Junior High Festival breaks record for attendance...

by Bill Casey

The Junior High Festival held in Grove City on Sunday, October 7, 2001, was a great success. Over 836 participants broke records from past Junior High Festivals in the New Ulm diocese. Last year’s snowstorm cancelled plans for Jesse Manibusan to be with us, but this year he was able to be our keynote, speaking to a room overflowing with people alive with excitement. Part of the reason for the increased attendance was that we invited ninth grade youth, since they were not able to come last year in eighth grade because of the cancellation due to weather.

The Diocesan Youth Council, working along with the National Evangelization Team, were able to get the youth involved in the day. A new addition this year was to include a band from the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota, called "TRACE." JoAnn Casey, one of the band members, is a past Diocesan Youth Council member. The band got the group singing and moving from the start of the day. The Diocesan Youth Council shared a skit on the theme of the day entitled, "Follow Me." The message for the day comes from themes given by Pope John Paul II in his message to the youth of the world for 2001 from the Gospel of Luke 9:23, "If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."

Jesse Manibusan and Ken Penalver, his keyboardist, led the youth with a number of songs to move and motivate them during the day of activity. Jesse Manibusan challenged the youth in being Catholic and living out the message of faith as they reach out to help others. Later in the day Bishop Nienstedt presided at the liturgy with the youth along with many priests in attendance as well. Bishop Nienstedt in his homily challenged youth to be alive in their churches. He asked them to be willing to share their gifts and talents with others, especially the poor, the sick, and the stranger, and if they were willing to respond, "Amen, Amen." They responded with enthusiasm! The youth need the guiding help of good adults to carry this out in their parishes. After the liturgy concluded everyone shared in dinner and then a concert again with Jesse and Ken. After the closing prayer there were many prizes given out. One youth received a boom box and a parish also received a large boom box.

Volunteers have been helping host festivals in our diocese for eleven years. The help of the many volunteers this year from the parishes of Kandiyohi and Manannah, along with the music group from Springfield, helped everything go very well.

Bill Casey is director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of New Ulm.