Evangelical fest draws Catholics

High-octane Mass gives Catholic youth worship option

- WCR photo by Ramon Gonzalez Catholic youth take time out from the annual YC Festival at Rexall Place and celebrate Mass at St. Alphonsus Church.

By RAMON GONZALEZ
WCR Staff Writer
Edmonton

It couldn't possibly beat the YC festival at Rexall Place for enthusiasm. But the early Sunday Youth Mass at St. Alphonsus Church was an upbeat event on its own terms.

Holding hands, youth prayed with pious fervour and sang enthusiastically to the tunes of a loud Christian rock band from Bonnyville. Some lifted their hands as they sang. Since it was their own service, youth performed most of the ministries at the Mass.

Oblate welcome

"Thank you for being here so early on a Sunday morning and for bringing the energy of Rexall Place with you," Father Mike Dechant of the Oblate Youth Ministries told the teens. "Let's sing with all your hearts. And if you want to dance it's okay too."

Most of the 210 teens and youth ministers attending the 9 a.m. May 28 Mass were bused to St. Alphonsus from nearby Rexall Place, where they were attending the YC Festival. The teens came to the festival from all across Alberta, including Edmonton, Calgary, Brooks, Camrose, Sherwood Park, St. Paul and Bonnyville.

Andrew Papenbrock, director of youth/young adult ministry for the Edmonton Archdiocese, said his office organized the Mass at the request of some youth ministers who were bringing young people to the festival.

"(After all) this is the way that we as Catholics worship our Lord," he said. "What happens at YC is different than celebrating the Eucharist."

The annual YC festival is a largely Protestant event that attracts thousands of youth from different denominations because of its upbeat nature, with top-notch speakers and musical guests.

This year's festival featured American speakers Miles McPherson and Zhenya Kasvich along with musical guests Three63, Newsboys, Christ Tomlin Thousand Foot Krutch and two-time Grammy Award winning group Audio Adrenaline.

"I went to the festival to learn more about God and to listen to some music," said Jonhansel Ng, 14. Ng was one of 18 teens from Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Sherwood Park who attended the YC festival and the Mass.

"I mostly listened to lots of music and got some new ideas to bring to our church." Ng said. This is the first Christian youth conference he has attended and he is happy he did. "I had a lot of fun."

Candice Evernden, 14, was one of several teens who came to the YC festival from Brooks. She said her school, St. Joseph's, organized the trip to Rexall Place. "I came just so we can all worship God together," she said. "I really liked it; it's so much fun."

Calgary youth minister Colin Leyne, 23, brought 21 teens from St. Bonaventure Parish to Rexall Place to "experience some awesome music and just kind of expose the kids to this awesome Christian environment.

"It's easier to praise God when you are not alone, when you feel a sense of community."

Alone they were not. The YC conference drew more than 16,000 students from junior high to university age.

Ecumenical

Leyne described the festival as ecumenical rather than Protestant and said people who think Catholic youth should not listen to Christian music are simply wrong because music brings people to Christ.

"I like to say Christians have one thing in common, which is Christ. So I think to come (to the festival) exposes us to all we have in common rather than looking at our differences."

Pam Guitard, an Edmonton volunteer who chaperoned a group of about 70 teens from Bonnyville, believes Catholic youth are attracted to the festival because of the music.

Music, music

"Music has always been a great tool. Music is part of everybody's life and (the festival) is giving them options to hear different music," she said. "So it's basically a big music festival with a Christian twist and the musicians are youth-oriented as well."

In his sermon, Dechant reminded young people of the influence they have on others and called on them to treat others with love and compassion. People, he said, will remember you for how you are with them, not just for what you do for them.

To illustrate his point, he told a story about the Special Olympics in Seattle. One of nine runners in one of the events suddenly fell to the ground exhausted.

The rest, rather than finishing the race without him, came back and lifted him up. They embraced each other and all nine walked across the finish line together. They all won.

"In the kingdom of God there is no winners or losers, only winners, but on the way there we have to stop and lift somebody up," Dechant told the teens.

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