Season of Joy

[00:00:02] Speaker A: Welcome to Faith Break. Finding God moments in your everyday. Each week on Faith Break, hosts Karen Luke and Ann Gallagher bring spiritual refreshment to your daily life. It's Gaudete Sunday when we light the pink Advent candle. Karen and Anne share the many joyful God moments our teens recently experienced on our pilgrimage to the National Catholic Youth Conference. The exuberant faith of our young church is contagious. [00:00:44] Speaker B: Hi, everybody. Welcome to Faith Break. I'm Karen Luke. [00:00:47] Speaker C: And I'm Anne Gallagher. [00:00:49] Speaker B: And as always, we are talking about how to find God in your everyday moments. But today we have a very special. [00:00:58] Speaker C: I can't wait for this episode. [00:01:00] Speaker B: You didn't even let me finish. [00:01:01] Speaker C: I know. Just tell him. Tell them what we're doing. [00:01:03] Speaker B: All right. We are doing an NCYC recap of our trip to Indianapolis for the National Catholic Youth conference with over 14,000. [00:01:13] Speaker C: I think it was 16,000. [00:01:14] Speaker B: 16,000 this year. [00:01:16] Speaker C: And it's the perfect time to do it too, because we are in the third Sunday of Advent Pink Candle week, everybody. [00:01:23] Speaker B: Joy, Joy. [00:01:24] Speaker C: The joy week. So we wanted to save our NCYC reflections. Cause we know it brings us so much joy and we just wanna share that joy with you. So yeah, we went just before Thanksgiving with 15 teens and four chaperones from our parishes. We joined about, I think 200 or so people from our diocese and 16,000 from around the country and one pope who joined us for a virtual dialogue with our American teenagers. [00:01:56] Speaker B: Awesome. [00:01:57] Speaker C: Which is a history making event, was the first time that had ever happened. And we had so many graced moments on this pilgrimage. [00:02:07] Speaker B: So we decided just before we started this podcast that we wouldn't do a specific God moment because the whole entire. [00:02:16] Speaker C: Weekend all the God moments are ncyc. [00:02:19] Speaker B: It's just an NCYC God moment. [00:02:21] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:02:23] Speaker B: Where do we want to even start? [00:02:25] Speaker C: I just want to start about talking about God moments for a minute because one of the cool traditions that we have in our parishes and this is actually was Don Smith's idea many, many years ago. But we have a journal that I think was given to us by the diocese like 10 years ago when we went to. I think it was NCYC 2015. And I think it was like a chaperone gift he gave to everybody. But we used ours as a group journal. And so now for the last 10 years, every time we've taken a group of teens to ncyc, I pass this journal around the group and everybody gets a chance to reflect on their God moments, their highs and lows of the experience. And just how God has been moving in their lives. And this time on our first morning in Indy, I had actually reread the whole journal before we left, which is not something I think I had done in years and years. And I found this passage from a kid who graduated years ago, and he. And so I read this passage to, to our group this year, and it was all about how he had been waiting for his God moment and he'd done youth group and he'd been a peer leader and he'd done the search retreat and the service retreat, and he had done all these things, but he hadn't felt he had had a real God moment yet. And he. I'm not. I'm not gonna do justice to everything that he wrote. But it was all about how he experienced God in the community and in the people he was with. And that that was where the Holy Spirit was active and that was where he felt the love of God. And that it wasn't like a big emotional, like lightning bolt or anything, but it was in the community that surrounded him alive with the love of God. And so we kind of set that tone as we went in. And I actually don't, I don't have the journal with me today because one of our teens, even though he had written like seven pages on the bus on Sunday when I saw at Mass, was like, can I have it back? I have more to write. So I gave it back to him on Sunday and I'll hopefully get it back at youth group tonight. But we had a bunch of kids who wrote pages and pages and pages on the bus ride home, the 10 hour bus ride home, and still had more to say. And as I was looking back over the last few days on what they had shared, a lot of them expressed similar experiences to Josh, our alumni, which was that they had it. They had wanted to feel like a super powerful, like, spiritual, like, God moment in capital letters. But what we were always trying to do on the podcast is like, to talk about the everyday God moments. [00:05:01] Speaker B: Right. You know, that's. Yeah. [00:05:02] Speaker C: So that's what we're trying to like, yes, it's. You're in a giant arena with thousands of other Catholic teens and there's a rock band playing and they're like, and the Pope is there. And like, it's, you know, some of these liturgical experiences are not something we can really