COLBERT: Annual conference brings teens on ‘Journey to Heaven’
March 12, 2024
The Archdiocesan Youth Conference (AYC) is an annual celebration of the young Church of Galveston-Houston. This gathering is a place — in the words of Pope Francis where “… there is room for everyone. Everyone. In the Church, no one is left out or left over. There is room for everyone. Just the way we are. (Pope Francis, World Youth Day 2023)
I am truly eager about the upcoming 68th AYC, where the youth of the Archdiocese, coming as they are, will be invited to meet this challenge to continue to grow in holiness. We will celebrate the gift that the young people are to the Catholic Church. We will listen to their voices and challenge them to live an authentic and deep Catholic faith.
The youth conference theme for 2024 is “Journey to Heaven,” inspired by Ephesians 6:11-13.
From July 26 to 28, more than 1,500 young people will gather to break open the theme by focusing on three sub-themes: First, An Epic Journey will focus on how love and truth will always overcome the darkness we encounter.
Next, we will explore the Supplies for the Journey — Our spiritual supplies. It includes prayer, the Sacraments (especially Eucharist and Confession), Scripture, the Church (her wisdom on how to live a holy life of virtue), and more.
Finally, we will prepare the young Church to have Companions on the Journey — mentors and trusted adults, certainly — but also to know and experience that the presence of Jesus Christ is real and He desires a real relationship with us.
He is our companion, there always even if we feel alone, abandoned, scared, overjoyed, sorrowful and everything in between. He can relate to our human situations: the death of someone close to Him, being deserted by His friends, flipping tables in anger, and going through agonizing or painful situations.
One of the blessings of the Church is that in addition to the presence of Christ, we also find companions and support from Mary and the Communion of Saints, who inspire us, intercede for us, and accompany us in our search for God.
AYC 2024 will be led by three dynamic and faithful Catholic leaders: Steve Angrisano, Mari Pablo and Oscar Rivera.
Infused throughout this three-day youth conference are opportunities for a ton of fun, building new friendships and experiencing prayer with the Body of Christ. Most of all, there will be time to receive healing in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and moments of silence in front of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
The conclusion of our time together will be the celebration of the Eucharist, the source and summit of our Christian life. As is tradition, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo will be our main celebrant and homilist for Sunday Mass.
The Office of Adolescent Catechesis and Evangelization challenges each of you to encourage and invite the young people in your lives — graduating eighth graders through graduating seniors — to contact their local parishes to join us in this unique and dynamic celebration of our Catholic faith.
Participants will leave the experience of AYC 2024 equipped and inspired to joyfully respond to this challenge of Pope Francis: “Dear young people, my joyful hope is to see you keep running the race before you, outstripping all those who are slow or fearful. Keep running, “attracted by the face of Christ, whom we love so much, whom we adore in the Holy Eucharist and acknowledge in the flesh of our suffering brothers and sisters. May the Holy Spirit urge you on as you run this race. The Church needs your momentum, your intuitions, your faith. We need them! And when you arrive where we have not yet reached, have the patience to wait for us.” (Christus Vivit #299).
Timothy E. Colbert is the director of the Office of Adolescent Catechesis and Evangelization.
(Photo by James Ramos/Herald)