By Montana Catholic staff

The sun began to set as supporters of youth and young adult ministry in the Diocese of Helena walked into the Helena Civic Center for the Son Light gala, an evening of fellowship and fundraising for Catholic youth of western Montana.

The fifth annual Son Light Celebration, on Friday, Oct. 1, began with a Cathedral of St. Helena prayer service led by Bishop George Leo Thomas. Deacon Dan and Carol McGrath, recipients of the Son Light Stewardship Award, were honored at the service and gave stewardship witness talks. Youth from the diocese, including Catholic Youth Coalition board members, were lectors and choiristers.

In his homily, Bishop Thomas spoke about the aspects of dynamic youth ministry and about the path taken by the Diocesan Pastoral Council in identifying what youth and young adults of the diocese need, through formation and support, to be disciples of Christ.

After his homily, Bishop Thomas invited the McGraths forward to receive the Stewardship Award. The couple received a “Legendary Memory” print remarqued by the print’s creator, Bob Morgan.

Carol McGrath spoke about the many years of ministry with her husband and said she has been affected deeply by the youth to whom she ministered over the years. “They gave us a sense of hope, they were hungry to find the truth and we needed to be that transparency to them that said, ‘Whatever it is that you believe, I accept where you are and I hope you share your story,’” Mrs. McGrath said from her wheelchair.

She expressed gratitude for the opportunity to minister, and for support received from so many people.

“We consider it an honor and a privilege to be able to share these things with the youth of our diocese, and it’s like a fine train that is the vessel that takes us through this journey,” she said. “If the tracks aren’t kept clean and clear, that train won’t be able to move forward, and we have so many wonderful gifts and graces that enable us to be sweepers, mentors, watchers, prayers.”

In closing, she said, “When we look back on the years that we were privileged enough to participate and to enjoy the young people of our diocese, I don’t look back in sadness at the things I can’t do anymore. I look with pride at the young people who just needed an invitation and someone to say `welcome,’ and they carried on.”

Deacon McGrath spoke about his time as a parish youth minister and as director of youth ministry for the Diocese of Helena. He held the diocesan position for eight years, ending in 2002.

He spoke of finding a “creative solution” to get youth involved in their faith. “As parents, grandparents, priests, youth ministers, caring adults, we need to simply teach them where to go,” Deacon McGrath said. “Teach them to go to Mass. It might be the best thing we ever do for our youth”

After the prayer service, over 400 youth, young adults and their supporters joined Bishop Thomas at the Civic Center for the Son Light dinner and fundraiser, which featured a silent auction.

The evening culminated with raffle drawings, the first prize a 2011 Ford Fiesta sedan won by Debbie B. of Missoula. As Bishop Thomas broke the news to her, by cell phone, she said that next month her daughter, a Loyola Sacred Heart High School freshman, would be a new driver with a new car.

The second raffle prize, two tickets to a Seattle Seahawks game and accommodations at the Alexis Hotel in Seattle, went to Al S. of Meridian, Idaho.

Resurrection Parish in Bozeman led in sales of raffle tickets, for the second year in a row, and St. Anthony Parish in Missoula sold the winning ticket. Each of those parishes received a $2,500 reward. Other parishes with high ticket sales were: Blessed Trinity, Missoula; St. William Parish, Shelby; and Our Lady of the Pines Parish, West Yellowstone.

Amid the evening’s festivities, the true purpose of Son Light was not lost on the people who attended and the youth volunteers who served them.

“I think it’s really important that we support our youth. Obviously the youth are the future of who we are, the future of our Church,” Jesuit Father Richard Perry, pastor at St. Francis Xavier Parish in Missoula, said in an interview with The Montana Catholic. He also welcomed the opportunity to enjoy a fun evening with the St. Francis Xavier Parish staff and others from across the diocese.

“It just brings a vibrancy, a support and a connection from the parish to the diocese,” said Joannie Volesky, youth ministry coordinator at the Cathedral of St. Helena. “The Church is so much larger than just our parish and it brings an understanding of that, that we are not just our parish, we are part of the larger Church.”

Glenda Seipp, Son Light organizer and diocesan Stewardship Services director, said early estimates indicated a Son Light profit of $50,000. She said sales of raffle tickets this year surpassed the 2009 figure by $13,000.

“I think maybe the most important thing it (Son Light) does is make the youth feel valued,” said Ashley Ellis, recently hired to served Anaconda Catholic Community as youth minister. “Obviously a lot of time and effort has gone into making this night happen and it’s for the youth of our diocese. I think being able to go back home and tell our teens what’s happening for them, to help support ministries for them is really important and makes them feel like they’re valued and important members of our Church.”


Published in The Montana Catholic Online, Volume 26, No. 10, October 15, 2010.