By Darlene J.M. Dela Cruz
Hawaii Catholic Herald
The Apex Christian jugglers
What do Bishop Larry Silva, two epic jugglers and dozens of awesome young Catholics from several islands have in common?
They will all be at this year’s Diocesan Youth Day, Oct. 22 at St. Ann Church in Kaneohe.
Registration is ongoing for the event until Oct. 1. No registrations will be accepted after that date. A non-refundable fee of $30 — which covers the cost of activities, lunch and a gift bag — will be charged for each Diocesan Youth Day registrant.
Pastors and parish staff have been sent Diocesan Youth Day packets, which include informational flyers and forms for youth, clergy and chaperones to fill out. The packet is available for download at the diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry website, http://catholichawaii.org/oyyam/ym/dyd.
The theme for this year’s Diocesan Youth Day comes from Matthew 5:7, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” It is one of eight “Beatitudes” Jesus taught in his Sermon on the Mount about humility and compassion, and coincides with the current Jubilee Year of Mercy. It was also the theme for World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland, in July.
“To be merciful means to grow in a love which is courageous, generous and real,” Pope Francis said in a message to youth in January. “It means to grow physically and spiritually.”
Lisa Gomes, director of the diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, called Diocesan Youth Day “an exciting opportunity for youth from all over the state to come together in communion — specifically this year during the Year of Mercy — to celebrate and thank God for the gift of his mercy, and to be empowered to share God’s mercy with others.”
The agenda for Diocesan Youth Day, which runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 22, includes praise and worship music, morning Mass celebrated by Bishop Silva, fellowship with games and entertainment, and a ministry and vocations fair during lunch.
Brad Farmer and Gene Monterastelli of APeX Ministries will be giving the day’s keynote presentation. The guys of APeX have a unique ministry style they’ve dubbed “Christian Vaudeville,” in which they incorporate comedy and juggling with Catholic spiritual themes.
Farmer and Monterastelli started APeX in 1996 and have brought their ministry to 48 U.S. states, Canada, China and Peru. A clip of APeX Ministries in action can be found on YouTube at http://bit.ly/2cPtJZh.
Diocesan Youth Day will also feature afternoon breakout sessions on topics such as discernment, morality, the saints and digital evangelization.
Emcees for the day will be Island youth, some of whom recently participated in the diocese’s first Christian Leadership Institute this summer.
A special “parent/adult track” session titled “Calling Youth to Mission: Equipping Young Disciples” will take place during Diocesan Youth Day as well. Clergy, parish leaders and parents are encouraged to attend this workshop, which will cover topics including “Growing in our Relationship with Jesus as Leaders” and “Knowing Young People Today.”
The parent/adult session is presented in collaboration with the Center for Ministry Development.
In a letter to pastors, Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry director Gomes said that the diocesan pastoral plan, “Stewards of the Gospel,” underscores how “young people are not only future stewards of our church, but that they have gifts and talents that enable them to share the good news of Jesus even now.”
Participation in Diocesan Youth Day, Gomes added, “is one way for our young people to gather in faith, express their joy, be inspired by God’s word, and live it out.”
For more information on Diocesan Youth Day, or to register, call 203-6763 or email oyyam@rcchawaii.org.
