Pope Francis Issues Letter to Young People: Christ is Alive!

Earlier this week, Pope Francis issued a letter to young people – Christus Vivit, “Christ is alive!” It is so beautiful, so pastoral in tone, I envisioned a sagely patriarch, gathering his many grandchildren around his feet and lovingly imparting to them all that God had taught him over the years. Perhaps knowing that he has entered the twilight of life, I could see him settle in his old rocking chair, maybe one or two of the littlest ones in his lap, looking his beloved in the eyes, and sharing the words that were so deeply ingrained on his heart.

Draw deeply on your imagination. In the spirit of St. Ignatius, explore the scene with all of your senses. Hear the words and let them sink more deeply into your consciousness. Papa Francesco speaks to us all:

“The very first truth I would tell each of you is this: ‘God loves you.’ It makes no difference whether you have already heard it or not. I want to remind you of it. God loves you. Never doubt this, whatever may happen to you in life. At every moment, you are infinitely loved.”[1]

The children are rapt in attention already. They have heard it before, but they love it when papa reminds them. And they know it’s true because grandpa loves them. He continues:

“You have worth; you are not insignificant. You are important to him, for you are the work of his hands. He does not keep track of your failings. He helps you learn something even from your mistakes. Because he loves you. Now try to keep still for a moment and let yourself feel his love. . .”[2]

They close their eyes, take deep breaths, and try to feel what papa was telling them. It’s hard to keep still, but their hearts are filled with warm feelings, sunshine, and freedom. They always love the way grandpa makes them feel. After a moment of silence, he continues:

“The second great truth is that Christ, out of love, sacrificed himself completely in order to save you. His outstretched arms on the cross, [what does that tell you?]. It tells you that he is a friend who is willing to stop at nothing: ‘Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end’ (Jn 13:1).”

It was hard for them to think of Jesus on the Cross but papa always talked about it in a way that didn’t make them feel afraid. It actually made them feel really special, like they were that important, that their lives really mattered. He went on:

“Look to his cross, cling to him, let him save you. Be set free from sin, sorrow, emptiness and loneliness. And if you sin and stray far from him? He will come to lift you up by the power of his cross. Never forget that. Time and time again, he bears us on his shoulders.”[3]

The children all thought about that. They knew, somewhere in their hearts, that they had strayed from time to time. They kinda felt bad about that. But it was God’s love that allowed them to look to Jesus and believe that they could be forgiven. Then papa really got going:

“Young people, beloved of the Lord, how valuable must you be, if you were redeemed by the precious blood of Christ! Dear young people, you are priceless! You are not up for sale! Please, do not let yourself be bought. Do not let yourself be seduced. Do not let yourself be enslaved by forms of ideological colonization that put ideas in your heads, with the result that you end up becoming slaves, addicts… You are priceless. You must repeat this always: I am not up for sale; I do not have a price. I am free! Dear children, fall in love with this freedom, which is what Jesus offers.”[4]

Tears started welling up in his eyes, and their eyes too. It was so powerful the way papa spoke. Sometimes, he had to stop and just let the tears fall, he loved them so much. He knew he didn’t have much time and he wanted them to know this so badly. He continued:

“Finally, there is a third truth: Christ is alive! Sometimes we see Jesus Christ simply as a fine model from the distant past, a memory, as someone who saved us two thousand years ago. But that would be of no use to us. It would leave us unchanged, it would not set us free… He is the Christ, risen from the dead, filled with supernatural life and energy, and robed in boundless light.”[5]

The children liked that image of Jesus. Luminous and strong, filled with energy and youthfulness. And papa was right, Christ is not dead, he is alive! Grandpa always reminded them that even though Jesus suffered so much and died for them, there was so much more to the story. He went on:

“See Jesus as happy, overflowing with joy. Rejoice with him as with a friend who has triumphed. They killed him, the holy one, the just one, the innocent one, but he triumphed in the end. Evil does not have the last word. Nor will it have the last word in your life, for you have a friend who loves you and wants to triumph in you. Your Saviour lives!”[6]

