Connections

At the end of August, 225 youth and adult leaders gathered in Speyer, Germany, for the third European Catholic Youth Conference. This gathering held August 27-29, 2004, was the first time that high school youth from the Air Force, Army, and Navy were represented. They came to celebrate their Catholic faith and to explore Catholic social teaching.

Archbishop O’Brien attended ECYC this year and had the opportunity to interact with young people growing up in the military. In his homily, during the closing liturgy, the archbishop spoke about the necessity of serving others by putting yourself last. Young people were challenged to grow in their faith and to serve others with the gifts that they have been given.

The keynote speaker was Bob Perron who is the diocesan director of youth ministry in Des Moines, Iowa. Bob grew up in an Air Force family and spoke about the many times his father went away on temporary duty. Bob helped young people; through humor and through serious challenges, realize the importance of staying connected to the Catholic faith community.

In one example, Bob spoke about his own 13 year old daughter who no longer wanted to go to church. Bob gave her a dozen roses. He then began to explain how the beauty of these flowers was temporary since they were no longer connected to the vine. In a short amount of time they would wither and die. In the same way we as Catholics are nourished as we gather together to celebrate the Eucharist in community.

Workshops were held for youth and adult participants and Mass was celebrated each day. The opportunity for reconciliation was made available on Saturday afternoon. A tour of the Speyer Cathedral and free time to visit the town made for a full weekend of sharing and celebrating.

Some participants said the following when asked ‘what was one insight that you gained from ECYC?’

I need to stop always thinking about myself and I need to care for others.
—Jordan, 14

The poor are really Jesus in a distressed state and disguise, I need to help them.
—Katie, 14

The Catholic Church can be fun.
—Maggie, 16

I was blown away by our young peoples’ desire and need to know more about Jesus and the church.
—Maureen, 27

ECYC welcomed participants from Vicenza, Aviano, Giessen, Naples, Stuttgart, Landstuhl, SHAPE, Heidelberg, Geilenkirchen, Ansbach, Hanau, Bamberg, Wiesbaden, Rhein Main, Mildenhall, Ramstein, Alconbury, Baumholder, Schweinfurt/Wurzburg, and Mannheim. All participants were encouraged to go back to their communities to be leaders and share their experience of faith with others.

This third conference was a collaborative effort among the Archdiocesan Office of Youth Ministry, the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry, and Military Community Youth Ministries. All three worked together to promote, implement, and host this large gathering of American Catholic youth in Europe. Next year, ECYC will not occur due to the international celebration of World Youth Day in Cologne, Germany (August 16-21, 2005). More information about WYD may be found online at www.milarch.org in the youth and young adult ministry section.

The AMS Office of Youth Ministry is grateful to all of the adult leaders and volunteers that share their faith with youth in the military. It is due to their dedication that comprehensive Catholic youth ministry is growing in Catholic faith communities throughout Europe. This example of ministry helps the faithful to realize that Catholic youth ministry is the responsibility of the entire community, not just one coordinator. The positive experience of shared gifts and healthy mentoring enables Catholic youth to grow up to be happy, healthy, and holy young adults.