“You Will be my Witnesses”

On Sunday, October 12th, now the feast day of St. Carlo Acutis, our diocese hosted the third annual Global Celebration of Young People at Most Precious Blood Parish. This mini-World Youth Day experience is celebrated around the world in various dioceses to highlight and encourage all young Catholic teens and young adults. Organized by the Offices of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, the theme this year was “You Will be my Witnesses” (John 15:27), which inspired all to draw closer to Jesus, to know him more deeply and personally, and to be his witnesses in the world. The special day included Mass with Bishop Mulvey, small groups, an opportunity for confession with several priests available, and testimonies from young adult leaders. The event ended with an hour of Eucharistic Adoration, praise and worship music, and silent prayer time before the Lord. Over 250 teens from various parishes attended. Several young adults from YCA (Young Catholic Adults of Corpus Christi) volunteered in the choir, as lectors, and throughout the afternoon, along with catechists and youth group leaders who made it possible for their youth to attend.
 
One of the young adults, Liana Badillo, from St. Anthony’s Parish in Robstown, helped with teens in line for confession: “The Holy Spirit was truly moving them to repentance and to receive forgiveness. Some hadn’t gone to confession since they were little… they were nervous but came back relieved.”
 
Luis Briseno, Director of Youth Ministry at St. Philip the Apostle Parish, was excited about the day: “It’s a joy and blessing to see so many young people desiring to dive deeper into a relationship with our Lord, Jesus Christ.” He served as an MC for the day alongside Justin de los Santos, Director of Youth Ministry at Most Precious Blood Parish.
 
The keynote speaker was Madison Gonzales, who shared her powerful testimony of God’s grace and intervention exactly a year ago when things went very wrong during her baby’s delivery. She recalled that there was no time to react, but that later she learned how God had placed certain people in place to assist her and her family and to pray for them during that emergency. A highlight at the end of her talk was all the teens singing Happy Birthday to her daughter, who was also present, on her first birthday. Her husband, Rolley, provided praise and worship music throughout the afternoon, and also during the final hour of adoration in the main church.
 
As the adoration concluded, Sister Caritas thanked all the youth leaders, young adults, and adults who volunteered their time to make this year’s event a success. She encouraged the teens to continue going to the sacraments and to stay close to Jesus. She pointed to this year’s special saint, Carlo Acutis, and encouraged the teens to emulate him and his love for Jesus in the Eucharist, reminding us that “the Eucharist is our highway to heaven.”