Youth Congress offers worship and fellowship
DRAPER — More than 200 youth, youth ministers and volunteers attended the diocesan Youth Congress “Keep the Fire Glowing” on Sept. 15 at St. John the Baptist Elementary School. At the Congress youth ages 13 to 17 enjoyed a full day of activities, including Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, games, music, two keynote speakers, Mass, lunch and a youth expo. Twenty-two parishes, missions and schools were represented at the event.
Most seemed to enjoy the opportunity to meet and interact with other Catholic youth from across the diocese. Andrew Shackelford, from St. Joseph the Worker Parish in West Jordan, said because he attends public school it was fun to meet more Catholic kids his age and a great change of pace.
Kate Bellew, who was one of the 14 youth from St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Park City, said that while she attended to fulfill school service hours she enjoyed the Congress, particularly the games where she got to interact with teens from other parishes. “They helped me realize I can’t do a lot of things alone; I need others,” she said.
Payson Hawkins, also of St. Mary said the Congress was a lot more fun than he expected. “I didn’t know this many teenagers would show up to something like this,” he said, adding that he found the keynote speakers very insightful.
Keynote speakers Anna Betancourt and Bishop Joseph Brennan engaged the youth with their presentations.
Betancourt, a musician and music minister, shared the story of her Catholic upbringing as the youngest of nine children and how she found meaningful worship through music. She and Bishop Brennan shared several songs of worship with the teens.
“Singing at Mass – it’s not just a form of entertainment; it’s not just filler,” she said. “The heart of worship, and worship through music, is all about Jesus.”
Lawren Malohi and Linda Brummer were part of the St. Patrick Parish youth group in Salt Lake City that organized the games. Brummer said she hoped attending the Congress would let her meet other Catholic youth and to get to know them.
Sisters Kassandra and Kietziah Sotolo from St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish in Midvale attended so Kassandra could fulfill a requirement for her Confirmation. Both said they enjoyed the day and learned a lot.
“I’ve learned that talking to God should be our number one priority,” Kietziah said.
Daniel Flores of the Cathedral of the Madeline Parish said he liked the ideas presented at Youth Congress.
“There have been a lot of ideas on how we can do better and have a closer relationship with God,” he said. “They have done a wonderful job today; the Adoration was beautiful.”
Events such as retreats are enjoyable, said Maria Brito of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Salt Lake City. “I think we learn to be more open to the spirit, and to our religion.”
During lunch, the teens attended the Youth Expo, where they visited booths by Boy Scouts of America, Girls Scouts of Utah, Comunidades Unidas, Holy Cross Ministries, and Catholic Community Services. There was also a prayer station, a photo booth and a station where teens could visit online Jerusalem and the Holy Land.
Later, when Bishop Brennan addressed the youth, he urged them to keep the fire of their faith glowing.
“Our baptism was the most important day of our lives,” he said. “Everything else begins with this flame lighted in our hearts.”
He counseled them to read the Bible and to know their faith.
“We are people of the Word, and it’s the Word that sets our hearts on fire,” he said.
The world gets confusing and often people can forget their core identity as daughters and sons of God, he said.
“Remember who you are and keep the flame alive within your heart,” he said.
To conclude the Youth Congress, Bishop Brennan celebrated Mass. During his homily, he spoke of the worship of self that has replaced religion in many people’s lives.
“The smallest package in the world is a human being wrapped up in himself,” he said.
Instead, “we have to let God work on us. It takes time,” he said. “God chips away everything that’s not you, everything that’s not beautiful.”
Throughout the day the music ministry was provided by Sts. Peters and Paul Parish of Salt Lake City.
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