Youth celebrate 30th CYC conference, rising up from the rock

By Cathy Tilzey

The 30th annual Catholic youth convention started with a rousing session March 9, including original music, lines of students dancing around the Carroll College gymnasium and inspiring words from speakers.
On the stage behind them was a rock topped by a flaming bush, flanked by two large screens repeating the rock’s image. They reflected the theme, “Rise Up from the Rock.”
Bishop George Leo Thomas and President Thomas Trebon of Carroll College welcomed close to 400 students, youth ministers and chaperones to the Helena campus. They extolled the college’s credentials as one of the best Catholic schools west of the Mississippi River.
The bishop made one request: “I hope over the next couple of days (that) we’ll take quiet time and open the door of our hearts and let Christ come in.”
Saying that Carroll is about stories, Trebon told one about a successful coach who had served as a pilot in Southeast Asia. Years later, he met a conscientious objector who had packed parachutes for the plane from which the coach had to eject. Each was glad for the other’s presence in Asia and when they met.
“Who packed your parachute? Who supported you, helps you survive?” Trebon asked the students. “Whose parachute are you packing … Who gives you life?”
The house band, organized by Helena musician Dave Casey, played and sang a song written for the convention, “Every Day I’ll Rise Up,” and a variety of Christian-based music.
Keynote speaker Steve Herrera, who appeared at the Diocese of Helena gathering for the third time, told the group they were going to do something difficult for a Friday evening – proclaim their faith. “We need to proclaim our faith and not be ashamed of it,” he added.
He kept the students on their toes, organizing them by the month they were born in, whether they were lions or lambs in attitude, pillows or rocks, like a stream of water or a lightning bolt.
He talked about sitting on an airplane between an avowed atheist and a man who called himself a “Christian/Buddhist.” Herrera realized much later that God put him there so he could explain Jesus to the atheist with the other man listening.
Some of his advice was supportive. If adults say the students are too young and uninformed, it’s OK for them to say, “I will not let anyone look down on me … because I’m young.”
“When you leave this place, will you go back to your old habits?” Herrera asked. “Are you ashamed of your religion? Do you believe in Jesus?”
For night prayer, the East Helena youth group from Ss. Cyril and Methodius Parish presented the Stations of the Cross. Two boys carried a wooden cross to each station, represented by students holding pictures of Jesus’ journey to Calvary, death and resurrection. The whole assembly read the traditional prayers for each station.
Saturday morning, Herrera literally rolled onto the stage and taught the students a new song. Then he taught them how to say “Thanks Be to God” in a wide variety of languages.
He asked them about their wildest dreams – parents turned into giant spiders, people eating rocks. To dream about something realistic and follow it is right, Herrera explained. To dream and not do anything about it is not.
He invited three students onto the stage to demonstrate circumstances, condition and conviction. An individual can change circumstances, and Jesus did that in one case, he noted. A woman about to be executed for adultery was saved when Jesus reminded the men with stones in their hands that a man was involved in the sin, and said, “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”
Herrera also led a breakout session for adults, beginning with a song, and sang several psalms for which he composed the music.
Adult workers need time out, a refresher, Herrera told about 20 people, adding that Jesus gave a time out to the first group of missionaries he commissioned.
He listed enemies of worship – people, habits, fear, inhibitions and tradition – and also described idols that people worship in a bad way – jobs, school, arrogance, domination, skepticism, procrastination and anything that gets in the way of one’s relationship with God.
Breakout sessions for students and afternoon activities provided lighter fare that also sent valuable messages.
For one session, Missoula youth leaders had participants express their faith, personalities and art talents on posters. Then the young artists had to explain colors and elements on their posters.
Patti Cassidy of St. Anthony Parish said it’s like the Myers-Briggs personality test. Explaining the posters also helped the students learn more about each others’ personalities and interests.
“Youth Group Unplugged” brought out the students’ ability to add parody and a religious angle to popular media productions. Kidron Cobb of St. Michael’s Parish, Conrad, and Jeff Marty of St. Mary’s, Helena – colorfully attired – introduced each skit while amassing food and water for 40 days.
“CYC-BC news” was broadcast by East Helena youth portraying two serious anchors, a cute and perky weather girl, a chef, a sound man and other staff members.
Chris Vogl and Julie Flynn of Holy Cross Parish, Townsend, sang “Here I am to Worship.” Accompanying them was Mary Garman.
A Bozeman group portrayed a dragon, ogre, donkey, wolf, witch and a very pretty lady in a story reminiscent of recent movies that parodied fairy tales.
There was even a game show, “Jerusalem Idol,” complete with three judges and five semi-finalists with names like Ishmael Hicks, Simeon Stutter, Methuselah Aiken and a girl named Moses.
After a banquet at Carroll’s Campus Center, Bishop Thomas celebrated Mass at the Cathedral of St. Helena and presented “For God and Youth” awards to three parish youth leaders. The recipients were Cyndi Huempfner of Resurrection Parish, Bozeman; Vicki Burgmeier of Flint Creek Catholic Community (Philipsburg and Drummond); and Gail Jenko of Pope John Paul II Parish, Bigfork, whose award was accepted by a relative, Maria Jenko.
The final session Sunday morning included members of Carroll College’s Kirchen Ministries helping a freshman, Travis Grotbo, to break out of his shell and learn what the student ministries group offers to Carroll students.
Jim Tucker, diocesan director of Catholic Formation Services, spoke on Son Light, the September 2006 benefit for diocesan youth ministry that is planned for next fall. He said last year’s proceeds made it possible to schedule a leadership camp at Legendary Lodge in June, and to hire a youth minister for the diocese.
Doug Tooke, head of the CYRO youth group of the Kalispell Lake area, talked about World Youth Day 2008, which will be held in Australia. He encouraged the students to consider attending.
He also said that Creation Northwest needs more Catholics to attend the four-day musical festival in July in central Washington.

Published in The Montana Catholic, Vol. 23, No. 3, March 23, 2007.