replicate at the parish. But like, it's not just about that subjective feeling. It's also about the community you're building. [00:05:24] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:05:24] Speaker C: Because God's working through the people So. [00:05:26] Speaker B: I think it was. I think it was Saturday night, like, as we were closing. And I was sitting in front of. Well, I was sitting in front of all the kids. I think you and I. I love that we didn't sit with the kids. I like that we were either in front or behind them. [00:05:41] Speaker C: So you can watch them. [00:05:42] Speaker B: So we can watch their expression. And I was so, so graced with this moment. And I think I texted you in the middle of it. I'm like, this conversation behind me is amazing. [00:05:54] Speaker C: We haven't had a chance to talk. [00:05:55] Speaker B: We have not had a chance to talk. So here we go. [00:05:58] Speaker C: Okay. [00:05:59] Speaker B: So I'm sitting there, and all of a sudden I hear. But I don't feel like I have been transformed. And then this conversation kept going, like, well, what is transformation? It's this big moment. But I haven't had a big moment. Exactly like what you were. It was just. And I turned around and I didn't do it. Like, what are you guys talking about? I turned around just to kind of, like, pretend I was stretching. [00:06:25] Speaker C: Act cool, Karen. Act casual. [00:06:26] Speaker B: And just the three of them were, like, huddled together and just having this quiet moment between them. I mean, not so quiet. Cause I could hear it, but. And I turned around and I said, I love this conversation. And remember, transformation is not just one moment. [00:06:44] Speaker C: Right. [00:06:44] Speaker B: It's a continuation. And they all kind of looked at me, and all I did was just turn around. I didn't offer anything else because. Exactly. That. That word transformed was used throughout the days. And if you are looking for something and you hear the word transformed, it's like you want it to be a switch. [00:07:09] Speaker C: Dramatic. [00:07:10] Speaker B: Dramatic. Yeah. But I could tell that the teens that were talking about this before had asked, like, had said, I need a moment. And so when they were talking about it, it was like, this is your moment. [00:07:27] Speaker C: You're having it. [00:07:28] Speaker B: You're having it right now. Yeah, I know. It's not like I could be like, hello, make a fly, you know? Cause it's their experience. But I think they got it. [00:07:38] Speaker C: And they did. Because in the journals then they were able to, like, we call that mystagogy in Sacramento Prep. It's how you reflect on the experience after it happens. And it's then that the graces start kind of making sense. Cause when you're in the middle of it. Yeah. [00:07:53] Speaker B: You don't see it. And that's something that we try to pull out of you. All that are watching or listening and the kids is that it doesn't have to be this big Transformation or an aha moment. It could just be something as simple as holding the door open for somebody. [00:08:15] Speaker C: Yeah. You know, well, what we see at the National Youth Conference too, is just like teens get to experience that the church is way bigger, you know, that we're part of something that is much more expansive than just our awesome parish communities, but that they're. It's really a global church. And especially having the Pope come and talk to us was. [00:08:35] Speaker B: I'm sorry to interrupt, but did you not love, I mean, everything about ncyc? But the Pope specifically said, my young people, and then he said, you are not the church of the future. You are the church of today. [00:08:55] Speaker C: Which is what? Like, John Paul II would say that too, at all the World Youth Days, you know, and like, it's. Yes. [00:09:01] Speaker B: And so like, I love that. And I was talking to Pam, our music director the other day when I got back, she goes, oh my gosh. They were called by name and sent by God. And I'm like, oh, my gosh. [00:09:15] Speaker C: She was watching. [00:09:16] Speaker B: She was watching. And like, I was like, oh, my gosh, that was so great. Like, I just. The whole entire time, you know, we hear you and I and I'm sure other youth ministers and faith formation directors here. Well, where are the young people? Where are they? And. And to have the Pope say, you are not the future, you are now. [00:09:37] Speaker C: You are the now. [00:09:38] Speaker B: You are the now. And they're here. 17,000 people. [00:09:43] Speaker C: Yes. [00:09:43] Speaker B: We're all quiet for adoration. We're all quiet through mass, the consecration, kneeling and speaking the words of our prayers in unison in the Colt stadium with an echo. [00:10:00] Speaker C: I mean, ah, it's my favorite. It is my favorite thing in the world with teenagers. [00:10:05] Speaker B: It was so cute. Cause one of the kids was like, how are they gonna do communion? Cause we had like 17,000 people and just their faces of like the awesomeness, awe, ness of. [00:10:19] Speaker C: I don't even. [00:10:20] Speaker B: Is ahness a