Rally helps youth deepen their faith

IC photo/Marie Mischel

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The rally began with a Mass, followed by Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

ST. GEORGE — Prayer, the Eucharist and time with people their own age helped youth draw closer to God during the Feb. 24 youth rally at St. George Catholic Church. The rally was presented by the diocese’s Blessed Carlo Acutis Apostolate, which is meant to “help youth ages 13-18 experience and fall in love with the true presence of Christ through the Holy Spirit and in the Eucharist,” according to the apostolate’s poster.

The rally began with a Mass, followed by Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and veneration of a first-class relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis, a young Italian known for his love of Christ. Blessed Acutis, who documented Eucharistic miracles throughout the world, died of leukemia in 2006 at the age of 15.

The diocese acquired the relic last year. For many of the youth at the rally, “it is the first time they have seen a first-class relic, and we are hoping that it makes a positive impression on them and at the same time draws them even closer to Blessed Carlo Acutis, who as you know dedicated himself to Christ and the Eucharist,” said Michael Edwards, director of the diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, who helped organize the rally. “Ultimately, we want to draw the youth close to Christ by allowing them the lived experience of getting to know Blessed Carlo Acutis better.”

During the Mass, Father Gustavo Vidal, the apostolate’s director and pastor of Saint Rose of Lima Parish in Layton, told the youth more about Blessed Acutis, noting that the young man was similar in many ways to them: He liked to play soccer and video games, and eat pizza.

“Sainthood – holiness – is not just for privileged people,” Fr. Vidal said. “We all are called to be holy. You can become a saint if you give yourself to the Lord Jesus and you open yourself to the Lord.”

Fr. Vidal also urged the youth to use this Lenten season to pray, to give up sin, and to draw closer to Jesus.

After Adoration, Fr. Vidal invited the youth to share their reactions to that time. One said, “It felt like God loves me;” another said she was thankful for the opportunity to open up to God about her relationship with her parents. As the day ended, one of the adult volunteers said that at least five of the youth told her that what they had gotten from the rally was that “God loves me.”

About 150 youth ages 12 to 17 participated, said Edna Escobose-Lloyd, coordinator for the St. George Parish youth group.

The rally was required for those in the parish’s Confirmation class, but youth also came from Cedar City as well as other places. Activities included a video on Blessed Acutis’s life, a talk about Eucharistic miracles, and lectio divina.

“We’ve never had something like this” at the parish, Escobose-Lloyd said, adding that it was exciting to have an event that could inspire the youth “to get closer to Jesus and to seek him in a different way. … The teenagers need it and all the adults pray for it.”

Among those attending was Josue Gamboa Percastegui, who has been at four of the rallies in the diocese. At first he didn’t want to feel judged for living his faith, but as he continued to attend the rallies his faith increased, and now he feels called to a leadership role in his faith life, he said.  

Another rally is planned for April at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Orem. It will include guests such as the Catholic artist “Communion” and Paulist Father Evan Cummings from Busted Halo. Space will be limited; registration and parent release forms will be required. For information, contact Edwards at Michael.Edwards@dioslc.org or 801-328-8641 ext. 313. Anyone interested in having a rally at their parish also may contact Edwards.