Supplements

CURRENT ISSUE

Diocesan Youth Conference 2011: ‘Saints … B 1

Story by LIZ QUIRIN
Messenger editor

The 2011 Belleville Diocesan Youth Conference “Saints … B 1 begins in less than a month at the Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville.

More than 40 parishes with close to 450 young people and adults are already registered from across the diocese for the March 5-6 conference.

People will gather for dialogue, prayer, reflection, and, oh yeah, fun, lots of fun.
The fun can be found on many levels: fun to spend the weekend with friends; fun to spend the weekend making new friends; fun to learn more about yourself and your faith; fun to recognize various young people and youth groups from across the diocese who live their faith each and every day in special ways.

This will be Gary Landoll’s first youth conference in the diocese. He took over after longtime youth director, Colette Kennett, retired last year. Landoll said he is very much looking forward to the event in the diocese.

The agenda for this year’s conference will be the same with a keynote speaker and breakout sessions on both days.
Karl Zimmerman and the House Band will be performing and young people have been invited to join the music for the closing liturgy.

Bishop Edward K. Braxton is again scheduled to meet with youth on March 6 at 1 p.m. prior to the closing liturgy scheduled at 2:30 p.m.

The absolute deadline to register is Feb. 24, Landoll said.

Keynote speaker Sal Solo will meet with the entire group three times during the conference
and lead two of the breakout sessions during the two days.

Not only is Solo expected to bring his experiences as a rocker to the conference but more importantly, he is expected to connect with youth about their faith. “He will talk about the moral use of technology,” Landoll said, and “he will talk about Catholic Social Teaching” with the youth. Solo also has a master’s degree in theology.

Landoll said he is impressed with the layers of leadership that Kennett established before she retired, from the conference steering committee to the board to the diocesan youth advisory council made up of youth from various parts of the diocese who serve their peers throughout the year.

Among the breakout sessions are one for youth only that will be split into two sections: freshmen and sophomores together and juniors and seniors together.

Landoll said he hopes ideas will emerge from the youth discussions that will prompt
ideas to be explored in future youth events.

Jeff Goffinet, who has been involved in youth ministry for a number of years with his wife, Diane, will explore the value of adults mentoring young people.

This “adult only” workshop “will provide insights into ways to mentor youth through their decisions,” Landoll said.
Sometimes having a person with experience to talk to can open up possibilities that a young person may not have considered.

Called “Mentoring Youth Through the Discernment Process” could also give both an adult and a youth the opportunity to let God guide their conversation in finding ways that will best assist the youth.
Two “Adams” will host a workshop on “Keeping the Faith.”

Adam Thompson and Adam Bragee will talk to young people about how to keep the faith in college.
Moving from home to independent living can present temptations and opportunities, according to the presenters.
These two young men will tell their stories and talk about lessons they learned to stay focused “on the journey toward Christ.”

Presenters Susan and Bob Hoff will give a workshop on Fontebella, a place where women in crisis pregnancies can find respite.

Susan Hoff, with her husband’s help, developed the idea for Fontebella, and then with assistance from many people, opened a home to care for women who need a place to stay, to be safe and to keep their babies safe.
“If we take our call to respect the dignity of all human persons, then caring for women in crisis pregnancies must be a part of the mission,” Landoll said.

Father John Iffert, pastor of St. Mary’s in Mt. Vernon, will lead a breakout session called “Oh When the Saints Go Marching In.”

Young people can “learn about some ordinary people, who did extraordinary things,” Landoll said.
Maybe someone has positively impacted the lives of young people whom they could consider “saints.”
Father Iffert will help them discover information about people they know and some they don’t who could be saints among the people.

Knowing who you are and who you want to be is an unfolding process throughout life. In some cases, you have an epiphany, an “aha” moment when everything becomes clear.
Most of the time, however, the process of discovery occurs over a lifetime of finding out the will of God for each person.

A panel of people will present “Learning to Discern Your Life’s Vocation” for youth only.

The workshop will host the single, married, clergy and a facilitator to help youth work through the process.
Special recognitions and awards will be presented at the formal banquet being held the evening of March 5.

Throughout the conference, youth and adults can peruse the booths, some open only on day one of the conference.
A booth on “One Bread, One Cup” will be staffed by Colette Kennett; Camp Ondessonk will share photos and information and a host of others will be available to talk with youth and adults.
The ever-popular DYC basket auction will be open both days of the conference.

For more information about the workshops and the keynote presentations at the annual conference, please contact the Office of Youth Ministry at 235-9601, ext. 1302.