word? I'm gonna make it up. Yeah, the awt. [00:10:23] Speaker C: They're off. [00:10:24] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, it was just. [00:10:26] Speaker C: Okay, let's do some just rapid fire things. [00:10:28] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. [00:10:29] Speaker C: All right. So this is just one funny moment that you weren't there for because you abandoned me on the bus ride home. [00:10:34] Speaker B: And can I tell you really quickly. So we went from Indianapolis, we, as in my daughter Emma, who was at ncyc, we went from Indianapolis to Illinois to visit my brother and his family for Thanksgiving. So instead of doing the 10 hour bus ride back to New York than to do a 10 hour car ride to Illinois My husband Jeremy and Connor came to Indianapolis, and that was another God moment for me. They met us at the Colt Stadium at 10:30 at night and walked with us. But I was like, inside, I'm trying to keep it together because my daughter Emma was bawling. She was so sad. [00:11:20] Speaker C: Well, we had two girls who were doing a similar thing and continuing on for Thanksgiving instead of coming back on the bus. And they both were just like, I'm not ready. You're not ready to leave the group. [00:11:30] Speaker B: I know. And so, like, we snuggled in bed, Emma and I, And I'm like, it's okay. We're here together. And she goes, but I'm not with my friends. And I was like, I know. I'm so. [00:11:40] Speaker C: Mom, you're not important. My friends are important. [00:11:42] Speaker B: But then I'm like, we're standing on the sidewalk and we're trying to get everyone's attention. Like, bye. Love you. Love you. Okay, so what was this? [00:11:50] Speaker C: Well, I was sad because I didn't get to hang out with you on the bus, but I did get a whole seat to myself, so that was actually kind of comfy. I came closer to sleeping on the bus ride home than I ever have before. I didn't think I actually slept, but I wanted to tell you, we're pulling into the parking lot as we're arriving home after 10 hours on the bus. Four days of NCYC, and the kids behind me goes like, turn it around. Take me 10 hours back. I wanna start over. And I was like, you know, I kinda would do it. I would do 20 hours on a bus to live it all again. That's the kind of experience this is for teens. I don't know. [00:12:26] Speaker B: Oh, that's awesome. [00:12:27] Speaker C: It just. That was so fun. And, you know, it's. Yeah. So it's the community and stuff, but I also wanna shout out what a great job the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry did with just, like, the catechetical opportunity that it was and how they took us through basically all the sacraments. Yeah, they had the themes of the. Of each day, just really. They highlighted and they made real, like, the sacramental life of the church in ways that were relevant to the teens. Very solid. They just know exactly what they're doing and, like, just beautiful, like, set pieces that had meaning based on what was going on each day. I. You know, and shout out to. Such care is taken. [00:13:08] Speaker B: Shout out to our diocese. [00:13:10] Speaker C: Oh, hey. I mean, Mark and Leslie and Don. [00:13:13] Speaker B: Mark, Leslie and Don. Shout out. The hotel was great. We had warm, amazing breakfast we had no problems. [00:13:21] Speaker C: One kid was a little sick one day, but that was not slowing down. [00:13:24] Speaker B: It was awesome. [00:13:25] Speaker C: It was great. [00:13:28] Speaker B: The focus Scripture was Moses and the burning bush. [00:13:31] Speaker C: Moses and the burning bush. [00:13:32] Speaker B: And one of the things I jotted down, and I feel really bad, I forgot to write exactly when I wrote it. So I don't know which keynote said it, but I love that he said or she said. It wasn't just then. It's now. And it wasn't just them. It's us. [00:13:57] Speaker C: Right? The call is not something that happened thousands of years ago. It's happening right now in this place with you right here. [00:14:04] Speaker B: Right. And I'm just like, okay, that's stellar. Because when we read scripture, we're like, oh, isn't that nice? That happened? [00:14:11] Speaker C: Right? [00:14:12] Speaker B: But relating it to, like, we are their ancestors. Like, we still have this call. [00:14:18] Speaker C: And so that was. Yeah, Exodus 3. Moses and the Burning bush was sort of like, the larger story, but they really honed in on, like, one verse in particular that they did, like, repeatedly, like, over and over and over again. And I just want to share that with everybody because, man, they really teased a lot out of that over the course of the weekend. And it was Exodus 3, 7, and 8. So this is all part of the call of Moses. You know, Moses is at the burning bush. It's burning but not consuming. And this is where God is calling him to lead his people out of Egypt. Even though Moses has been separated from this culture for many years and has no intention of going back, uh, the Lord said, I have seen the affliction of my people in Egypt, and I have heard their cries. I know what they are suffering, and therefore, I