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Diocese of New Ulm - May 2002 by Bill Casey After twenty-five years the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry in the New Ulm diocese still keeps bringing high school youth together for rallies. That is a pretty long history for any diocese to be hosting youth events for teens. Since about 1975 Catholic youth ministry in America has been getting better organized. The actual document on Catholic Youth Ministry often referred to as the Vision of Youth Ministry was written in 1976. The planning for this youth event began about 1 1/2 years ago. The Diocesan Youth Council is a very active and energetic part of the planning process along with Youth Ministers of the diocese. Some of the first ideas were to invite back past Diocesan Youth Council members from over the years. There have actually been Youth Councils for most of the 25 years. So invitations were mailed out and responses came back. Past members are really spread out all over the world. Some were discovered in Australia, Europe, and all across America. There were about 50 members that gathered on Saturday before the Rally to recall memories and to talk with current Youth Council members. They discovered that some of the things have changed over the years but the commitment to help out remains the same. Council members shared an evening meal together and returned to share in the Rally on Sunday, April 7, at the Yellow Medicine East High School, Granite Falls. The attendance at the Rally itself was 665 people including youth and adult leaders. Over the last twenty-five years the attendance has grown considerably. The overall attendance is normally between 550-650 people. In 1994 the Rally was held at Lac Qui Parle Valley High School with nearly 1,000 participants. That year DANA, the international singer and speaker, was the keynote. That was the year after the trip to World Youth Day in Denver, CO, when people were interested in seeing DANA again. There have been many memories for young people through the Rally days. The past Youth Council members that came back for the weekend were very grateful for the opportunity to join in and were included in some of the activities of the Rally. This included sharing some of their memories from their years of being in the diocese as a young person. The day provided many other opportunities for the youth. The Eclipse Band shared some warm-up music. The Diocesan Youth Council shared a skit on the theme for the day "Follow Me" taken from the Gospel of Mark 8:34, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." Keynote speaker, Chris Padgett from the Scarecrow and Tinmen Band, shared stories of his growing up and struggles to live out his faith. Youth commented that they felt the keynoter really connected with them and seemed to know where they were at in life and they liked that. Bishop Nienstedt presided at the liturgy with the group. The Mass time was changed in the program to 2:00 p.m. which seemed to leave more time in the afternoon for the concert with the Scarecrow and Tinmen Band, supper, and a dance. Kingdom Sound provided the music for the dance at the end of the day and kept the music moving. It is because of the many adult leaders who bring the youth to these diocesan events and continue to do good work with teens throughout the year that these events can continue to draw hundreds of youth. Editor’s note: In response to the dedicated work of the Diocesan Youth Council, under the direction of Bill Casey, director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of New Ulm, a letter of recognition was received from Archbishop Sandri, Substitute Secretary of State, second in charge of the Pope’s daily work. (see letter below) From the Vatican, March 2, 2002 Dear Bishop Nienstedt, His Holiness Pope John Paul II was pleased to learn that Sunday, April 7, 2002 marks the twenty-fifth annual Youth Rally sponsored by the Diocese of New Ulm. On this special occasion he asks you to convey his cordial greetings to all the young people taking part, together with the assurance of his closeness in prayer. His Holiness is convinced that "the future of the world and the Church belongs to the younger generation" (cf. Tertio Millennio Adveniente, 58). For this reason, he has urged joyful witness to the transforming power of the Gospel of God’s unconditional love. In a special way, he challenges the young people present at the Youth Rally to welcome the Lord’s invitation to undertake the exciting journey of faith, hope, and love which leads to the fullness of life in the Holy Spirit. It is his hope that many of them will respond generously to God’s call to serve him and his Church by considering a vocation to the priesthood or the religious life. With great affection, the Holy Father commends those taking part in the Youth Rally to the loving intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church. To all the young people of the Diocese of New Ulm, their adult leaders and their families he cordially imparts his Apostolic blessing as a pledge of joy and peace in Jesus Christ the Redeemer of the world. Sincerely yours in Christ, Leonardo Sandri Substitute
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