Papa was always talking about Jesus as our friend. “Jesus wants to be a friend to every young person,” he said.[7]They liked that. It helped them feel safe, like they could always approach him and say whatever was on their minds. And it wasn’t just a story, grandpa always reminded them. This was something they could respond to, that Jesus wanted them to actually enter into the story:

“The life that Jesus gives us is a love story, a life story that wants to blend with ours and sink roots in the soil of our own lives. That life is not a salvation up ‘in the cloud’ and waiting to be downloaded, a new ‘app’ to be discovered, or a technique of mental self-improvement. . . The salvation that God offers us is an invitation to be part of a love story.”[8]

They could tell that papa was tired but the fire was still in his eyes. With great intensity, he would look at each of them and ask questions:

“Do you need love? You will not find it in dissipation, using other people, or trying to be possessive or domineering. You will find it in a way that will make you genuinely happy. Are you seeking powerful emotions? You will not experience them by accumulating material objects, spending money, chasing desperately after the things of the world. Are you looking for passion? Then fall in love! Because nothing is more practical than finding God, than falling in love in a quite absolute and final way.”[9]

It was kind of strange to think about falling in love with God, but the children knew what falling in love meant by looking at their parents. It was a closeness, a commitment, a covenant that would never be broken. It was that glimmer in their eye, the kissing and holding hands, but it was also what got them out of bed so many nights when the baby was fussy or one of the kids was sick. They knew what papa meant and it made them feel safe about God. He went on:

“If in your heart you can learn to appreciate the beauty of this message, if you are willing to encounter the Lord, if you are willing to let him love you and save you, if you can make friends with him and start to talk to him, the living Christ, about the realities of your life, then you will have a profound experience capable of sustaining your entire Christian life. You will also be able to share that experience with other young people.”[10]

The way papa talked about God, the children wanted to share him with others. How could they not? It was the best story that they had ever heard, and God was inviting them to be a part of it!

“Keep following your hopes and dreams. Jesus is the way: welcome him into your ‘boat’ and put out into the deep! He is the Lord! Avoid the paralysis of the living dead, who have no life because they are afraid to take risks, to make mistakes… Even if you make mistakes, you can always get up and start over, for no one has the right to rob you of hope.”[11]

This was so energizing. Somehow papa made them feel so free, like they could do anything with God. Even the idea of making mistakes wasn’t so intimidating because papa helped them remember that God was always “making lemonade out of lemons” or “drawing straight with crooked lines.” Sometimes he even shared some of his own mistakes with them but how, trusting in God, somehow all was well in the end. His final words were spoken with such passion, all eyes were glued to their beloved papa:

“Dear young people, make the most of these years of your youth. Don’t observe life from a balcony. Don’t confuse happiness with an armchair, or live your life behind a screen… Don’t be parked cars, but dream freely and make good decisions. Take risks, even if that means making mistakes. Don’t go through life anesthetized or approach the world like tourists. Make a ruckus! Cast out the fears that paralyze you, so that you don’t become like mummies. Live! Give yourselves over to the best of life! Open the door of the cage, go out and fly!”[12]

Papa’s words, his whole life, made them all want to fly. Secure in their friendship with Jesus, saved by his sacrifice, empowered by his love, they were ready to drop their nets and follow him wherever he led. Papa was right: Christ is alive! And they wanted that abundant life in their lives too. They didn’t want the night to end but bedtime was calling. Some of the younger children had already fallen asleep, not from boredom but because they felt so safe. With a glow still on his face, he closed this most special night with this:

“Dear young people, my joyful hope is to see you keep running the race before you, outstripping all those who are slow or fearful. Keep running, “attracted by the face of Christ, whom we love so much, whom we adore in the Holy Eucharist and acknowledge in the flesh of our suffering brothers and sisters. May the Holy Spirit urge you on as you run this race. The Church needs your momentum, your intuitions, your faith. We need them! And when you arrive where we have not yet reached, have the patience to wait for us.”[13]

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[1]Pope Francis, Christus Vivit (Christ is Alive!), 112.

