Last Saturday, November 3, our High School and Middle School youth groups brought 20 young people to the Diocesan Youth Rally, which was held at St. Leo the Great Catholic Church in Bonita Springs. We were joined by Bishop Dewane and over 2,000 other young people in the Diocese to experience this powerful, dynamic and youthful expression of the Catholic faith. George Smith, Diocesan Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, put it best when he led the audience in chanting: “There ain’t no party like a Cath-o-lic party. ‘Cause a Cath-o-lic party don’t stop!”
The theme for this year’s rally was, “Have Courage and Keep the Faith.” Our patron was Blessed Miguel Pro, a Jesuit priest martyred in the persecution of the Church in Mexico. Before being killed by firing squad, Bl. Pro proclaimed the now famous battle cry of Spanish speaking Catholics: “Viva Cristo Rey!” (Long live Christ the King).
Our young people were encouraged and exhorted to live their faith in a public way, unafraid and unashamed to proclaim the Gospel in the classroom, on the playground and in their families.
The speakers equipped teens to engage youth culture with the New Evangelization. Highlights of the Youth Rally included:
• Keynote speaker Matt Maher
• Concert with Matt Maher and Brandon Heath
• Eucharistic procession and Mass with Bishop Dewane
• Men’s talk with Fr. Phil Hurley, S.J.
• Women’s talk with Jessica Rey
• Adoration and confessions
Our youth loved the rally and came back energized to be living witnesses of the New Evangelization A huge thanks goes out to Bishop Dewane and George Smith for providing this opportunity to experience the youthful dynamism of the Catholic faith!
Bill Maguire
Director
of Youth Ministry