It’s that time of year again! Our Diocesan celebration of World Youth Day is almost upon us as we are finishing the final preparations for this annual event that will take place in just a couple of weeks on October 23rd. Our Diocesan Youth Board has been hard at work preparing for this event, and we cannot wait to experience it together with you!
Each and every year, over a thousand young people gather together for World Youth Day and we look forward to having you join us. But in case you happen to be on the fence as to whether or not to go, here are 5 solid reasons (whether you are a teen, youth minister, chaperone, or parent) as to why you won’t want to miss out!
1. The Pilgrimage of Mercy
Ultimately, the day will be centered on a pilgrimage. We will begin the day with Mass, and following Mass, our group of over a thousand will enter into a pilgrimage as we carry a 30 foot cross to various venues around Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church. The pilgrimage will be themed around the story of the Prodigal Son. Our journey will mirror that of the son who left his father and ultimately squandered his inheritance leading him to go on a journey of his own back to the father. With each venue along the way, we will dive deeper into the story and ultimately conclude our day returning back to God as we encounter Him in Eucharistic Adoration.
2. It’s an opportunity to have fun and worship God with over a thousand young people!
The culture today attempts to convince us that Catholicism is boring and outdated, especially for our youth. We are constantly presented with and lured into a false notion that our Church’s teachings and style of worship are no longer in touch with the mindset and spirit of the culture that we live in. But this is not, true, in fact the opposite is true! Catholic faith and worship involves the whole person in an amazing experience of salvation through the saving love of God. Indeed so many youth are attracted to a relationship with Christ because he offers what the World does not offer: eternal love and happiness.
In case you missed it, over 3 million young people gathered in Poland this past summer for the International World Youth Day with the pope. Over 50,000 youth attended a Steubenville Youth Conference this past summer. Countless teenagers all over the world are being drawn into an intimate encounter with Christ each and every day in their parish youth groups, the Sacraments, and in Eucharistic Adoration.
The Church is not dead for our youth. It is more alive than it has ever been. When you experience our Diocesan World Youth Day in a couple of weeks, you will have the opportunity to witness and participate in this life that the youth bring to our Church as over a thousand young people will gather not just for an ordinary gathering, but for an authentic encounter with Jesus Christ.
3. You will laugh! (and perhaps cry too!)
World Youth Day is a time for spiritual renewal and reflection as we ponder the mystery of God’s mercy, but this does not mean that the day is filled with penitent silence. It will be a dynamic and Spirit-filled day. There will be times of deep prayer coupled with times of extreme fun and fellowship with youth from all over the diocese as we gather for fun and games, a meal, a service project, hilarious skits, Mass, prayer, and Eucharistic Adoration.
The DYB has been planning some amazing programming that will have you laughing with joy as well and being led into an encounter with Christ. Our keynote speaker will be Fr. Rick Martignetti, a Franciscan Friar from Franciscan University of Steubenville. Fr. Rick is a nationally known Catholic speaker who will bring a fun and energetic presence as well as a powerful and dynamic message of the love of Christ. For more info on Fr. Rick go to http://site.steubenvilleconferences.com/team/profile/3353/father-rick-martignetti-ofm.
4. Jesus will be there…literally!
This is the most beautiful aspect of our Catholic faith as well as during World Youth Day. Yes, there will be a lot of fun and. Yes, there will be some great food. Yes, there will be some amazing speakers and music. Ultimately however, we will experience all of this with the King Himself. Jesus Christ will be there, and He will be there not just in a spiritual sense. He will be there in His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity as we encounter Him in Word and flesh in the Mass, take Him with us throughout our Pilgrimage, and adore His Most Precious Body in Eucharistic Adoration.
How often in life do we get excited by a sporting event because we get to see our favorite sports heroes in real life? Or how often are we overcome with emotion at a concert where we see and hear our favorite artist’s songs in real time rather than on the radio or through our iPhone? As excited as we get for those things, we should be a million times more excited to encounter the Lord of lords. The God of the universe who created us will be present and with us in the flesh at World Youth Day! And He will be present as reconciling love and mercy offered for every person!
5. It’s FREE!!!!!!!!!
Do I really need to explain why this is a good reason?
Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity. Sure, you could be doing probably a million other things on October 23rd, but there will be no other place where you will be able to gather with over a thousand young people in our diocese worshipping and praising God than at World Youth Day. So please consider this opportunity and join us on October 23, 2016, at our Lady of Mercy in Baton Rouge. The cost is free! There will be fun and games, amazing food, awesome speakers and music, and an authentic encounter with Jesus Christ. Registration ends on October 12th. If you are a teen, please see your Youth Minister or DRE for information on how to register. If you are a youth minister, DRE, group leader, or interested parent, please register your group on the youth ministry website at http://www.diobryouth.org/world-youth-day-1/ .