[2]Ibid, 115.

[3]Ibid, 118-19.

[4]Ibid, 122.

[5]Ibid, 124.

[6]Ibid, 126.

[7]Ibid, 250.

[8]Ibid, 252.

[9]Ibid, 131-21.

[10]Ibid, 129.

[11]Ibid, 141-42.

[12]Ibid, 143.

[13]Ibid, 299.

Young Life Catholic Forum: A Historic Step Forward for YL Catholic Relations

“In the Gospel, the good news is revealed as a mystery of God’s closeness,” penned Bishop Daniel Flores to participants at the Young Life Catholic Forum in New York City in January. “He is the God who moves first to us, who unites himself to our journey. He becomes a pilgrim to straighten the paths of those who wander.” A pilgrim God united to a pilgrim people in search of the lost and forgotten. It was a moment of profound symbolism and solidarity as two hundred missional leaders from Young Life and the Catholic Church gathered at historic St. James, the cathedral basilica of Brooklyn. Co-sponsored by YL Catholic Relations and the Diocese of Queens and Brooklyn, the Forum brought both Protestants and Catholics together in a united response to the mystery of God’s closeness in Jesus Christ. 

“It was a profound experience of unity and celebrating our common purpose of sharing the Gospel with young people,” noted Kathy Goller, Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Buffalo, NY. “It helped me see this movement as just one piece in the larger movement of evangelistic ecumenism, a movement that is so desperately needed in these times when the largest growing ‘religious denomination’ is the unaffiliated.” Less than a year earlier, Kathy held Young Life at arm’s length, fearing that it only led Catholic kids away from the Church. That was before she was invited to a Catholic Adult Guest Camp at Timberwolf Lake and experienced Young Life for herself. Now she sees God’s design in our shared pilgrim path. “Young Life and the Catholic Church share a common core – Jesus Christ,” she says. “And we see a common need – those people, especially our young people, who do not know the love, the hope, and the joy of Christ. I am hopeful that a true partnership can be built on that common core which addresses that common need, bearing fruit for the Kingdom of God.”

The Young Life Catholic Forum was a true watershed moment in the growing relationship between Young Life and the Catholic Church. Young Life senior leadership, field staff, and volunteers joined Catholic leaders representing more than thirty dioceses gathered in friendship to tend to one of the most important questions of our age: 'How do we effectively evangelize young people today?' In the age of polarization and polemics, the Forum was a breath of fresh air for those who have dedicated their lives to youth ministry. It was the kind of unity Jesus prayed for in John 17 and it propelled this united core into the future with fresh energy and hope.

Fr. Lukasz Szymanski travelled all the way from Poland to participate in the Forum. “That’s the church I dream of,” he noted, “a church that is a visible sign of unity. I’m convinced that all we do in YL makes sense only if we do it together – Catholics and Protestants.” Fr. Lukasz joined a YL Expedition trip to World Youth Day in his home country in 2016. Experiencing Young Life was a “coming home” for him. Now he serves as the Catholic Liaison to Young Life in Poland where active ministry is running in Poznan and Warsaw. “When kids look at our relationships they can truly feel that they are loved and open up to God’s love. And that’s what it’s all about, leading kids together to Christ, our Lord and Savior.”

For some, the Forum was a deeply personal experience. Tasha Taylor is a Catholic serving the Chicagoland Region as Coordinator of Capernaum. She said, “I truly never imagined a day when my Catholic faith would be encouraged and celebrated to this extent in Young Life.  At the Forum, I felt incredibly encouraged and empowered to bring all of me to the table, unashamedly.” Rooted in the FORWARD commitment of going deeper together, the Forum represented a monumental step toward building and equipping teams that reflect the worldwide body of Christ. 

