April 28 youth rally will feature national speaker ValLimar Jansen

Calling all teens. Registration for “Making Connections … A Day for Catholic Teens” is now open.

The youth rally, held Sunday, April 28 from noon to 5 p.m., at Villa Maria College in Buffalo, is open for those in eighth through 12th grade. The day will include a keynote address from national speaker ValLimar Jansen, breakout sessions, a question and answer period, and lunch. Bishop Michael W. Fisher will celebrate the closing Mass with guest homilist Father Matthew Foley, OFM Conv., from St. Francis High School in Athol Springs.

Some teens may remember ValLimar Jansen from the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) held in November. She is a highly regarded singer, composer and recording artist. She is educated and experienced as a university/college professor, a leader of worship and prayer and a workshop presenter at conferences across the United States and abroad.

“ValLimar has a gift for bringing God’s Word to life in dramatization as well as in song. She has an incredible singing voice,” said Denise York, youth minister for Immaculate Conception Parish in East Aurora, and one of the event organizers.

Breakout sessions will include “Confirmation: The Power of the Holy Spirit to Help Us Discern and Decide” (presented by ALPHA), “The Holiness of Human Connection” (Bring your phone), “How to Help Your Friends Make Good Decisions,” “I Believe… Exploring the Big Questions of the Catholic Faith,” and “What Does Faith Look Like in High School” (For eighth graders).

The idea to have a large church gathering for teenagers was born on the bus ride home from NCYC last fall. Since then, interested youth ministry leaders have gathered to plan.

“We know that being with other Catholic teens is valuable. It helps to affirm the faith lives of young people,” explained York.

The planning committee, which includes the Renewal Team, Office of Worship, youth ministry leaders and teens, have four goals for the afternoon – engaging, awakening, encountering, deepening.

“We want the day to be engaging for young people. We hope that it awakens their faith. That it allows them an opportunity to encounter God in such a way that their faith is deepened,” said York. “We felt that the youth needed an encounter with Jesus in the Church that helps them experience all four of those things in their faith.”

Teens are encouraged to submit questions for a Q&A panel before and during the event. All questions will be received anonymously, so that they can ask anything that might be on their minds and hearts.

The event is open to all teens in grades 8-12. Cost is $20 per person.

“Our hope is that young people come and check it out. Come open minded. Come dip your toe in the water. Come see what young church can be,” said York.