Youth rally helps teens focus 
on relationship with Jesus

By Tanya Connor
The Catholic Free Press

PAXTON – Jesus’ centrality to Christian life was presented in various ways at the Diocesan Youth Rally, held Nov. 9 at Anna Maria College.

Guest speaker Lucas Lima, of St. Joseph and St. Stephen Parish in Worcester, told the teenagers Jesus wanted to have an encounter with them and would be happy if they started a relationship with him.

Women’s session speakers Rachael Brouillet, of St. Bernard Parish in Fitchburg, and Julia Canty, of St. Joseph Parish in Charlton, spoke about Jesus’ role in one’s friendships.

Timothy Messenger, director of the diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, said that the men’s session included witnesses about eucharistic adoration. He explained this form of worship to the whole group before their holy hour.

Preaching at the Mass, Father Donato Infante III, director of the diocesan Office for Vocations, talked about being connected to Jesus in prayer, confession and the Eucharist.
Mr. Messenger said the rally, which also included music and games, drew approximately 250 teenagers and 50 adult leaders from more than 30 parishes.

Mr. Lima told The Catholic Free Press that his talks came from things shared or experienced at Mission Make Me Holy, which he helps lead. His mother, Sandra Lima, started this youth leader training program at their parish nearly three years ago with the blessing of Father Cleber de Paula, associate pastor.

“Our first few years we focused more on the Brazilian community, structuring it, forming teenagers” spiritually, Mr. Lima said, but they planned to eventually reach out to others. He has now spoken at diocesan youth ministry office retreats, and Mission Make Me Holy co-led a diocesan confirmation retreat.

Mr. Lima’s talks at Sunday’s rally focused on living out one’s identity. He had listeners look at themselves with their cell phone cameras. God created them in his image, he said, and asked them to tell Jesus, “I am yours.”

Sin separates you from God, but you can go to confession, Mr. Lima said.

He talked about disconnecting one’s phone to disconnect from the world’s distractions and pray.

“The world doesn’t need more influencers,” he maintained. “The world needs more saints. … It is possible to live a holy life.”

During his second talk, Mr. Lima had listeners tell those beside them, “You’ve got to pray” and “Wake up,” since Jesus returned from prayer to find his disciples snoozing, and we might do that during prayer.

“If the people around you aren’t praying,” your prayer life will weaken, Mr. Lima said, noting the importance of Christian community. He said Jesus went out to sinners, but his close group was people who wanted to follow him.

This led to Mr. Lima’s third point: mission.

“You have to love like God loved the world,” he said.

The women’s session speakers made some similar points in talking about three kinds of friendships: friendships based on having fun together; friendships based on benefits the relationship produces; and virtuous friendships, where friends are committed to each other’s sanctification.

Ms. Canty said she and Ms. Brouillet pray together and attend Mass together; they know each other and pour out their hearts to each other.

They used the Blessed Mother’s visitation to her cousin Elizabeth to illustrate virtuous friendship.

“Mary finds out she’s going to raise God,” Ms. Canty noted. She said the artist’s rendition of that meeting which she displayed on a large screen showed the reciprocity of joy.
Ms. Brouillet said Elizabeth was rejoicing because Jesus was in Mary’s womb, and that the beauty of virtuous friendships is Jesus in the other person. We have him in us when we receive the Eucharist.

“Our sisters in Christ help us see Christ in ourselves,” she said.

Ms. Canty said Jesus alone has to be enough for us. God created us for himself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in him, she said, quoting St. Augustine.

Preparing for adoration, Mr. Messenger asked who thought it would be “cool” if Jesus walked in right then, and the teenagers cheered and applauded. He said the Eucharist is the same Jesus who died and rose, and, when the priest puts the Host in the monstrance, “we will be in the presence of Jesus.”

At Mass Father Infante spoke of people having different gifts. He said; “None of us have them all. … You need one another. You need the Church. … The Church … needs you.”

He invited the teenagers to ask God how he wants them to live. One might have a hunger for Scripture and have a youth Bible study, he said. Someone handy with tools might help elderly neighbors. Others might become altar servers.

“Why do I need faith … to do good?” someone might wonder. Father Infante noted how Jesus is the vine we need to be connected to – through prayer, confession and by receiving him in the Eucharist at Mass, where we receive strength.

“Jesus always shows up,” Father Infante said. “Ask yourself, ‘What if I said yes to Jesus?’"