Joy abounded at EPIC, a diocesan middle school rally in Richmond Aug. 19.
Youth cheered for each other in wacky relay races and other competitions.
There was laughter and chatter as they bounced and slid on inflatables, raced go-carts, played games and made crafts during free time. Some opted for eucharistic adoration, at one time filling about three-quarters of the 100-seat chapel at St. Edward the Confessor, where the event was held.
Engrossed, the 211 middle school students from across the diocese listened to two speeches given by Meg Hunter-Kilmer, an international Catholic speaker and writer of several books including “A Year in the Word Catholic Bible Journal” and the children’s book “Saints Around the World.” She spoke about prayer and saints in a way that engaged the students.
A favorite part for many was a service project for the non-profit Rise Against Hunger, in which the youth excitedly filled 25,000 meals for impoverished schoolchildren in Africa. Collectively the middle school children packaged, weighed, sealed, labeled and boxed bags full of soybeans, rice, dehydrated vegetables and vitamins. Baptist minister Rusty Lee, area manager of Rise Against Hunger, said he hopes the service project showed the youth that they can have an impact on the world and “be a blessing to others.”
“It felt so good to be able to help people with such a little part of our day,” said Nora Carlson, a middle-schooler from St. Stephen Martyr, Chesapeake.
Olivia Goodman, from St. Edward the Confessor, said helping others made her feel like part of a larger community. Like many of the youth at the rally, Lily Casto, also a St. Edward parishioner, said, “It was fun to help people.”
The goal of the high-energy rally was twofold: to build community and friendships with other Catholic youth in the diocese and to encourage zeal for our faith. It was also an opportunity for youth ministers to get to know their middle school cohorts before the academic year, said Katie Yankoski, associate director for youth and young adults in the diocesan Office for Evangelization.
‘Be yourself’ to be a saint
Hunter-Kilmer used the examples of Blessed Benedetta Bianchi Porro, who became deaf, blind and paralyzed due to illness; St. Andrew Taegon, the first native-born Korean priest, who was martyred; and other saints in her talk on sainthood in which she stressed that anyone can be a saint, both “ordinary” people like Blessed Benedetta, and those who have heroic adventures or perhaps endured torture and imprisonment like St. Andrew.
“You don’t have to live an ordinary life to be a saint, but you can. You don’t have to be a genius to be a saint, but you can. You don’t have to be awkward to be a saint, but you can. You just need to be yourself, alive for Jesus,” said Hunter-Kilmer. “To be a saint means you live in the reality that you are wildly, ceaselessly, fiercely, tenderly, desperately loved by God.”
Pointing out that the youth rally t-shirts read “Whatever happens, behave in such a way that God will be glorified,” she proclaimed “every one of us is called to the wild adventure of sainthood.”
Many youth, including middle-schooler Cooper Truxillo from St. Stephen Martyr and Elizabeth Sullivan from St. Andrew, Roanoke, found it inspiring that ordinary people could become saints.
“We have the power to do anything as long as we are with God,” said Celena Carvalho, Our Lady of Nazareth, Roanoke.
Hunter-Kilmer acknowledged that the youth may not know what they are called to do, so they should pray. She said the sacraments and Mass are important, but what’s also integral is “sitting before the Lord and saying, ‘Jesus I want to know you. I want to know, Lord, who are you and who am I and what do you want from me?’”
“We’re going to have those moments when it feels like we are pouring our heart out in prayer, and (we think) Jesus is like, ‘I’m busy. There was a tsunami, and also someone wanted to win the lottery, so I’ve got a lot on my plate right now so maybe come back tomorrow.’ There are times when our prayer feels so empty that we begin to wonder if it is even possible that God is real. Friends, keep praying,” said Hunter-Kilmer. “My God answers prayers, not always with the answer we want but always with the answer we need.”
Connecting with other teens
High school students shared their faith and practiced the Catholic leadership skills they learned while taking part in another diocesan event that week in Toano, Discipleship Week. The retreat was for faith-filled upperclassmen who wanted to delve deeper into their spirituality.
The Discipleship Week teens helped lead the rally as they oversaw leisure activities and led small groups where they gave short witness talks and spurred conversation among the middle school youth to reflect on Hunter-Kilmer’s two presentations.
Emily Eason and Fatima Salas Lopez, both from St. Gregory the Great, Virginia Beach, talked to the younger students about Blessed Benedetta. Izabella Rainaldi and Catherine Fraser, both from St. Stephen Martyr, described the adventures and hardships of St. Andrew.
Truxillo said he could connect with the high school leaders because they had recently been middle school students themselves. Josephine Hitzelberger, from St. Mary’s, Blacksburg, said she enjoyed that the teens had “more energy” than some adults and could “run around.”
Hunter-Kilmer assured the youth that even though they may see their flaws, God created each one of them and loves them just as they are.
“You do not have to be any different from who you are to be a saint,” she said. “However it is that God made you, he made you on purpose the way that he wants you, and he thinks that you’re incredible. We worship a God that does not make mistakes.”
“God made you because he wants you to be a saint,” she proclaimed. “So let’s go and be saints!”