Not a pew was empty during Mass at Brooklyn Catholic Youth Day on Saturday, Jan. 21. That’s because more than 450 middle and high school teens from parishes around the diocese gathered for fellowship, prayer, music as well as fun and games at St. Margaret’s Church, Middle Village.
The theme for the all-day event embraced St. Paul’s words on the value of spiritual gifts with “The Greatest of These is Love.” While that message was geared for the people of Corinth, it also applied to the youth to offer a new point of view and perspective regarding their faith journey.
Kerry Murtha, experiencing her first diocesan Youth Day as the new youth minister for St. Adalbert, Elmhurst, felt a great sense of purpose and connectedness.
“My favorite moment for the teens was when we gathered to listen and experience the message of the music during Mass,” said Murtha. “The reflection provided by one of the singers urged those present to ‘hand over all that troubles you to Jesus and feel the beauty in that relief.’”
The Jornada Music Ministry filled the church with harmonious melodies, beautiful beats with the drums and guitars, all embedded with encouraging words. Auxiliary Bishop Paul Sanchez celebrated Mass and blessed the teens.
After Mass, the youth packed St. Margaret’s gym for lunch and a talk by Colin Nykaza from the Archdiocese of New York. His message focused on pro-life leading up to the March for Life and shared images on a screen about the beginning stages of human life.
“I hope they get more fired up with this pro-life message because we need their voices,” said Nykaza. “We need our culture to get rid of this awful law in our country and it’s going to take people, it’s going to take votes, it’s going to take protests, it’s going to take people standing up.”
The teens did more than stand-up after the talk ended when it was time for fellowship and fun. Parishes chose representatives to answer movie trivia questions. Teens ran between tables, shouting and showcasing their competitive spirit.
But when it came to serious matters, they were just as adamant at participating. After a vocation talk by one of the Jornada members, the day transitioned into adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and the sacrament of reconciliation. Teens lined up and waited to speak to priests who came from all over the diocese, from the start of adoration until the end of the day, even after Father James Kuroly, diocesan chaplain of youth and young adult ministry, gave the final blessing.
“You are not just the future, you are very much the present. You are the here and the now,” said Father Kuroly. “By your energy, by your zeal, by your faith and your love, you make a difference. You make a difference in our church, you make a difference in our parishes, you make a difference in our lives and if there is any doubt of the important role that you play, just look at your youth minister and look at the adults who are here. You make a difference. You make all of the difference in the world.”