As Emily explained, last Thursday we had a team meeting. At this particular meeting, Fr. Martin made a comment about our youthful presence at the 10 am daily Mass being a source of hope for the older daily Mass attendees. I didn’t think much about this comment until our Youth Mass on Saturday night. We have a group of secondary students who sing once a month with our Vigil Choir, and we try to sing a mix of the traditional repertoire and more upbeat music. They always do a great job, but this week I was especially impressed and moved by the Mass. I really loved the second reading this weekend which was 1 Corinthians 12:4-11:
Brothers and sisters:
There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit;
there are different forms of service but the same Lord;
there are different workings but the same God
who produces all of them in everyone.
To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit
is given for some benefit.
To one is given through the Spirit the expression of wisdom;
to another, the expression of knowledge according to the
same Spirit;
to another, faith by the same Spirit;
to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit;
to another, mighty deeds;
to another, prophecy;
to another, discernment of spirits;
to another, varieties of tongues;
to another, interpretation of tongues.
But one and the same Spirit produces all of these,
distributing them individually to each person as he wishes.
In response to this reading we sang “One Lord” by Lori True for Communion and a few of the girls sang the verses. I was so moved by their beautiful singing and willingness to share their gifts (they don’t love to sing solos). And what was more, the refrain is talking about how we are all one in the Church and I was so overwhelmed with joy that these students are still in the Church when it is not the ‘cool’ thing to do. A Church without the youth is not complete! And if seeing us in Mass gives people a lift, then I’m sure the secondary students are having that same effect on so many people at the Vigil Mass!
If I wasn’t thinking about the youth belonging in the Church enough already, the first Confirmation preparation session was last night with the theme ‘Belonging.’ Emily and Nick are the coordinators and they did a ton of work to prepare for the session and it paid off! It went so smoothly! There are also five parents from last year’s class that are on the coordination team; and from what I’ve heard it made a world of a difference to have them on the team and at the session! It was Kennedy Park’s night so it ended with Fr. Martin (KP’s chaplain) leading a prayer in the main church. Everyone sat near the baptismal font and renewed their baptismal vows after Fr. Martin spoke about how they belong in the Church and how their baptism was their initiation into this family. I hope and pray that these children continue to feel that they belong in the Church and that it is their family! We’re doing the best that we can to help with this, but we could always use your prayers! So pray for the youth this week!
God Bless!
Nicole