Whether it was the worship, the personal tour of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the practical workshops on doing ministry together, or the insights of Aux. Bishop Massa on the ecumenical movement, the Forum moved hearts and minds in the mystery of God’s closeness. It helped us all believe that “the best Young Life is yet to come.”

Fishing with C.S. Lewis and Robert Barron: YL Catholic Relations & the Art of Catching Nones

A friend contacted me recently to ask my advice about a good C.S. Lewis book for her husband. That’s a lot like asking me for the best Henri Nouwen book. They’re all so good it’s impossible to pick one (so I recommended the complete compilation of C.S. Lewis signature classics, of course!). But it prompted me to pull my own copy of Mere Christianity off the shelf and refamiliarize myself. 

I was immediately struck by the description of Lewis’ original motivations to write what would become a timeless spiritual classic for Protestants and Catholics alike: “Ever since I became a Christian I have thought that the best, perhaps the only, service I could do for my unbelieving neighbors was to explain and defend the belief that has been common to nearly all Christians at all times.” Somehow from the beginning, Lewis intuited that the world needed an articulate presentation of Christianity’s heart, not its peripheries, its center of gravity, not its disputed boundaries. 

His ecumenical instincts were beautifully attuned to the signs of the times. He rightly observed that disputes among Christians were, first of all, often matters of high theology suited only for real experts. But he also noted that discussions about controversial points hadn’t the slightest chance of bringing outsiders into the Christian fold. He chose to “fish” for men and women (Mt 4:19; Lk 5:10) with the proposition of “mere” Christianity, a term he borrowed from the oft-forgotten 17^thcentury figure Richard Baxter. By “mere” he didn’t mean minor or measly, but essential and foundational, the very core of the Christian tradition.  

Fast forward to the 21^stcentury and we meet another towering evangelical fisherman, Bishop Robert Barron. Catholic Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles and founder of Word on Fire Ministries, Barron’s effectiveness in proclaiming the Gospel to the postmodern generation can be aptly compared to Lewis’ influence on the generation of moderns before him. Like Lewis, who never hid his Anglican convictions, Barron is solidly Catholic, but he also knows that focusing on the divisions isn’t going to win any converts.

“You’re not going to get a lot of nones coming back to church if you’re ranting and raving,” Barron says. “You have to be more inviting, finding positive things in the culture you can identify with.”[1]Noting the influence of Saint Pope John Paul II, one of his heroes, Barron exhorts, “You should never be browbeating, aggressive, prideful, and all that. Never impose, always propose.”[2]

Why is this missionary strategy so effective (note Barron’s online videos have been viewed over 30 million times and his Facebook followers now number over 1.5 million)? It’s because Bishop Barron is sharply attuned to his audience. He knows that we are living in the age of widespread secularism, skepticism and unbelief. Like Lewis, Barron’s evangelical strategy begins with the kerygmatic core of Christianity, that positive, Christocentric message that Jesus Christ is the thing our restless hearts most yearn for. 

This same approach is at the center of the growing movement of Young Life Catholic Relations. Beginning with what Pope Francis calls “the essentials, that which is most beautiful, most grand, most appealing and most necessary”[3]we seek to address the startling rise of “the nones”, those who aren’t arguing about this denomination or that but who have no religious affiliation at all. How? With a winsome proclamation of Jesus Christ, with real relationships and a steady ministry of accompaniment, and with a spirit of partnership that stacks hands on that “center, rather that Someone, who against all divergencies of belief, all memories of mutual persecution, speaks [to us] with the same voice.”[4]

To find out more about how you can participate in this growing movement of unity and evangelization please click here.

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[1]Robert Barron, To Light a Fire on the Earth: Proclaiming the Gospel in a Secular Age (Image Books, NY: 2017), 124.

[2]Ibid, 115.

[3]Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), 35. 

