever wonder why we choose to do things our own way when he has a path all laid out for us? As I was fighting my fear on that plane and thinking about all the things that could go wrong God already knew what my path would be from A to Z, yet here I was fighting every step of the way.”
Attendees of the event included members of parish youth groups and ministries and Catholic high schools.
“The younger ones, many of them came for confirmation retreats or just to enjoy the day and to experience a bigger church,” said Mascola.
“Often, young people feel very alone. They are involved in youth groups, but within their own parish. They don’t realize that there is a bigger church so events like this give them that opportunity to experience that and realize there are a whole lot of other young people that are like them.”
Teens receive St. Timothy, St. Teresa of Calcutta Awards at Youth Day
Alpha
St. Mary Parish
Christian Chiulli
Carli VanHaute