By Taylor Odenat

Eighty young people participated in the seventh annual Lock-in/Stay A-wake-Athon in Brooklyn.

Attendees included youth from churches across the diocese including St. Vincent Ferrer, East Flatbush; St. Matthew, Crown Heights; Queen of All Saints, Fort Greene; St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, Prospect Heights; St. Martin de Porres, Bedford-Stuyvesant; Holy Innocents, Flatbush; and St. Thomas Aquinas, Flatlands.

There were several guest speakers, including Eliena Perez from the Corazon Puro organization and Gilbert Rodriguez. Men and women had separate discussions on chastity.

“Mr. Rodriguez taught us to respect our bodies,” said Julien Dorner, 13, who returned to the Lock-in for third consecutive year. “He also talked about issues that kids our age are facing today.”

Speaker Tony Bellizzi conducted a guided meditation with the youth intending to establish a relaxed and serene environment.

“It felt as if a weight was lifted off of my shoulders,” said Kayla Joseph, 15, attendant of St. Matthews Church. “I felt free and at peace.”

Participants experienced a Holy Hour joined with music by The Kingdom Builders.

“The music was really mellow,” said Sherquan Sumra, 19, member of the Vicariate of Black Catholic Concerns Ambassador Program. “They set a calming mood to lead us into confession.”

Dorner said that this year was his favorite out of the three times that he’s gone to the Lock-in.

“We got to do a lot of fun activities,” said Dorner. “I met new people, took part in Holy Hour, played basketball, ate food and watched movies.”

Father Dwayne Davis, project director of the VBCC Ambassador Program, said it was great experience for the youth of the different parishes.

“It was a wonderful night full of faith, food, and fun,” said Father Davis. “For the last seven years, I have always look forward to the Lock-in for it gives our young people a opportunity to get away from the business of everyday life and to be with the Lord and their peers for a night.

“The 14 hours always seem so short and I am always amazed each year by the openness of our young people to God’s grace and mercy. Every year it’s as if they are yearning for more as some of the young people, as they go through the door, ask us to do a Lock-in more than once a year.”

Odenat is a parishioner at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Flatlands.