By Tanya Barbero
Special to the Herald
WAILUKU, Maui — In the midst of a powerful Kona low storm that brought heavy rain and uncertainty across Maui, the Maui-Lanai Vicariate chose faith over fear and continued with its youth retreat, appropriately themed “Always Forward,” at the St. Anthony of Padua Church and School campus in Wailuku.
With severe weather conditions leading up to the event, the possibility of canceling was carefully considered. However, the retreat’s adult core team ultimately decided to move forward, honoring the dedication and preparation of the youth leadership team.
The decision reflected the retreat’s central message: Even in life’s storms, Christ calls us to trust and keep moving forward.
A total of 54 middle and high school students from six Maui parishes participated in the retreat led by 13 youth and young adult leaders. Despite the storm outside, the day was filled with energy, joy and faith.
“The storm made everything feel uncertain,” said one high school participant, “but being here reminded me that God is with us even when things feel out of control. It actually made the retreat more meaningful.”
The retreat began with gathering activities that built community among participants. A highlight of the day was the creation of a cross mosaic, where youth wrote down their burdens and placed them at the foot of the cross.
“It was powerful to physically lay down what I’ve been carrying,” another participant shared. “It helped me trust that Jesus can handle it.”
The day also included a “Chopped”-style cooking challenge, encouraging teamwork and creativity, followed by praise and worship led by the vicariate youth music ministry.
This led into a time of Eucharistic adoration and the sacrament of reconciliation, where many youth encountered Christ in a personal and meaningful way.
“As leaders, we talked about canceling,” said one adult team member, “but in the end, we felt called to trust God and our youth. Seeing their openness and faith confirmed that it was the right decision.”
The retreat concluded with Mass and a spaghetti dinner shared with attendees’ families, extending the joy of the day to the wider parish ohana.
Despite the storm outside, the retreat became a powerful witness to faith in action. In every way, the day lived out its message: With Jesus, we are always called to move forward, even through the storm.
Tanya Barbero is the family faith formation director at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Wailuku.
Above: The Maui-Lanai Vicariate youth retreat was a success despite the inclement weather. (Courtesy Tanya Barbero)