have come down to rescue them. And they just kept repeating, like, he sees you. He hears you. He knows you. He's come to rescue you. And I just feel like, you know, we talk all the time about ministry and especially youth ministry being about, you know, helping teens to feel seen, known, and loved by the church and by God and by their community and that it's like. So for them to take such a pastorally sensitive theme and then break it out into all of the sacramental moments that our church provides for us was spectacular. It was so good. Yeah. I don't know what were some other joyful moments you had over the course. Any, like, small ones you remember that just made you giggle? We had. You had a lot. A running joke. The whole group. [00:15:59] Speaker B: I mean, how many times was it? Six or seven? [00:16:03] Speaker A: Six. [00:16:03] Speaker C: Seven. My God. Our teens were so, like, communally embarrassed by but they were. [00:16:11] Speaker B: Okay, I will give you that. [00:16:12] Speaker C: But it was a gesture of love. [00:16:14] Speaker B: But they all egged me on. [00:16:16] Speaker C: Oh, they totally did. [00:16:17] Speaker B: If they didn't want me to do it, then why would they keep making jokes that would get me to do it? [00:16:22] Speaker C: So I'm not sure the people from our parishes who don't work with teenagers know about the whole six, seven. [00:16:27] Speaker B: I don't even think I even understand what the whole 6, 7 thing is. [00:16:31] Speaker C: It's a thing in you culture, but it means nothing. But then the joke is that the teens have or. And even like the. I feel like it's littler kids than teens have a secret that the adults don't know about. [00:16:44] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:16:44] Speaker C: And they're just using it to laugh at the grownups. [00:16:46] Speaker B: Right, right. And so like, you know, and you can't just go out and say six, seven. Like, that's not how you do it. It's, you know, like, oh, Karen, how many times did you get. Okay, so at ncyc, they. They have clothespins. Clothespins with like scripture passages or Twitter accounts or whatever. And you go and you secretly pin people. [00:17:11] Speaker C: Right. [00:17:11] Speaker B: And so they'd be like, oh, Karen, how many pins did you get? And I'm like, they're like six or seven. And I'm like, six. I mean, they just egged me on. It was just too great. [00:17:20] Speaker C: It's all those joyful, like, things that make the community, like, cohesive though. This group was fun. [00:17:27] Speaker B: They were just great. [00:17:28] Speaker C: They were so lovely. These teens were so lovely and they took care of each other and they just like, they just fell in love with each other and they fell in love with the church and they fell in love with God. It was just a beautiful. [00:17:41] Speaker B: Be really nice to see because like two years ago, not that there were cliques, but there were certain people that went off all the time together. And it was pretty much like the same group. [00:17:53] Speaker C: Yeah. And we had a smaller group. [00:17:54] Speaker B: A smaller group. But this time it was like, really like. Well, even though, you know, so and so is going to this one and I usually hang out with them. I wanna go to a breakout session. And so they were all like, mixing and mingling. And I mean, I think that was my most joyous. I think, you know, I've shared before that Emma has some anxiety and I should say some a lot. But to see her engagement with the teens and see the teens engage with her was really special for me to. [00:18:35] Speaker C: They made sure nobody was left out. Everybody had. [00:18:38] Speaker B: Everyone had a group. And I think my, my. I can't really say I have a favorite part. But I went to reconciliation. [00:18:53] Speaker C: Yes. [00:18:54] Speaker B: So if. And I'm not laughing because I went to reconciliation. I'm laughing because if you've ever been to a convention, I mean, it's a convention center. It's not a hotel. [00:19:06] Speaker C: Oh, it's enormous. It's enormous. [00:19:08] Speaker B: Right? And so they have. They probably had about 100 priests sitting equidistant, you know, and a chair next to them. [00:19:20] Speaker C: And it's like ginormous arena. Space or space. Exhibition hall. [00:19:24] Speaker B: It's an exhibition hall. [00:19:25] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:19:26] Speaker B: And the line. I don't think there was ever not a line. It was just so awesome to see. And so I'm standing in line and I have my coffee and I'm trying to write notes to think things that I wanna talk about. And there's a group of girls. There's a group of girls ahead of me and a group of girls behind me. [00:19:52] Speaker C: Not our kids. [00:19:52] Speaker B: Not our kids. Okay. I was just by myself. I told my group, I'm like, I need me minister mom alone time. And they were all safe. [00:20:02] Speaker C: Oh, listen, it's like a big playpen. [00:20:04] Speaker B: There's no way that they were gonna. Yeah. So I'm trying to, like, hold my coffee and write at the same time. So I put it down and she's