A keynote talk, praise and worship band, adoration, games, lunch, two parish small group times and a concluding vigil Mass were the highlights of the first daylong middle school youth conference presented by the diocesan Office of Youth Ministry.
The event took place on Feb. 7 at the Center for Pastoral Leadership in Wickliffe. It sold out within a day and a half, said Francine Costantini, director of youth ministry. The 325 attendees represented 20 different parishes throughout the diocese.
Jenn Martin, youth ministry specialist, was emcee for the day. Father Eric Garris, diocesan vocation director, was the keynote speaker and presided at adoration. Father Dominic Gideon, parochial vicar at St. Albert the Great Parish, celebrated Mass.
(See photo gallery above.)
The day’s Gospel was, “You are the light of the world … Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”
During the homily, Father Gideon invited a few middle schoolers to come up and act out roles such as a zombie, a ballerina and a disco ball. He explained the disco ball analogy, advising the students, “Don’t be a screen zombie attracted to the light of your cell phone and ignoring life … Don’t be a selfish ballerina who wants the spotlight … be a disco ball, reflecting the light of Christ to others.”
Costantini and Martin said the event drew rave reviews from both the attendees and youth ministers.
“Thanks for doing this. I really needed this,” said one middle schooler.
“The bus on the way home was so lively. They shared their experience, what was new to them and all said they would return to either CLE: Middle or CLE 21:6 (the diocesan high school youth conference),” said Dawn Cavanaugh, youth minister at St. Francis Xavier Parish in Medina. “Two of my chaperones also teach PSR grade 2 and 6. They said they have never seen the young Church so engaged and gave Father Eric high praise,” she added.
“My kids absolutely loved it. The kids really loved Eucharistic adoration and Mass. And the music was so, so, so good,” said Evamarie Cross, youth minister at St. Paschal Baylon Parish in Highland Heights.
“I love middle schoolers. They are a highly underrated age for their tremendous capacity and hunger they have for God. This day had all the makings of good middle school youth ministry: loud music, high energy games, profound, yet simple, messages, pizza and the Eucharist,” Martin said. “Can’t wait to do it again.”
Click here to learn more about youth ministry in the Cleveland Diocese.