[4]C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity found in The Complete C.S. Lewis Signature Classics  (HarperCollins: NY, 2002), 8.

The Young Life Catholic Forum: A Defining Moment

There are moments that define my vocation, moments that make me stop and say, “This is it. This is what my life is about.” January 24-26, 2019 will be one of those moments for me. It just may be one of those moments for you too.

When I consider my life in Christ and my service to the Church, there are a few things that I stand for, ideals that draw the best out of me, horizons that tug at my heart and guide my journey. The first is Jesus Christ. I can never forget that my faith was forged in an encounter with the living God who came in the person of Jesus. Not just a creed, not merely a moral compass, but a divine Person who speaks and listens, who challenges and forgives, who saves me from the pit and sets my foot upon the rock. Like He did for every one of us, I live and die for Jesus Christ.

The second defining ideal is unity in the body of Christ. This has always been a deep plumb line for me. Christ’s body is one. Many parts we are, but together we are the Mystical Body of Christ on earth. Broken and tattered as we are, we are the ark of salvation. Darkened by sin and prone to wander, we are nonetheless the People of God. When Jesus prayed “that they all may be one” (Jn 17:21), it always resonated with me. It struck me as one of the most important parting words that He spoke. As Christians we are called to overcome the stain of division and love each other in a way that the world would see Jesus (Jn 17:23). I want my life to build up the Church, the body of Christ, “until we have come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord” (Eph 4:12). 

The third defining ideal is mission. We don’t just have a mission, we are a mission. We are a sent people. From our encounters with Christ we are sent out to proclaim the kingdom of God and manifest His will “on earth as it is in heaven.” We can’t wait for it. We can’t wait passively in our church buildings, Pope Francis reminds us. We have to go. Like Jesus came searching for us, we have to go after people – engage them, listen to them, love them. This is precisely how the kingdom will come. Saints like you and I leaving our comfort zone and sacrificing our lives so that others might encounter Jesus and have eternal life in Him. I want my life to be a mission.

So it is with great enthusiasm that I invite each of you to participate in an event that is decidedly about Jesus, unity, and mission – the Young Life Catholic Forum. Co-sponsored by Young Life Catholic Relations and the Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, we invite you to a historic gathering in the heart of New York City, January 24-26, 2019. Be a part of the surging movement of unity, friends on mission for Christ and for kids. Young Life staff and volunteers, Catholics from parishes, schools and dioceses from around the country, coming together to glorify God and equip God’s people to do His work in reaching every kid, everywhere for eternity. 

This is a defining moment. Be a part of it. Come to New York. Jesus is calling.

Click on this link for more details! https://younglifecatholicforum.splashthat.com

"What Can We Do Together?"

“What can we do together?” Pope Francis asked this week in Geneva during his address to the World Council of Churches, representing 350 Christian denominations and over 500 million Christians worldwide. It is a question which echoes through my mind after spending a week with delegates from Catholic dioceses and parishes from around the US at the 6^thAnnual YL Catholic Adult Guest Camp at Timber Wolf Lake. We’re all asking, “What can we do together to reach young men and women who are struggling without a sense of worth, belonging and hope that can only be found in Jesus?” 

We begin with spiritual friendship. Spending time together throughout the week made us realize that underneath the titles and positions, we are all human beings with names and families, joys and hopes, hurts and frailties. We listened to one another. We prayed over each other. We laughed our heads off at club and we cried through so many beautiful moments. We tackled the ropes course together and we heard the gentle voice of Jesus beckoning us forth. This week we became not merely co-laborers in the Lord’s harvest but friends in Christ.

Second, we committed to a common path. With eyes focused on Jesus, we stacked hands on introducing kids to Christ and helping them grow in their faith. We honored our differences without getting mired in disagreements. We chose a path of graciousness and trust rather than arousing suspicion and putting up walls. We discovered that we want the same things – for kids to know Christ, to place their trust in Him as the source of their lives, and to reconnect to the Church, each according to his or her tradition. 