like, I. I'm happy to hold your coffee for you. [00:20:13] Speaker C: I was like, no. While you catalog your sins. [00:20:15] Speaker B: Well, I catalog my sins, you know, and. But it was. It was really cute. So the in behind me, it wasn't even our group, but behind me, I hear one of the girl goes, what's your Catholic ick? [00:20:29] Speaker C: What? [00:20:30] Speaker B: And I'm like, catholic ick? And they're not even talking to me. So I'm overhearing it, and in my head I'm like, catholic ick? What are they talking about? And one of the girl goes, oh, it's when the priest coughs during the consecration. And I'm like, oh, a Catholic ick. Like, icky. That's gross. [00:20:50] Speaker C: I would have thought it would be like relics. I don't know. [00:20:55] Speaker B: And then one person is like, no. When somebody sneezes, and then it's the sign of peace. And I'm like, this. This is what we're talking about. Family. [00:21:04] Speaker C: Those people need to come on our podcast. [00:21:05] Speaker B: Oh, my gosh. It was. [00:21:06] Speaker C: We could have a whole episode on just that. [00:21:08] Speaker B: It was so funny. Like, just. But anyway, like going to reconciliation and seeing the grace of mercy. And I don't even know where the priest I talked to Lived. He didn't say anything, but his wisdom was exactly what I needed. [00:21:31] Speaker C: That's awesome, right? I love it when that happens. [00:21:34] Speaker B: Sometimes it doesn't happen. Let's say more times than not, it doesn't happen. But it was just. I was just at peace, you know? And then. And then, of course, then it's like, okay, check in. Now I have to go grab a bunch of my, like, the cats. Like, herd the cats, right? You know, so it was like this moment of peace, but then I'm like, okay, back to reality. But isn't that what it is? [00:21:56] Speaker C: It was so cool. Like, I was kind of doing my own thing with the breakouts and I would kind of wander, but, like, it was funny. Even the one that I went to, that was like, for adults, for ministers. Two of our teens happened to be there. So we sat together and, like, in all the workshops I went to, and they were all really good, there just happened to be a couple people from our group who were there. So I got to, like, hang out in different pockets. And isn't it weird? [00:22:19] Speaker B: Like, 17,000 people in this convention center and you seem to see the same 10 people. [00:22:26] Speaker C: Well, they really did. Our kids did a lot of, like, not homework, but they did research ahead of time. They knew what the breakouts were gonna be, and they made. [00:22:32] Speaker B: No, but I'm saying, like, I would see people walking past me that I've seen 80 times. I'm like, I've seen you like, 80 times, but I haven't seen this person once. [00:22:41] Speaker C: It's funny. It's a big, big tent. [00:22:42] Speaker B: So it's awesome. [00:22:43] Speaker C: We gotta talk about Poblio. [00:22:45] Speaker B: Oh, yes. [00:22:46] Speaker C: Joined us on Friday morning. [00:22:47] Speaker B: Oh, it was so great. [00:22:49] Speaker C: And I had a bunch of. Honestly, I'm hoping we can somehow connect this episode to the actual broadcast that EWTN did of his dialogue with youth. Because if you listen to us, you're gonna wanna watch this. But I did take a few notes, and he had a couple of quotes in there that I just wanted to share because they were so good. But just in general, I loved how they handled the dialogue. So my understanding is that once they realized the Pope was gonna come and have a conversation with teens, with American teens, they had a group of, like, 20 or 30 teens from around the country who would do. They were doing zoom meetings to curate the questions they wanted to ask him. So they were questions that were very relevant and meaningful to our. To our young people. And I was so heartened that really none of them were about, like, political issues or, like, Inclusivity issues. They were all about, like, lots of talk about mental health, lots of talk about technology, and just lots of talk about, like, the future prayer and the future of the church. And what is the young. What is the church doing to prepare for a future that our young people see coming, that the older generations honestly, mostly have our heads in the sands about still. Right. Like, this is, like, the teens being prophetic in this way was just. They were so awesome. But he did say something that. And I wish I could remember the context of it, but he said, the Holy Spirit invites us to grow through our challenges. Lord, you understand me better than I understand myself. And he was, like, contrasting this with, like, you know, that teenage attitude. You don't understand me. Or even, like, from adults, I get, like, you don't understand what I'm going to. And he was almost saying, like, well, what if you accepted the idea that God understands you? That's your starting point, is that you are intimately understood by the God who made you. How would your experience of life be. Be different if that were the starting point? I just feel like they have a lot to think about with that. And a lot