Over 700 people representing 50 different parish ministries and movements turned out for the Diocese of Sacramento's 56th Annual Diocesan Youth Convention held Saturday, March 28, 2009 at Bishop Francis Quinn Catholic Center in Palo Cedro, CA (near Redding). It was the first time in its 56 year history that the event has been held in the northern part of the diocese. The purpose of youth convention is to empower young people to live more consciously and deliberately as disciples of Christ, to strengthen and enhance youth ministries, and to promote collaboration between youth groups & movements.
Highlights of the day were Brad & Gene from APeX Ministries, a candid interview with Bishop Soto, awesome comic book images of the saints courtesy Rob Sheridan, and the music!
The theme for the day was “HEROES: Many Gifts, One Spirit.” It challenged participants to look closely at how God has endowed them with special abilities and called them to use those gifts to change the world. The day used the lives of the saints as models for young people on how to both identify their charisms and to dedicate their lives to the mission of Christ. The morning workshop featured 15 different catechetical workshops on the Saints.
The afternoon workshops featured youth and young adults sharing their faith and their experiences as ministers from many parish ministries including St. Rose (Roseville), Holy Trinity (El Dorado Hills), St. Basil (Vallejo), Shasta Deanery Young Adults (Redding), Our Lady of Mercy (Redding), Good Shepherd (Elk Grove), Sacred Heart (Red Bluff), as well as movements from throughout the Diocese including SEARCH, Recollections in Christianity, Disciples of Jesus and Mary and the Charismatic Movement.
This year’s Convention was enhanced by the performances of 6 youth bands: Fuel'd (Redding), St. John (Chico), Holy Rosary (Woodland), Jesus 24 Siete (Stockton), Lino's Band (St. Rose, Sacramento), and St. Dominic's Youth Group (Benecia); rap performances by the Diocese of Sacramento Seminarians, Recollection in Christianity (St. Charles, Sacramento) and dance music courtesy the DJs from YES (Good Shepherd, Elk Grove).
Rob Sheridan created 17 original images of the Saints for the Convention which were processed in as large banners for the mass with Bishop Jaime Soto and distributed to the youth groups as a set of trading cards with the images on the front and information on the saints lives on the back. (Saints Cards are available in English or Spanish for $5 per set -- contact Kevin Staszkow kstaszkow@diocese-sacramento.org or 916-733-0152)
APeX Ministries tied the day together using an excellent mix of humor, wisdom and juggling; challenging the young people to release their inner superhero just as the saints do. Their last session included a candid interview with Bishop Soto and an affirmation by Brad & Gene from APeX of his deep love and concern for youth on the local and national level. Bishop Soto currently serves as the Episcopal liaison to the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry and the chair of the United State Conference of Catholic Bishop's subcommittee on youth.
Breaks featured snow cones and cotton candy provided by St. Christopher (Galt), interactive games in the festival area, and ultimate frisbee on the football field.
Lunch and Dinner were provided by the Knights of Columbus chapters in Redding, Red Bluff and Anderson and a snack bar was hosted by the Our Lady of Mercy (Redding) Mission Trip. The MC for the day was Fr. Uriel Ojeda from Holy Rosary (Woodland).
Photos by Merlynne Lucero.
Over 700 people representing 50 different parish ministries and movements turned out for the Diocese of Sacramento's 56th Annual Diocesan Youth Convention held Saturday, March 28, 2009 at Bishop Francis Quinn Catholic Center in Palo Cedro, CA (near Redding). It was the first time in its 56 year history that the event has been held in the northern part of the diocese. The purpose of youth convention is to empower young people to live more consciously and deliberately as disciples of Christ, to strengthen and enhance youth ministries, and to promote collaboration between youth groups & movements.
Highlights of the day were Brad & Gene from APeX Ministries, a candid interview with Bishop Soto, awesome comic book images of the saints courtesy Rob Sheridan, and the music!
The theme for the day was “HEROES: Many Gifts, One Spirit.” It challenged participants to look closely at how God has endowed them with special abilities and called them to use those gifts to change the world. The day used the lives of the saints as models for young people on how to both identify their charisms and to dedicate their lives to the mission of Christ. The morning workshop featured 15 different catechetical workshops on the Saints. 
The afternoon workshops featured youth and young adults sharing their faith and their experiences as ministers from many parish ministries including St. Rose (Roseville), Holy Trinity (El Dorado Hills), St. Basil (Vallejo), Shasta Deanery Young Adults (Redding), Our Lady of Mercy (Redding), Good Shepherd (Elk Grove), Sacred Heart (Red Bluff), as well as movements from throughout the Diocese including SEARCH, Recollections in Christianity, Disciples of Jesus and Mary and the Charismatic Movement.
This year’s Convention was enhanced by the performances of 6 youth bands: Fuel'd (Redding), St. John (Chico), Holy Rosary (Woodland), Jesus 24 Siete (Stockton), Lino's Band (St. Rose, Sacramento), and St. Dominic's Youth Group (Benecia); rap performances by the Diocese of Sacramento Seminarians, Recollection in Christianity (St. Charles, Sacramento) and dance music courtesy the DJs from YES (Good Shepherd, Elk Grove).
Rob Sheridan created 17 original images of the Saints for the Convention which were processed in as large banners for the mass with Bishop Jaime Soto and distributed to the youth groups as a set of trading cards with the images on the front and information on the saints lives on the back. (Saints Cards are available in English or Spanish for $5 per set -- contact Kevin Staszkow kstaszkow@diocese-sacramento.org or 916-733-0152)
APeX Ministries tied the day together using an excellent mix of humor, wisdom and juggling; challenging the young people to release their inner superhero just as the saints do. Their last session included a candid interview with Bishop Soto and an affirmation by Brad & Gene from APeX of his deep love and concern for youth on the local and national level. Bishop Soto currently serves as the Episcopal liaison to the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry and the chair of the United State Conference of Catholic Bishop's subcommittee on youth.
Breaks featured snow cones and cotton candy provided by St. Christopher (Galt), interactive games in the festival area, and ultimate frisbee on the football field. 
Lunch and Dinner were provided by the Knights of Columbus chapters in Redding, Red Bluff and Anderson and a snack bar was hosted by the Our Lady of Mercy (Redding) Mission Trip. The MC for the day was Fr. Uriel Ojeda from Holy Rosary (Woodland).
Photos by Merlynne Lucero.