Kathy Goller, Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministry at the Diocese of Buffalo, NY shared, "My experience at the Catholic Adult Guest Week convicted me more than ever that the Catholic Church can, and needs to, partner with Young Life to reach our young people with the hope and love of Christ. Further, it gave me clear ideas and a plan for how to transform those convictions into actions for our diocese!"

Third, we leaned into hope. We all know the state of affairs today. We know that faith is out of fashion and that for every 1 who enters the Church 6 leave. We know what kids are exposed to through social media and modern “entertainment.” Yet the power of the Resurrection compels us forward with hope. God is writing a beautiful story. We saw it right before our eyes. The victory of goodness over evil is real. Walls are coming down. Reconciliation is happening. Lives are being transformed. “The best of Young Life is yet to come,” Jim Rayburn proclaimed in his last days. And I believe that includes widespread partnership with the whole body of Christ – Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox. 

“What can we do together?” A lot, it turns out. And the best is yet to come. 

Sunset on Timber Wolf Lake

Young Life Brings Protestants and Catholics Together in the Holy Land by Deacon Nathan Gunn

Young Life’s commitment to unity in diversity and bridge-building just reached new heights. In some parts of the world, bridges need to be built between socio-economic groups.  In other places, the need is to bring healing to issues of racial tension.  On the continent of Europe, the biggest need for unity is between Catholics and Protestants. 

In late May, the staff and spouses from YL Europe joined with Mission Leaders and guests representing a group of over 200 pilgrims.  For a week, people from nearly 20 European countries toured the Holy Land, following in the footsteps of Jesus, His family and His apostles.  The journey began in the tightly-wound ancient city of old Jerusalem.  The group descended the Mount of Olives and ascended the Via Dolorosa – trodding the very paths that Jesus took, carrying His cross to Calvary.  We floated in the Dead Sea and looked into the Caves at Qumran. We sailed across the Sea of Galilee and traced Christ’s miraculous works through ancient Capernaum.  With every turn and every detail, the mercy and grace of God was extended through the landscape, the history, the recollection of the stories, and the vividness of the setting.

Then, in a powerful movement of God’s grace, another element emerged.  At YL “Club” each night, we heard from one of two European ministers.  Rev Dr. Keith McCrory, a Protestant pastor from Northern Ireland, and Father Lukasz Szymanski, a Roman Catholic priest from Poland, took turns preparing us for the next day’s sites and leading us into deeper communion with Christ.  Two men from two Christian traditions, overcoming centuries of division and strife to lead Young Life hand in hand through the Holy Land, was a living testament to Young Life’s priority of unity within the Body of Christ.  Along with the shared teaching, the corporate prayer of the Stations of the Cross, walking Christ’s steps to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher brought more reflection and deeper unity among us.  

But the biggest movement of the Holy Spirit was experienced in Nazareth.  Together, with one voice, all two hundred-strong sang worship songs and prayed together as Fr. Lucasz celebrated Catholic Mass at the Basilica of the Annunciation.  Not only was the setting dramatic, but the movement of God’s Spirit as Catholics and Protestants basked together in the Presence of God was awe-inspiring.  For many, this was their first experience of the Mass.  For others, this was their first experience of Mass in such a powerful Catholic setting.  During small groups that night, pilgrim after pilgrim shared that the Mass was the highlight of their day, if not their trip.  While the Mission Leadership set the direction and put the players in place, it was the Holy Spirit that took over and sparked the unity that Christ prayed for in John 17.

As the pilgrimage ended, conversations continued. There are about a dozen meaningful entry points for cooperation between YL and the Catholic Church that are ready for immediate follow-up.  Beyond those venues, there are dozens more YL staff who are hungry and eager to learn more. Plans for partnership are being crafted, trying to keep pace with the unity that the Spirit is forging. The groundswell of unity is happening. The tsunami of partnership is coming. And at the center of it all are two elements that YL has always held most sacred – the love of Christ for every kid and every kid’s need to hear of His love for them.   

