Glowing in the Dark: Teens On Fire

light of the world

 

light of the world

Speaking to tens of thousands of teenagers and young pilgrims at a candlelight vigil in the city of Freiburg, at the end of his Sept. 22-25, 2011 state visit to Germany, Pope Benedict XVI challenged those present with these stirring and unforgettable words:

“Dare to be glowing saints, in whose eyes and hearts the love of Christ beams and who thus bring light to the world.”

“I am confident that you and many other young people here in Germany are lamps of hope that do not remain hidden. ‘You are the light of the world.’ Amen.”

Even though his words were spoken to the youths present at the vigil, his words were really being directed to all teenagers and young people throughout the world.

Both in Europe and here in the USA, many people worry about the decline in the number of teens and young adults attending church and what this means for the future of the Church. But what I’ve seen in the last few months has convinced me that something good is just over the horizon.  I believe there is soon going to be a resurgence of teenagers and young adults who are not only returning to and rediscovering their Catholic faith, but who are also on fire for it.

A New Role

Several months ago, I began a job at a small local parish as the new Youth Ministry Leader. After all the youth protection clearances, applications, background checks, and just generally learning the ropes, I found myself diving in headfirst, so the speak.  While the Core Team and fellow Youth Ministers brought me up to speed, I quickly found myself immersed in this overwhelming, mysterious, and exciting milestone.

I was both nervous and excited at the same time. Uppermost in my mind was a one single thought: I’m being entrusted with the lives and souls of these young people.

Me As A Teenager

Thinking back to the days when I was a teenager, nearly 20 years ago, I couldn’t help but think about the many questions I had as a teen in regard to my faith and all the other “God stuff.” Like a lot of teenagers, I began wondering about my Catholic upbringing and just how faith and reality meshed.

Growing up a “cradle Catholic,” I had heard and learned all about Jesus, the Church, the Sacraments, and the Saints. I went through all the important events in a young Catholic’s life: Baptism, First Communion, Reconciliation, and Confirmation.  But little did I realize at the time that I was creating two boxes.  In the first box, I put all my “God stuff.”  This box would be opened up for an hour or so on Sunday.  But once Mass ended, that box would be closed again until next Sunday.  In the second box, I stored everything else: school, homework, fun, friends, family, girls, etc.

Drifting Away From My Faith

What was really frustrating for me, from roughly the age of 17 to 22, was trying to figure out how the stuff in both boxes fit together. It wasn’t that I didn’t believe, but I was definitely starting to drift away from my Catholic faith.

On most Sundays I’d be sitting in a pew at mass and listening but not listening to the priest during his homily.  Most often his words just went in one ear and right out the other. I wasn’t being affected in any deep, spiritual way.  In my young mind I’d wonder, “How can Jesus’ dying on the cross really help me pass my driver’s test or get into a decent college?” And that was if I was even paying attention.  Back then, Church just wasn’t connecting with me.

Upon rediscovering my faith in my early 20’s, I found myself on fire. It was as if my eyes were suddenly opened to all the truths that had been revealed to me so long ago (more about this in a future article).  Even so, it still took years, almost until the time I was 30, to completely tie together everything that I’d been taught way back in Catholic elementary and high school. But maybe that’s how it goes for many teenagers.

At Work In The Present

Just recently, I was invited to attend a special “Life Teen” event at St. Patrick’s in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.  I’d been to several Life Teen masses but had never attended any of the events following the mass.  This time, however, I put my trust in God, and went in hoping to be shown the way.  What I discovered was truly breath-taking!

Close to fifty teenagers were present at the Mass, which was celebrated by no less than the Bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg, the Most Reverend Ronald W. Gainer, D.D., J.C.L. Following the Mass, as we were enjoying pizza, the Life Teen leaders asked if I’d mind helping out as one of their facilitators.  Talk about “jumping in with both feet.”  I was a little anxious wondering how the teens would react to the new guy, but they cheerfully welcomed me.

After watching for awhile , I took part in a fun icebreaker game and then led my group in a silly little dance number.  I was amazed at the interest these young people showed toward their faith!  They asked good, insightful questions about their faith, in particular about how it impacted their daily lives.  But what was most touching was their honesty.  These young Catholics were not at all shy when it came to being truthful about their own struggles.

As the evening drew to a close, I helped with and participated in a joyfully tear-filled Chaplet of Divine Mercy. By the end of the night, there was no doubt in my mind that these youths were glowing for their faith, just as Pope Benedict had asked all young people everywhere to do five years ago.

The Future

In my own parish we probably won’t end up with 50 young people in our teen group, but so far we do have 15 who have eagerly signed up. Our Core Team felt the teens should be allowed to vote on a name for the group and the name that most of the group liked best was “Fusion.”  And when asked what they wanted to do, there was unanimous agreement on two things: “To learn more about my faith” and “make new friends.”

As our Kick-Off Night of September 24th draws closer, I do believe that God has great things in store for the young people both at our church and around the world.

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