of the teens questions, as I said, were expressing, like, worries about the future of the world and of the church. And he very. So this Pope, I think we're going to find, is intentional with his words. So what he says is going to carry a lot of weight. And what he chose to say to the teens in this moment was he said to them, I'm going to say again my first words as pope, which was, God loves us and evil will not prevail. Those were the first things he said when he came out on the balcony. Right. And so I was like, so good. He's good. And I think we're gonna have him as pope for a long time, you know, so, like. And then the last one, I think they must have asked him, like, what. What his hope for the future was. [00:25:49] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:25:50] Speaker C: And he said to them, he was like, a challenging, challenging the teens. Like, now's the time to dream big. I'm looking to you, not someone else. [00:25:59] Speaker B: Oh, I'm gonna cry. [00:26:00] Speaker C: Be ready to be generous because we were made for greatness. If you wanna change the world, begin by letting God change you. And he was just so humble in how he said everything. Right? [00:26:11] Speaker B: Like, so cute. [00:26:13] Speaker C: Our kids have such a crush on him. My Bridget is like, I'm deaf in. [00:26:18] Speaker B: One ear because of Bridget. Sorry. I'm not trying to call out any of the kids, but I'm calling out. [00:26:24] Speaker C: My Own kid, because she was really yelling a lot. [00:26:26] Speaker B: I love you, Leo. And it was cute because we practiced a little. I don't even know. [00:26:35] Speaker C: Oh, it was like a little chant cheer. [00:26:36] Speaker B: Like a chant cheer thing for Pope Leo. And so I secretly was kind of a little. I don't wanna say frustrated. Jealous is probably more of the word. And I shouldn't be jealous. But, like, I kind of wished that EWTN had cut out and just gone away after the question and answers. So we in ncy. [00:27:00] Speaker C: So there could have been something that wasn't broadcast. Wasn't broadcast, but for us. Yeah, that would have been cool because. [00:27:06] Speaker B: I feel like everyone had that moment, even though, like, we were in the stadium. [00:27:11] Speaker C: Right. They said at the end of the conference we had 16,000 in the stadium, but something like 2 million people were watching it. [00:27:15] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:27:15] Speaker B: And I'm like, oh, well, I guess we're special, but we are. We are special. We were there, but it was like, leo, Leo. We love Leo. And so we got to chant that to him. And his face. He had the biggest smile on his face and he giggled. And, you know, it was just. He's so humble and down to earth. [00:27:35] Speaker C: And just to have, like, an American pope who just can have those conversations without any kind of language barrier, I mean. [00:27:42] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah. [00:27:44] Speaker C: We never thought we were gonna get one of those. I mean. [00:27:48] Speaker B: And then one of the youth ministers within the diocese of Rochester, I will put. I won't point out, came up to me, and she's like, laughing, tear, crying, and I'm like, what? And she goes, oh, my gosh. Two of my girls tried to give a number to one of the boys. Their phone number to one of the. [00:28:10] Speaker C: Boys in our group. [00:28:12] Speaker B: No, no. It's like, not even in our group. And I'm like, oh, well, how well that goes. She goes, it didn't go well. He was a seminarian. I just about died. And I was like, oh, I wonder if he's, you know, reconsidering after getting hit on by two teenage girls. But. But it was like you were just walking with bishops and priests and Franciscans, and it was just like, there was a brother. I don't even know what order he was in. He was skateboarding. [00:28:53] Speaker C: Oh, yeah. [00:28:54] Speaker B: You know, interactive village. [00:28:56] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:28:56] Speaker B: Doing tricks and everything. And it's just like, how cool. [00:29:00] Speaker C: It was. So fun. [00:29:01] Speaker B: Everything about it was. [00:29:02] Speaker C: Well, that's the thing. It's like. It's just such a mix of, like, celebration, like, exuberance noise. Like, the best kind of noise, though. Like, joyful noise. But then so many moments of, like, just profound quiet and, like, adoration on Friday night, Saturday night, Friday night, Friday night. It's a blur. We were so lucky to have floor seats again. So we were. I want the people at home to just think about this. Like, you're in the middle of a football stadium, and you have. The Eucharist is there on an altar in the middle of the stadium. And our diocesan contingent was lucky enough to get floor seats. So we're, like, four rows back from where the altar was, right there on the floor. And when they. And there's music playing, supporting, like, the prayer, like, and. And. But our teens, even though we were only four rows back, they wanted to be closer to Jesus. And they went out into the aisles and they knelt on the