Youth retreat draws teens from around diocese

By Maria Ledoux

The Catholic Free Press


“Isn’t that amazing that Jesus wants us to experience himself now? That he is ... dwelling in our souls if we continue to live in his love,” said Father Donato Infante III during the homily to 35 teenagers during the Diocesan Youth Retreat hosted by the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry on May 20-22. The retreat welcomed students from throughout the diocese in grades 8 through 12.

The theme of the 2022 Diocesan Youth Retreat, Verso l’Alto: Into the Heights, was the motto of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, an early 20th century Italian Catholic activist who spent much of his time serving the poor and sick, while at the same time bringing Christ to his friends as an avid mountain climber and athlete. Blessed Frassati wrote the simple phrase “Verso l’Alto” on a photograph after what was, unbeknownst to him, his last mountain climb. The phrase that articulates the physical journey up the high altitude of a mountain also encapsulates the soon- to-be saint’s philosophical and theological journey to encounter Christ.

The three-day retreat was packed with games and prizes, music, guest speakers, and breakout sessions, as well as eucharistic adoration, confession, and Mass which all contributed to the teens’ journey into the spiritual heights of encountering Jesus Christ.

Timothy Messenger, director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, said that they chose the motto of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati because he was a “relatable, young person.” Throughout the retreat, attendees were challenged to compare their spiritual life with climbing a mountain. On Friday, the retreat facilitators asked the students to identify what point of the mountain they are on, or if they are even on the mountain at all. On Saturday, teens identified the obstacles in their way of journeying up the mountain. The final focus was to be on the mountain top, to be with God through adoration and confession. Mr. Messenger stated that “all four confession lines were filled.”

Carmine Giaquinto, a 10th grader from Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School in Charlton, attended the retreat. He said that his favorite part of the weekend was hearing stories of people with different life paths. He recounted the story of Jamison who had a heart condition that would require surgery. Jamison had a stroke in high school that left him blind and with scar tissue on his brain; however, these symptoms went away, and doctors did not know how. Jamison spoke about his own journey with faith, despite the obstacles in his life. Giaquinto says, “Looking at them you wouldn’t know that they went through what they did.”

Jomar Cintorn Perez, also a 10th grader at Bay Path, said that the best part of the three-day retreat was adoration and confession. His sister, Marianelys Cintorn Perez, an 8th grader from All Saints Academy in Webster, added to her brother’s statement saying, “Yes, I like that the adoration of the Eucharist helps you get closer to God. It helps you better your relationship with Jesus and with others.”

Samantha Holmes, a senior at David Prouty High School in Spencer, states two of her favorite parts about the weekend: the first is adoration, the second is “being with people who love God as much as you do.”

Hayley O’Connell, a senior at Marianapolis Prepatory School in Thompson, Connecticut, loves the interaction with other retreat attendees and volunteers. “I really like retreats like this. It makes you feel not so isolated in your faith.”

With the theme of the weekend being Verso l’Alto: Into the Heights, Miss Holmes said that she learned that “God sends his strongest soldiers to his biggest battles. He does not cause you to suffer. He allows you to suffer.”

Miss O’Connell said that a lot of talks were about mountains and how to get to the top of that mountain. “God should be your summit and your ultimate goal. It was encouraging to hear that everyone has a different sized mountain,” she said.

At the end of the weekend, parents and families of the teens in attendance were welcomed to the concluding Mass. Joselin Perez, the mother of Jomar and Marianelys Cintorn Perez, said that she sent her children to the retreat at the invitation of Carmine Giaquinto. She stated that she felt it was “a good opportunity to start socializing with other kids their age. A spiritual thing is good for them. They can all share in their same religion and the same belief.”

Father Infante continued his homily on Sunday, the final event of the weekend, by telling the congregation that “love is a freely given gift from God and from other people. It does not need to be earned.” He addressed how important it is to remain in God’s love and left the teens with two ways to be able to do that. “We must love other people … when we give love away there isn’t less love, there is more love … the second thing is this: Jesus says to keep his commandments. We think they are just rules - don’t do this, don’t do that … We must ask ourselves: What type of person is God calling me to be? One of hope, love, and justice, etc. and what are the things that get in the way of living those virtues: that is the seven deadly sins. The commandments are rather the guidelines.”

 

– To get involved or learn more about the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, visit neworcester.org or call 508-929-4360.