EAST FREETOWN — Summer vacation has officially come to an end and back to school vibes are in full swing. In response to the diocesan Synodol report area youth will gather to be sacramentally nourished to help “celebrate good days and get through bad days.”
The Catholic Youth Day has moved to Saturday, October 1 on the grounds of Cathedral Camp. This one-day event, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. will bring the youth a healthy dose of community, fellowship, fun, food and the sacred liturgy with Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V. This free event will bring together all the youth from the five deaneries in one location.
Last year Bishop da Cunha spoke to the youth at Catholic Youth Day and reminded them of “the importance of always remaining connected with God in what is a very busy world and to know they can turn to their faith to help them face the challenges they will inevitably encounter in life.”
The source and summit of the faith that “we can turn to” the bishop says, is the Eucharist.
The USCCB states on its Eucharistic Revival website, “Our world is hurting. We all need healing, yet many of us are separated from the very source of our strength. Jesus Christ invites us to return to the source and summit of our faith: His Real Presence in the Eucharist.”
This year the theme for the youth is “Remember Me,” which comes from 1 Corinthians 11:24.
This year there will be a special guest, Chika Anyanwu. She is a Catholic evangelist, former Confirmation coordinator/youth & young adult minister, and the author of “My Encounter: How I Met Jesus in Prayer.” Through testimony, scripture, and honest conversations about the difficult realities of faith and life, she’s had the opportunity to evangelize at the National Catholic Youth Convention (NCYC), Given, Steubenville youth conferences, FOCUS SEEK conferences, and The Catholic Feminist France pilgrimage. She’s also a contributor to “Blessed Is She” as well as “Connected” and “Venture: the Bible Timeline” by Ascension Press.
Chika’s presentations coupled with fellowship, a Catholic rap concert, and the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy with Bishop da Cunha, that will give the youth a memory which may enkindle in them a fire for the source of their help in a busy world.
For more information contact Oscar Rivera Jr., Director of Youth Ministry at 508-658-2955 or email: orivera@dioc-fr.org.