floor, and, like, it was so I. We were just. You know, this is the moment. We're hanging back, watching them, and we're just like. But, like, they're just. They were just. They. I don't know. I can't. [00:30:24] Speaker B: I want to say that our group was, like, the first group. We were in the middle. We were in the middle, too, of these chairs. And I think our group is the first group. They're like, we can't. Like, they were just. So. [00:30:37] Speaker C: This is an overflowing. [00:30:38] Speaker B: Overflowing of emotions that they're like, we can't just sit here. We need to be closer. And a couple times, people would go in front of them, and then they would go in front of somebody else. It was the cutest thing. They're like, no, this is mine. [00:30:51] Speaker C: But they were also just like. [00:30:52] Speaker B: You know, they were just holding each other and just like, oh, my gosh. And even the ones that didn't express that overwhelmingness of it, it's not about. [00:31:04] Speaker C: Whether or not you cry, but they. [00:31:08] Speaker B: Were still present in it. And this beautiful monstrance and the way that we were sitting, the light was shining and the incense was coming up, so. [00:31:16] Speaker C: Oh, yeah. [00:31:18] Speaker B: It was just awesome. [00:31:20] Speaker C: It's awesome. And then there was another sweet moment. I think it was the last morning, where, as part of, like, the. At the end of the keynote, they invited the teens to pray for people around them. Oh, this was when we had one go down. So you missed part of this because you were at first Aid, but Jeff got a great video. [00:31:37] Speaker B: Yeah. And we're gonna show that. [00:31:39] Speaker C: Praying over each other, like, the teens, just without any adults participating. Just praying over each other. [00:31:45] Speaker B: Yeah. Yeah. And I will say so. We did have one teen who wasn't feeling very well, and we ended Up. I ended up in first aid with her. And then before I left, and you had already gone to get our lunch, but before I went in with the back with her, I said, somebody said, why can we pray? So we all just gathered around and prayed. And then it happened again. She wasn't. Or he wasn't feeling well. And you stayed back. And again we're walking like, wait, whoa, whoa, whoa. We can't go any further. We have to pray. And like, they called it upon themselves. [00:32:24] Speaker C: Our group was praying for their one who was missing. [00:32:27] Speaker B: It wasn't the adults that said, hey, guys, let's take a moment. It was them. But a funny aside was one of the teens who was given the. You pray over us at that moment, they're like, okay, you do the prayer. So they, like, pinpointed him to do the prayer, but he didn't hear that we were praying for our sick one. So he just started praying in general of like, oh, thank you, God, for this moment. And it was like a five. Like, literally, it felt like five minutes. And finally I'm like, we're praying for so and so. And he goes, no one told me that. I thought I was just praying. And it was just so cute. Like, the seriousness of before. And then he's like, okay, let's bring it back. [00:33:15] Speaker C: We gotta keep. I gotta remember to keep inviting them to pray for each other out loud. [00:33:19] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:33:20] Speaker C: Cause that's a skill, too. [00:33:21] Speaker B: It is a skill. [00:33:22] Speaker C: A lot of Catholics, it is a skill. [00:33:23] Speaker B: And they were just practice. [00:33:24] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:33:24] Speaker B: You know, one thing, one more thing. One of the things that kept being brought up was radical openness. And I like the word radical in front of openness and, like, radical prayer. Like, they kept the word radical. Intimacy was tough. And it was just like. Yeah. Like, there were times that they just said, okay, everyone, just close your eyes. Open up your hands. Just be open. You know, this is gonna be a tough conversation. Or this is something that we're struggling with. Or the speaker was like, I just need a moment. Let's just be open. And I was like, oh, how many times have I just been like, okay? [00:34:06] Speaker C: For them to share their vulnerability in that moment when they're about to give a huge talk to, like, right? [00:34:11] Speaker B: And, like. [00:34:12] Speaker C: But I hate dozens of people. [00:34:14] Speaker B: I can honestly say I don't think I've ever stopped myself during the day to be like, okay, someone pray for me. Just let me be open. You know? And I did hear somebody be like, that's weird to pray for myself. I'm so used to praying for other people. Okay, so it is. I mean, prayer does take work, right? [00:34:37] Speaker C: And practice in some ways. [00:34:39] Speaker B: Yeah. So I was like, you're always evolving. [00:34:40] Speaker C: In how you're coming to that. [00:34:42] Speaker B: I think a takeaway for me is that I'm just gonna take time. Just like, okay, just be open, Karen, relax. Yeah, God's got this. [00:34:51] Speaker C: Well, there's something too about, like, the physicality