Youth Congress planned in conjunction with Pastoral Congress

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SALT LAKE CITY — A gathering to help youth embrace their Catholic identity and provide spiritual renewal will be offered Sept. 15, the same day as the Diocese of Salt Lake City’s Pastoral Congress.

Both events will take place at the Skaggs Catholic Center in Draper. The Youth Congress will be at St. John the Baptist Elementary School; the Pastoral Congress will be at Juan Diego Catholic High School.

The theme for the Youth Congress is “Keep the Fire Glowing.” The two keynote speakers will focus on helping youth be true to themselves, renewal of the Holy Spirit, and promoting and embracing Catholic identity, said Junuee Castro, director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, who is organizing the gathering.

The keynote speakers will be Bishop Joseph V. Brennan, Episcopal Vicar of the San Fernando Pastoral Region of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles; and Anna Betancourt, a singer who has recorded with many Catholic artists and has a solo album as well. She also has presented at several music and liturgy workshops.

Both keynote speakers are musicians, Castro said, so they will lead the Youth Congress’ praise and worship segments. In addition, various youth ministries from within the diocese will lead the opening prayer and opening ceremony. The gathering also will include Holy Hour, icebreakers and time for the youth to share their experiences and talk with one another.

The Youth Congress will be “a great opportunity for the entire family and the community to come together” for faith formation, Castro said. “This is one of the wishes of the bishop; he wants people to come together.”

Presentations at the Youth Congress will be in English; the music liturgy will be in Spanish. “The youth wanted that,” Castro said, explaining that after the Lenten retreat this year the youth asked for Spanish music.

Parents will be able to drop their children at the Youth Congress while they themselves attend the Pastoral Congress, Castro said. Because of Safe Environment concerns, Mass will be celebrated separately for each group. The Pastoral Congress presentations will wrap up about 30 minutes before the Youth Congress ends, giving parents time to cross the campus to join their children.

WHAT: Youth Congress

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 15, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

WHERE: St. John the Baptist Elementary School, 300 East 11800 South, Draper

COST: $15; includes meals

For youth ages 13-17. Doors open at 7:30 a.m. Register at www.dioslc.org. Registration closes Sept. 7. For information, contact the Office of Youth Ministry, 801-328-8641 ext. 313 or Junuee.castro@dioslc.org.