The year 2013 was an important time for the youth of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, says Kyle Holtgrave, associate director of youth and young adult ministry in the Office for Catechesis.
In a traditional show of support for life, over 350 youth and adults participated in the Jan. 26 March for Life in Washington, D.C. This was the year that marked the 40th anniversary of the Supreme Court decisions Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton that legalized abortion on demand in the United States. In Springfield Bishop Thomas John Paprocki celebrated a Mass on Jan. 23, sending off the youth and adult participants to the march.
"The biggest highlight of this past year's trip was coordinating the 'all Illinois' Mass with Cardinal (Francis) George as celebrant," said Holtgrave. "Over 1,000 people participated in the event that was held in Washington, D.C., prior to the March for Life rally and demonstration parade on the national mall that afternoon. We also got to meet with Congressional staff members in the Capitol building to learn about pro-life legislation that several of our members of Congress are sponsoring."
In February, YAM (Young Adult Mass) celebrated five years of ministry. In addition to celebrating Mass weekly, YAM has monthly service projects, regular social gatherings and spiritual formation opportunities. YAM also raises money for charity, having contributed to St. Patrick School, St. Martin de Porres and Springfield Right to Life.
During March, Holtgrave helped host the Diocesan Youth Conference at Lake Williamson in Carlinville. "The main topic of the conference was spiritual combat, featuring Father Leo Patalinghug from Grace Before Meals," Holtgrave said. "While Father Leo is more commonly known as the cooking priest, he is also a black belt in Taekwondo, using the lessons of martial arts in a spiritual sense to be prepared to fight the forces of darkness in our lives."
From March to May, Holtgrave said he hosted a number of spiritual retreats. "The springtime finds me busy hosting retreats for confirmation, graduation or whatever topic a parish would like," he said.
Totus Tuus continues to grow in popularity, said Holtgrave. "The Totus Tuus (May-July) season was a success, reaching hundreds of kids throughout the diocese over the summer. This year's focus was on the sacraments as well as the Joyful Mysteries of the rosary," he said. "We hosted our own training this year and helped the Diocese of Jefferson City launch their own program. More of the staff were from our diocese as well."
Summer is the traditional time for youth to spend their vacation days helping others. Early in the season a group of 48 students from Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, campus ministers, a 2013 SHG graduate and adult volunteers spent a week in Steubenville, Ohio on a JOSHUA (Journeys of Service Helping Upper Appalachia) trip. This was the 14th year that SHG has completed the mission trip.
For the first time ever, a Catholic HEART Workcamp was held in Springfield to reach out to community organizations which help those in need. Dave Knoepfle, a parishioner at St. Jude Parish in Rochester, was the camp manager. Although many of the campers came from out of state, some of the week-long volunteers came from the Springfield diocese, including those from St. Peter Parish in Petersburg and Holy Family Parish in Athens. Some daytime volunteers came from St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Chatham and some Boys Scouts and Girl Scouts served as well.
Other young people and chaperones from the Springfield diocese took part in Workcamps in other areas of the country. They were from St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Chatham, Holy Cross Parish in Auburn, St. Jude Parish in Rochester, Sacred Heart and St. Anthony parishes in Effingham, St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Teutopolis, St. Isidore the Farmer Parish in Bishop Creek, Sacred Heart Parish in Lillyville, St. Mary Help of Christians Parish in Green Creek, and St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Sigel.
"Over some of the hottest days of the summer, a group of middle school students spent the week in Springfield helping at a variety of service agencies in town," Holtgrave said of the Just5Days program, which took place in July. "Throughout the week, the group learned about why serving others is so important and that poverty is not always experienced financially."
Also in July, about 50 people — adult, young adult leaders and high school participants — were on the campus of Benedictine at Springfield for Catholic Leadership Institute (CLI), which is sponsored by the Office for Vocations. CLI, which has been taking place in Springfield for almost 25 years, is filled with leadership training, guided spiritual development and hands-on exercises to help participants put their new skills to work. Mass is celebrated several times, the sacrament of reconciliation is offered and the youth are encouraged to spend time in prayer.
In late July, 35 individuals from the Springfield diocese were with millions of others who converged on Rio De Janeiro for World Youth Day. Among those who were there celebrating the Catholic faith were Bishop Paprocki, Father Brian Alford, Father Chris Brey, Father David Hoefler and lay participants from St. Mary Parish in Marshall, St. Anthony High School students and others from Effingham, and members of Father Brey's "cluster parishes" of St. Alexius in Beardstown, St. Fidelis in Arenzville, St. Augustine in Ashland and St. Luke in Virginia.
After school started up again in September, the Catholic Committee on Scouting hosted its 2nd annual Camp-O-Ree at Camp Illinek in Springfield. Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturers and Girl Scouts spent the weekend doing activities that helped them learn about the lives of saints, how to pray the rosary and about some important characters in the Bible.
October brought Diocesan Youth Days to gatherings in Quincy, Decatur and Springfield. "I have retooled this event to focus exclusively on middle school students," Holtgrave said. He wants students to "learn how religion is not just a subject that must be passed in school, but that our faith is a way of life in all that we do." Also in October, a group of Scouts gathered at Holy Cross in Auburn for a Scout retreat to work on religious emblems.
Finally, in November over 100 people from the Springfield diocese were on hand to take part in the National Catholic Youth Conference, held in Indianapolis. That number was greatly increased from 2011, Holtgrave said. "The conference is an opportunity for the young church to celebrate the gift of youth in the life of the church today."
Holtgrave says 2014 promises to be another great year for diocesan youth, adding that he'll be "rolling out an updated formation program for youth ministry" along with leading other new and tried and true youth-related events.