Denver Catholic

10 I YOUTH July 3, 2013 I Denver CatholiC register Can you hear me now? BY the numBers steubenville of the rockies Unprecedented numbers respond to God's call at youth conference As the three-day youth rally was coming to a close—a weekend of praise and worship music, engaging speakers, eucharistic adoration, confession and Masses—she was overcome with a sense of peace and a potential call to religious life. By Julie FilBy Maddock joined about 150 other young women, and 200 Rose Maddock, 16, hadn't young men, who flooded the planned to attend Steubenville of altar at the closing Mass June the Rockies June 21-23 in Denver. 23 when asked for anyone conEncouraged by classmates from sidering a call to religious life to St. James Academy in Lenexa, come forward. Photo by robert lInn for the Denver CatholIC regIster Kans., she ultimately joined them "It doesn't mean they're sign- younG people dance to Ben Walther at the Steubenville of the for the drive across Interstate 70 ing on the dotted line," Father Rockies conference June 22 in Denver at the Crowne Plaza to the Mile High City. Jim Crisman, director of priestly Hotel DIA in Denver. vocations for the Denver Arch- It was also a recurring theme diocese, explained to the stand- in Archbishop Samuel Aquila's ing-room only crowd at the homily at the Mass. Crowne Plaza Hotel DIA. "It "Whatever vocation we are means they're open to discern- called to, whatever our mission is ing this call … and it means they in life, we are called to give ourneed our prayers." selves to Jesus," the archbishop Youths approached the altar in said. "That is the only way we will numbers not seen in the past. experience happiness." "By far it was the most reWhen putting their faith and sponse we have had at the voca- trust in Jesus, he instructed, they tions call before," said Michelle will discover their call in life. Peters, director of Youth, Young "You have a mission that you Adult and Campus Ministry for and you alone can fulfill," he the archdiocese. said. "That is how great the FaThe 2,350 youth whooped, ther loves us." hollered and whistled in support He encouraged them "to beof their peers, and vowed to pray come the saints they are called to for them. be" just like Blessed Mother Tere"When they asked us to stand sa and Blessed John Paul II. if we felt called to the sisterhood, "(They) were young persons I felt no fear in my heart," Mad- just like you," he said. "Because dock told the Denver Catholic they loved Jesus, they changed Register following Mass. "Jesus' the world." July 2-11 Eight-Day Silent Directed Retreat love just poured over me." Tony Beatty, 16, a parishioner August 12-21 Eight-Day Silent Directed Retreat She burst into tears over- of Blessed Sacrament Church whelmed when relaying the in Rapid City, S.D., appreciated September 11 Day of Prayer: 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. experience. the archbishop's homily from September 13-15 Weekend Retreat (Women) "My brother is in the seminary his front row seat, as well as the right now (Conception Seminary music provided by Christian art September 20-22 Weekend Retreat (Men) in Conception, Mo.), and that ist Ben Walther. The highlight of September 27-29 Vietnamese Retreat (Men & Women) connection he has with Jesus re- the weekend for him was Saturally inspires me," she continued. day night's eucharistic adoration 4801 North Highway Catholic Reg 3.77" x 4" 67, P.O. Box 185, Sedalia, CO 80135 "I think it's amazing that people procession. Phone: give up their lives for the faith … "When the body of Christ Aug. 2012 303-688-4198 ext. 122 (information/reservations) Website: www.sacredheartretreat.org there are so many witnesses for came into the room, it was so Jesus." moving; I loved it," he said. "I was She felt she had been "cho- crying the whole time, thinking sen" to attend Steubenville—the of my sins … and letting it all go." theme of this year's conference. It was life-changing, he said. attendees 2,350 states represented 12 estimated vocational calls 300 Priests hearing confessions 45 confessions heard 1,700 steubenville conferences in u.s. 18 "It was so powerful," according to Father Leo Patalinghug, a priest of the Archdiocese of Baltimore and keynote speaker, who led the eucharistic procession. "Every teen here experienced grace upon grace; and more importantly, what the Catholic Church stands for: good news." Earlier on Saturday, Father Patalinghug delivered a talk on relativism and engaged the crowd in "The Most Ultimate Epic Competition Ever." "It was like an episode of 'Chopped' and 'America's Got Talent' all rolled into one," said the priest who gained notoriety after defeating professional chef and TV personality Bobby Flay on the Food Network program "Throwdown! with Bobby Flay" in 2009. Following singing, dancing and martial arts competitions, the youths vied for spots on girls' and boys' teams for a cooking competition where each team made a dessert using mystery ingredients. In the end, the boys' team defeated the girls. Other speakers included Deacon Ralph Poyo, founder of New Evangelization Ministries, renowned youth speaker Tammy Evevard, and musical artist Chris Padgett. Julie Filby: 303-715-3123; julie. filby@archden.org; www.twitter. com/DCRegisterJulie Conference The Vatican did not want to attach the official Twitter account to a specific pope, as they didn't want to build followers then lose them, according to conference presenter Msgr. Paul Tighe, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Social Communication. @Pontifex (Latin for "pope") has 7 million followers and tweets in six languages. The Vatican is considering a Facebook page for the pontiff. Our patients are not alone. Not in life. . . nor death. Strive to witness, not win, according to conference speakers from Catholic Voices USA. For more information on this apostolate that equips Catholics to defend the faith, visit www. www.catholicvoicesusa.org. During transition, we're with our patients, supporting loved ones or being with patients who have no one else. The Denver Catholic Register will continue to inform, inspire and engage readers with news and features through a Catholic lens using print and digital media. Follow the Register on Facebook and Twitter. We care for patients in their homes, in our own inpatient facility, in nursing homes or in assisted living residences. The conference closed with For answers to the opening an awards banquet featuring a questions in this story, see the talk on the importance of immi- accompanying box. from Page 3 gration reform from Los Angeles Archbishop José Gomez, former Julie Filby: 303-715-3123; julie. work during the "momentous" auxiliary bishop of Denver. Next filby@archden.org; www.twitter. transition. year's conference will be held in com/DCRegisterJulie Describing Pope Emeritus Charlotte, N.C. Benedict's touching last day in the papacy, Feb. 28, he said: "There were no dry eyes in Rome that evening." 2013 Catholic Media Conference story answers On March 13 when the "stranger" Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio appeared on the balcony at St. Peter's Square, he got the world talking—and listening. "A French journalist recently referred to Francis as a 'defibrillator' pope," he said. "We need defibrillators when we have serious heart problems. … Francesco is a badly needed ecclesial defibrillator for our times."

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