Over 750 students from Catholic grade schools in various parts of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, as well as a large number of high school students, gathered during the first week of October for Diocesan Youth Days. This year the youth came from Decatur, Jacksonville, Springfield and Quincy.
"I have been hosting this event for the past four years, partnering with groups of schools to bring this to various regions of the diocese," said Kyle Holtgrave, associate director for youth and young adult ministry in the Office for Catechesis. The program began in Springfield and grew to include Decatur last year, as well as an evening gathering at Holy Family in Litchfield "to include students beyond those who would participate through their Catholic school."
This year in Decatur, Holy Family Parish hosted the Oct. 2 event for 193 students in grades 6-8 from Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Patrick and Holy Family schools. Students from St. Teresa High School were on hand to help as small group leaders.
On Oct. 3, 238 seventh-graders from Springfield Catholic grade schools as well as Our Saviour in Jacksonville met at the Knights of Columbus Council 364 Hall on Meadowbrook Road. They were assisted by Sacred Heart-Griffin High School students from the Ambassador program.
Finally in Quincy, on Oct. 4, an impressive 325 students in grades 6-8 from Blessed Sacrament, St. Dominic, St. Francis Solanus and St. Peter schools gathered at the Quincy convention center. They were assisted by Quincy Notre Dame students. "This is the first time this event has been hosted in Quincy, thanks to the help of Deacon Terry Ellerman from Blessed Sacrament (Parish)," said Holtgrave.
"We thought the day in Quincy went very, very well," said Deacon Ellerman. "The students were attentive the whole time. The activities were wonderful and they were interested in them. I think they learned a lot about their faith and hopefully the day helped them to become more faith-filled."
Deacon Ellerman said parents received a sheet that explained what their children were learning and were urged to ask specific questions about what the students had learned during their youth event. The Quincy gathering also drew attention in the local media, with a segment featured on WGEM Television.
Rich Curran from Parish Success Group was this year's presenter. Curran hails from Appleton, Wis., and travels the country to train parish leaders and to host retreats. Each year he speaks to over 50,000 teens, college students, young adults and adults about life, faith and what it means to be a true follower of Jesus.
Curran told a local reporter in Quincy that "most middle school students don't see themselves as leaders, so it is important to show them that they are."
Curran said his role is to show the youth that they have the opportunity to affect people's lives and to change lives. He wants middle-schoolers to see that they are "a lot smarter and a lot more talented" than they believe themselves to be.
"Rich describes the event as 'taking time away from our daily routine to focus on our relationship with Jesus Christ' and says how we are developing as a Catholic is 'an essential practice as a disciple,'" said Holtgrave. "Throughout the day the students practiced skills and behaviors of a disciple, being challenged to identify and articulate ways they are doing well as a disciple as well as areas they need to work on."
Holtgrave said the theme of each event was HOPE. "H stands for honesty with ourselves, with others and with God. O is for others focused, seeking to serve before being served. P is for positivity, reminding everyone that life is 90 percent about attitude. The E stands for engage and (asking) have we engaged our faith," he said.
Holtgrave feels that this year's Youth Days were successful and that he believes Curran made a positive impression on the youth. Curran also shared an important over-all statement that applies to all Catholics, Holtgrave concluded. "He said 'being Catholic is a behavior, not a test to be passed.' That's why these retreat days are important."