Denver Catholic

18 JULY 23-AUGUST 12, 2016 | DENVER CATHOLIC Around the Archdiocese Queen of Peace Catholic PARISH THANKS ITS DEACONS for their Faithful service: Deacon David Baez Deacon Bill Senger Deacon Efra Pruneda Deacon Daniel Ciucci "Reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom." Acts 6:3 St. John the Baptist Catholic Parish in Longmont thanks our outstanding Deacons for their faithful service to our parish and surrounding communities. Deacon Michael Berens Deacon Modesto Garcia St. Mark Catholic Church in Westminster and its parish community wish to recognize and thank Deacon Gordon Hudec & Deacon Sidney Atencio for their devoted service to our parish. May God bless you and your families! BY MELISSA KEATING T wenty-three years ago, a teenage John Klausner listened to John Paul II tell the crowds at Cherry Creek park that love is stronger than death. Klausner had just walked a gruel- ing pilgrimage to see the pope speak for World Youth day. This week, a grown-up Klausner is taking the teens of Christ the King in Evergreen to World Youth Day in Poland.' He said the eŠects of the first World Youth Day are still with him. He espe- cially remembers the walk to the vigil. "I remember walking and not really knowing how long the walk was. I jumped in thinking I was going on maybe a mile-long walk. I wasn't men- tally or physically prepared, but all the people there helped me," he said. "I realized I'm not in this faith alone." He said the message that he heard the pope say so clearly—that love is stronger than death—soon turned into something he drew strength from. It helped him get through several trau- matic deaths of loved ones. He wound up going to six World Youth Days, and had passed his enthusiasm for them on to his youth group. "I think that one of the best times to minister to youth is when we can get them out of their comfort zone," he said, pointing out that his teens are giving up cell phones, regular meals and cars.' Some of his teens say that they're actu- ally looking forward to giving up their phones. Taylor Kitch-Ross, a 17-year-old Mullen High School student, said she thinks her cell phone allows her to be influenced by her peers and the media. "I know that when I'm away from my phone I feel more in touch with myself. I'm more in touch with God," Kitch- Ross said.' Sixteen-year-old Evergreen High School student Anna Newkirk agreed, although she said there were other perks to World Youth Day. "I'm also really looking forward to seeing Pope Francis because he's really cool," she said. Both teens said they were already moved by the fact that host families were going to shelter and feed them before World Youth Day. "They have to be really caring people," Newkirk said. She pointed out that the host families were likely stepping out of their comfort zone by agreeing to'accom- modate'them. Both she and Kitch-Ross said it gave them a glimpse of the world- wide church and the presence of God. "It goes to show that love is every- where, and everyone is willing to give," she said. The teens are already learning Klausner's World Youth Day lesson. "Whenever we remove some of those things that make us comfortable in our daily life, we really have to rely on God to get us through," he said. Christ the King carries on gift of World Youth Day John Klausner (second row, far right) is leading teens from Christ the King in Evergreen to World Youth Day. Klausner's first World Youth Day was the 1993 World Youth Day in Denver. PHOTO PROVIDED.

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