ROCKFORD—Sacraments mingled with inspirational talks and a hefty amount of noisy fun at the fourth annual diocesan Youth Summit, Oct. 30, at Rock Valley College, here.
Keynote speaker, Connor Flanagan, told the crowd about the life questions he asked in high school and the answers he found during his college years, answers that all revolved around Jesus.
“If you don’t know God and His plan for you,” Flanagan said, “you will never become who you were called to be.”
He pointed to the Apostles as models — “common guys” who found themselves called to uncommon lives by Jesus.
Bishop David Malloy was fighting a cold, but his raspy voice came through loud and clear, especially in his homily at the Mass that morning.
He spoke about the difference in one’s life once someone discovers he or she is loved and thought of by Jesus.
He pointed to Zacchaeus in the Gospels as someone who was “not well thought of, if he was thought of at all,” until Jesus came into his life.
“The Youth Summit,” Bishop Malloy said, “helps us to celebrate (that) Jesus loves you. That is real. It is not a bumper sticker.” He encouraged the young people to think of their best friend and how that relationship is meant to be a friendship that lasts, builds and grows.
“Jesus made you to be with him, and that’s the challenge,” he said, adding that the summit is meant to give them “that sense that someone is calling me … (calling) to my heart to look for goodness and beauty and truth … to make sacrifice(s) because that is how heroes are made.”
“Remember first and foremost, He’s real,” Bishop Malloy said. “Jesus is not an idea. Somehow heaven touched earth (and the) Son of God came, ate, drank, talked, laughed and grew up … He actually came and walked among us.” He asked them, when they look at a crucifix to remember Jesus’ suffering and realize it “was not just for the world, but for you and me.”
In his role as the bishop, he said, “I ask you: Believe it all with me. Love Jesus with me.”
Bishop Malloy pointed to the Mass, to adoration and to confession as “moments when God’s love just sort of explodes in front of us (and) makes clear God has chosen you.” He emphasized that “the Church needs you (and) the bishop needs you … In your heart, Jesus is calling you, too. He wants to be in your heart and in your life.
“Don’t give Him up!”
After lunch, Flanagan joined Fathers Keith Romke and Kyle Manno in leading the youths in a rousing rally complete with an enormous, inflatable ball bouncing from section to section.
A “Late, Late Show” time with Bishop Malloy brought questions and reflections, photos and a car karaoke video. Father Romke fired tee-shirts into the crowd before the summit flowed into a final talk by Flanagan and a meditative time of adoration.
Adults and youths alike enjoyed the variety. “My favorite part is Mass, confession and adoration together,” said confirmation teacher Douglas Eschbach of St. Monica Parish, Carpentersville. “I can’t choose one of them because each of them, my students experience Christ in a unique way, which helps build their faith.”
Eighth grader Eric Metz of St. Laurence Parish in Elgin, said, “It’s pretty interesting, the things they did. The Late, Late Show, that was pretty funny. It was pretty fun … and the food was good.”
Emily Steder of St. Mary Parish in Durand, also pointed to several parts of the summit, saying, “I really like the music and how we met the bishop and how they play games and the talk shows and stuff, and … it’s a really fun way to learn more about (the bishop) and the faith.”