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November 20 , 2006 • VOL. 44, NO. 20 • Oakland, CA
Spirited youth declare it’s ‘cool to be Catholic’
Four years
ago, a group of youth ministers brainstormed a collective dream. Concerned
that there were no diocesan-wide gatherings for young people, they began
looking for ways to organize a day-long youth rally.
They envisioned it as a Saturday gathering featuring music, prominent
keynote presenters, food, liturgy, and a dance. All were designed to give
kids a glimpse into what it means to belong to a larger Church, where
“people their age truly believe in Christ and find it cool to be
Catholic,” said Teena Posas, youth minister at St. Joseph Parish
in Pinole.
“We weren’t even sure how serious we were about doing it or
if it could even be done,” recalls Sheila Herger, a parish volunteer
at Transfiguration Parish in Castro Valley. “We had no money, no
resources. What we did have were prayers, the energy of youth ministers
and God on our side.”
The combination was enough of a kick-start to get them going. Once the
word got out, pastors offered free space. Volunteers, both adult and youth,
stepped forward. Since then, much to the youth leaders’ grateful
astonishment, the southern Alameda County regional rally has been packing
in kids like bees to honey for the past three years.
The most recent, held Oct. 28 at St. Bede Church in Hayward, attracted
over 650 young people from parishes in Fremont, Hayward, San Leandro,
San Lorenzo, Union City, Rodeo, Pinole, Castro Valley, and Alameda.
Attendance has increased each year, said Jim Soltau, director of youth
ministry at St. Anne Parish in Union City.
In 2004, the rally was held at St. Leander Church in San Leandro and drew
500 kids. Last year’s rally, at St. Joachim’s in Hayward,
brought in 550 participants.
“We’re going strong,” notes Herger. Heartened by the
turnout, the planning committee is hoping that a future rally can be opened
up to all diocesan youth, providing the group can find a large enough
venue to accommodate them.
Vibes from the Oct. 28 day are still pulsating.
“When we give kids avenues to express themselves, they will –
with joy, excitement and a lot of noise. And they’ll blow our socks
off,” Herger said.
Facilitating the sock-blasting activities were keynote speakers: Jesse
Manibusan, liturgical composer and musician, and Anna Scally, president
of Cornerstone Ministry in Santa Rosa.
The two explored Jesus’ question to Bartemaeus, the blind beggar,
“What do you want me to do for you?” and his command to the
healed man, “Go your way: Your faith has saved you.”
Manibusan had the youth sing along with him in melodies and words which
underscored the question. Scally gave the group interactive, zany ice-breaking
activities and skits to participate in, providing the teens with opportunities
to meet new people.
“She gave them a way to open up to each other and share their faith
experiences,” said Lucy Soltau, director of youth ministry at Corpus
Christi Parish in Fremont. “And, of course, music always motivates
teenagers.
Singing, dancing, liturgy and prayer with a variety of music was a great
unifier,” she underlined.
Noy Hernandez, a junior at San Jose State, was ecstatic about the music,
which both Manibusan and Scally tied into their sessions. “Their
workshops were like magic and Disneyland,” Hernandez said. “When
Jesse Manibusan would strap on his guitar and start singing and the whole
congregation of youth would just stand out of pure love for the Church,
that is magic.”
One of the skits, planned by a diocesan youth committee, had the kids
don masks, “to signify the different personalities we as teens tend
to hide behind,” said Allen Paulo, a junior at Pinole Valley High
School and a member of St. Joseph’s. Paulo, who served on the planning
committee, said the group decided to include masks since the rally was
so close to Halloween. “The masks signified the different personalities
in which we tend to hide behind, trying to become popular and cool.”
Stephanie Corona, a Diablo Valley College freshman, added, “We feel
vulnerable if people know who we really are, so we put on a face, a mask,
a façade.”
At one point, the youth were invited to throw away their masks “to
exemplify the showing of our true selves and the acceptance of who we
are and what we stand for,” said Paulo.
“As much as we have to hear it again, it’s important to love
ourselves the way we are, which encompasses both our talents and our weaknesses,”
said Corona.
Both Corona
and Paulo agreed that the rally expanded their respective takes on what
it means to be a Catholic Christian in today’s world. Said Corona:
“I realized the extent to which society clashes with our Catholic
faith. Not only does society emphasize individualism through its advertisements,
but it also induces putting on a front.”
While individuals can’t beat society in this kind of competition,
said the Diablo Valley student, “we can lead by example in our everyday
lives, with the struggles we face, the people we meet and the decisions
we make.”
Paulo said his interpretation of the Bartemaeus Scripture reading has
expanded since the weekend.
“I learned how Jesus accepted all. Through what he did and his perception
of acceptance, I immediately viewed the whole world as my family. I was
fascinated at how Jesus was able to drop everything to stop and listen
to someone in need. And not only listening and talking to someone, but
uplifting the burden that Bartemaeus carried. I want to have the heart
of Jesus, willing to accept everyone as family in his name.”
A group of youth rally participants show their spirit.
\
T eens pray during the youth rally Mass at St. Bede Church.
Teens talk about their faith during one of the youth rally exercises in
the gym at St. Bede Church.
Musician Jesse Manibusan, joined by a group of teens, leads participants
in an energetic song.
Three teens perform a skit about the masks teens wear to protect themselves
from being known for who they are.
Bishop Emeritus John Cummins accepts the financial offering during the
presentation of gifts.
Teens lead their peers in the Prayers of the Faithful.
ALFRED ALIPIO JOCSON PHOTOS
The rally included a liturgy, concelebrated by Bishop Emeritus John Cummins
and pastors from the participating parishes. Laureen Aguayo, youth ministry
coordinator from St. Clement’s School of Religion, said the clergy
also attended dinner in the social hall. “Let me tell you, that
alone impressed the kids to know the bishop and priests were eating with
them.”
Aguayo, who was part of the food committee, expressed her gratitude to
Father Seamus Farrell, St. Bede’s pastor, whom she credits as being
a constant support for the group, from the initial planning of the rally
to the last moment of the actual day. Said Mariano Jauco, youth minister
at St. John Parish in San Lorenzo, “I was amazed and humbled to
see a pastor climb up a ladder to hand banners. Not bad for an elder.
It was definitely the Holy Spirit holding him up.”