*post written by Deacon Nathan Gunn, a 20-year veteran of Young Life who serves as Associate Director of YL-Catholic Relations for the Eastern States, and is a permanent deacon in the Roman Catholic Church.                   

Big Dreams, Big Impact in the East

“Right now God is doing something special and I think it is going to have a significant impact on the future of our Church,” says the young man in his late 20s. When you look at that impact in western Massachusetts, Steve Fydenkevez is a big part of it. Steve is helping Young Life and the Catholic Church come together on the ground level, developing relationships that will yield fruit in local parishes and dioceses for years to come.

Steve grew up attending St. Mary’s Catholic parish in Longmeadow (Springfield MA Diocese) and was exposed to Young Life through the parish youth group’s annual summer trip to Saranac Village, a YL camp in the Adirondacks. “The relationship I had with my YL leader (who is now a Catholic priest actually), absolutely played a significant role in my development as a Catholic adult,” he says. The memory of those experiences at YL camp helped to spark a passion in him while sitting in Mass one day:

I remember one particular morning looking around the church and realizing that my wife and I were the only ones under forty who were not with their parents. I knew that if we didn’t do something more to reach our middle school and high school friends now, this entire generation would be lost. This is the future of our Church, I could not do nothing! I knew right then that what our Catholic youth needed is what Young Life works so hard to develop in teens - relationships with Jesus Christ.

Steve is recently married and works in the insurance industry just south across the Massachusetts border. He came back to Saranac in the fall of 2016 to attend a Young Life leader weekend. After hearing more direction from the Lord and talking with other YL staff who are trying to bridge the gap between the Church and YL, Steve began to direct his passion toward St. Mary’s the and opportunity he saw there.

Since then, God and Steve have been laying groundwork to establish a fruitful model for YL in a Catholic parish. The process has been intentional and broad in scope, including people of influence from the parish and the diocese. “Through the open lines of communication both sides have continued to grow closer in the vision of working alongside one another to reach kids,” Steve says. The recruitment and training of college leaders has been a strong focus and Steve notes a real symbiotic relationship between YL and the Church:

There are five colleges within a 15-minute drive of the church. This is a very Catholic part of the country. A stand-alone Young Life area would have a very difficult time getting into these schools and reaching potential leaders. Working with the Catholic Church however, we have a legitimacy that otherwise would not be possible. On the other hand, Young Life has the tools and resources to prepare these young leaders to reach kids in a way that the Catholic Church doesn’t have. It’s a real win-win! 

As Young Life begins to gear-up for FORWARD, our dream is to take kids “into the deep” as they walk with Christ, and working with parishes like St. Mary’s is a natural fit. “My dream is that we would see a Young Life Club and Campaigners happening at St. Mary's,” Steve says. But it’s more than just Catholics in Steve’s vision. “It’s time for us to come together as a Christian community. We want Catholic leaders alongside Protestant leaders reaching out to all kids in town. We’re talking about high school kids receiving the Sacraments for the first time - being Baptized, receiving the Eucharist, and being Confirmed - because they were introduced to Jesus Christ through the love of a YL leader.” 

Steve is changing the missional landscape in western Mass, but the process is also changing him. Rather than directing his attention solely to his career path, Steve is now pouring his energy into starting YL in Longmeadow and collaborating with St. Mary’s. “God is absolutely present in this,” Steve says. “In all my life I have never felt Him so much. I’ve lost count of the number of times we’ve all laughed together at the obvious presence of God in all of this.”

Having a significant impact on the future of our Church… that’s a great dream.  Having a significant impact on the lives of young people… that’s a great dream too.  What a gift that we get to walk alongside servants like Steve who are rolling up their sleeves to make both dreams happen. 

Steve and his wife Francesca