After a year of planning and preparation, CLE 21:6, the daylong youth ministry conference, took place Jan. 10 at John Carroll University.
Francine Costantini, diocesan director of youth ministry, said 775 high school students attended the event.
As attendees began arriving about 9 a.m., they were greeted with upbeat music, a countdown on the large screen in Kulas Auditorium and grab bags. Students also enjoyed tossing around beach balls prior to introductions and the welcoming remarks. They also watched a short video from Bishop Edward Malesic, who was unable to attend.
(See above for a photo gallery from the event.)
Illusionist Danny Ray prayed with the crowd and helped set a joyful tone for the day.
Father Ryan Mann, pastor of St. Basil the Great Parish in Brecksville and an emcee for the day, gave keynote remarks before the groups dispersed to breakout sessions around campus. Sessions included:
- Abby Randolph, a Catholic missionary and worship leader who spent five years at Camp Damascus and Catholic Youth Summer Camp, whose topic was “Speak Lord: A Deep Dive Into Hearing the Lord’s Voice.”
- Father Dominic Gideon, parochial vicar at St. Albert the Great Parish in North Royalton, who talked about “LOL or Low Blow: Having Holy Humor.”
- David Petrovic, a high school theology teacher diagnosed with autism as a toddler, who discussed “Unmasked: Finding Joy in Who God Made You.”
- Mary Kate Glowe, a Walsh Jesuit High School theology teacher, whose topic was “Joy and the Cross: Finding Joy in Suffering.”
- Father Eric Garris, diocesan vocation director, who talked about “Prayer Made Simple: How to Begin Again.”
- Jenn Martin, diocesan youth ministry specialist, tackled “Reason, Season or Lifetime: Virtuous Friendships.”
Attendees chose sessions to attend before heading to their assigned lunch time. Adoration followed in Gesu Church, across from the JCU campus. Afterward, there were additional opportunities to hear the breakout speakers.
After adoration, the group returned to Kulas Auditorium for an illusionist act by Ray.
Constantini and Martin then presented the Jan Tyranowski Youth Ministry Award to Tommy Dome of St. Barnabas Parish in Northfield. Emily Currid, a Gilmour Academy student from St. Dominic Parish in Shaker Heights, received the Christus Vivit Award.
Dinner followed and Mass at Gesu concluded the day. Principal celebrant was Gesu Pastor Father Lukas Laniauskas, SJ, who told attendees that “our God is a God of surprise.” He asked them to reflect on three things: surprise, saved and sent.
“God will constantly want to say, ‘Surprise,’ to us … we have to let God in. He wants to be in all of your lives,” he said. God loves each of us and he has saved us. Then, at the end of Mass, we are sent out to be light for the world, Father Laniauskas said.
“It all starts tonight with surprise, saved, sent,” he added.
Costantini said the first CLE 21:6, which took place as the COVID pandemic was winding down, was limited to 400 students. However, that number has grown consistently. This year, 44 parishes and schools were represented, as well as a group from the Diocese of Youngstown.
“We are blessed,” she said, reflecting on the event’s success. Planning for the 2027 CLE 21:6 will begin soon, she added.