Son Light benefit nurtures youth ministry, raises $110K

By Cathy Tilzey

The second annual Son Light benefit for the Diocese of Helena’s youth ministry on Oct. 5 proved to be a joyful event.
Close to 300 people attended a late afternoon prayer service in the Cathedral of St. Helena, and a dinner and auction at the Helena Civic Center.
Bishop George Leo Thomas presided at the prayer service and presented an award to Scott and Susan Meyers of Big Sky, who join a group of modern-day disciples in the Diocese of Helena. Now numbering 12, they have given their time, talent and treasure to assist the diocese in its mission.
Several of last year’s five Witnesses to Stewardship couples served as greeters at the Cathedral.

‘Make youth a priority’
During the prayer service, Susan Meyers spoke about children as the future. “Children have a special mission,” she said, adding that the Catholic Church needs their energies, enthusiasm and youthful ideals to create a civilization of true justice, love and a future for the Church.
To do that, they must be well equipped, she added, and adults are responsible for ensuring that they have what they need. Children need positive adult role models, clear Christian values from their families and community, positive peer influences and high expectations for themselves. They will find many of these needs fulfilled in youth ministry.
She encouraged adults to support youth ministry by making youth their priority, keeping them in parish youth ministry and sharing Catholic values. “Learning the Catholic faith is a lifelong process and it continues every day with every experience,” she said.
The Meyers have four children – one of them adopted last year through Catholic Social Services of Montana – and also have cared for 13 babies through Catholic Charities’ infant fostering program. They donated a motorcycle to the first Son Light event last year.
Glenda Seipp, diocesan stewardship manager, noted that the prayer service is a key component in making the Son Light Celebration so special.

Youthful presence felt
From the youth and young adult choir at the prayer service, to the servers, spotters and speakers, the presence of youth was an integral part of this year’s Son Light celebration.
For the dinner and auction, the Civic Center ballroom was rimmed with tables bearing silent and “almost live” auction items. A playhouse sat in one corner, and a display of a bunk bed for cabins at Legendary Lodge, the diocesan camp at Salmon Lake, was in another corner. People were encouraged to donate to buy a bunk bed, or pay for a portion of one, and to donate to a youth ministry “wish list.” By the end of the evening, over $5,000 was raised for the wish list items alone.
Dining tables filled the center of the room, and two young pianists – Katie Beckman of St. Helena Cathedral Parish and Michael St. Thomas of Christ the King Parish– played during the meal.
Doug Tooke, the diocese’s new youth and young adult minister, spoke briefly and introduced diocesan youth leaders and officers.
“Intergenerational is the best way to describe the evening. It was a beautiful mix of the Catholic Church with a common desire to enrich the young Church. There was such a vibrant concern for the care of our teens and the beginnings of a real sense of comprehensive youth ministry,” he said.
Tooke also noted that the representation from all of the deaneries, as well as the many pastors in attendance really added to the feeling of coming together to celebrate the common goal of quality youth ministry.
Kelly Ruby, the event’s youth speaker, said she is a product of Catholic Youth Rural Outreach, the multi-parish organization that Tooke led in the Flathead area before accepting the diocesan position. She transferred to Carroll College from the University of Montana after discerning a call to study theology, she explained.
She talked about working at Legendary Lodge, interacting with 90 campers a week and getting to know people from other states. She also thanked Bishop Thomas for all that he is doing for youth in western Montana.

Bidders up the ante
Then an auctioneer took the stage for the live auction. Steve Mandeville kept the bidding lively and tracked raised bidding cards with assistance from several spotters around the room.
Some items went for $1,000 or more, including a voucher for tuition at any Catholic school in the Diocese of Helena, trips into the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area and New York City, and the playhouse.
One of the most popular items was Casey FitzSimmons’ football shoes and a signed ball from a recent game. The former Carroll College Saint now plays for the Detroit Lions. Fans were heard wondering if there was still some turf clinging to the cleats.
The benefit’s highlight was a drawing for a Subaru Outback. With the owner of 4 Seasons Motors of Missoula, Bob Small and his wife, Mary Pat, standing behind the bishop and master of ceremonies Michael Seipp, a ticket was pulled out of a hopper.
The winner was Jim “Cole” McAlpine, of Cut Bank. St. Margaret’s Parish in Cut Bank will receive two free camperships for Legendary Lodge.
And the diocese will benefit from the patronage of everyone who attended the Son Light benefit and offered their treasure for the youth and young adult ministry. Glenda Seipp said that early figures indicate $110,000 was raised through the dinner, auction and raffle ticket sales.

Published in The Montana Catholic, Vol. 23, No. 10, October 19, 2007.