of, like, open your. Close your eyes and open your hands. Okay. We're like. We are an embodied, like, prayer people, right? Neil, stand up. Sit down, like, across yourself. Like. But that posture. Close your eyes. Like, close your eyes. Open your hands. You don't know what's coming, but you gotta be ready for it. [00:35:12] Speaker B: Who's the one sister that did the keynote? And she says, sometimes I just place my hands over my heart. And every once in a while, like, I've noticed. Had to call my daughter out, but I'm gonna call her out. We were at dinner one night after Indiana, and I don't know if she just got overwhelmed with everything, and she just took a deep breath, placed her hands like this, and just. And just took a moment. And we're in the middle of dinner in this restaurant, and she's just praying. She's praying. [00:35:45] Speaker C: She's just there. [00:35:46] Speaker B: And I was like, wow. Like, as a mom, you're like, yes. [00:35:53] Speaker C: Score. It mattered. [00:35:56] Speaker B: It was worth it. [00:35:58] Speaker C: Oh, man. I got a couple more little, like, quotes and stuff. So there is. Brian Greenfield was one of the keynotes, and I think he talked on. It must have been Saturday morning. It was all about the Holy Spirit. So he was talking about confirmation, which had a lot to do with, like. [00:36:16] Speaker B: Oh, was he the guy that was, like, yelling the whole time? Like, he's like. He's like, I'm not yelling. I'm just excited. Right? [00:36:22] Speaker C: It was like, black church, like, preaching. [00:36:24] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:36:24] Speaker C: Yeah. So great. But he. What? He was quoting Second Timothy, Chapter 167. But it was. I didn't even notice that. It really was. Sorry. He was like, you were made for this moment. And it says, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. That's confirmation. The gift you have through the imposition of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but a spirit of power. And you look at the world, and you look at the church, and you're like, this is a dumpster fire. What is going on? How are we gonna get through this time when everything is falling apart? And I just found that so encouraging. Like, you were made for this. And that theme came up, like, through Leo's talk, through Brian's talk, I found this cool T shirt that is quoting Joan of Arc, says, I am not afraid. I was born to do this. Like that. We're here in this moment for a reason. And I think, I hope that's the call that our young people felt and that they feel like it wasn't just a fun weekend, but that they feel sent into the world to be disciples. [00:37:43] Speaker B: You know, I 1000% think that they felt that way. [00:37:46] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:37:47] Speaker B: Because, like, they were taught, like the keynotes were talking about, like, what are you gonna do when you get back home? Like, what are things that you can do in the church? What are things that you can do in your community? And I heard stirrings. [00:38:00] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:38:00] Speaker B: You know, so I don't doubt for a bet that this group of kids is. [00:38:07] Speaker C: So now our challenge now is we've gotta get this group of kids. Like, it's one thing for us to come and talk on our podcast about it, but we gotta get their voices and their faces in front of everybody else because they are on fire. [00:38:18] Speaker B: And I thought we should get T shirts for them. [00:38:22] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:38:23] Speaker B: That says ask me about. And then on the back, ncyc. [00:38:26] Speaker C: Oh, fun. [00:38:27] Speaker B: So if you have a kid. Yes. That's in seventh grade now or eighth grade or ninth grade or tenth grade. [00:38:34] Speaker C: Yep. We're going to be planting seeds starting now. [00:38:39] Speaker B: Yeah. Because it is. [00:38:40] Speaker C: But the teens who went this time are going to be our best evangelizers because 1000%, if they need one person, we'll be. There's only a handful of them will be graduated. [00:38:50] Speaker B: Will be graduated by then. [00:38:51] Speaker C: So we have a good. It's going to be good. Yeah. [00:38:55] Speaker B: Okay. [00:38:56] Speaker C: One last thing. We're talking about the clothes pins. [00:38:58] Speaker B: Oh, I have one last thing too, but go ahead. [00:38:59] Speaker C: Okay. My last God moment of many God moments was there was. I think it was the last day you and I finally got coffee. It was like the last breakout. And you're like, forget it. We're getting coffee. And we sat down and we got sucked into an email thing that was going on. And it was like, it was not a big deal, but we were just like, talking about. Talking shop. [00:39:19] Speaker B: Right. [00:39:19] Speaker C: And we're talking about, like, different things and space and usage and all this stuff. And while we were. And there were other people around us, but we were having our own conversation. And when I got up to go, I realized somebody had clipped a clothespin on my backpack that said, stay positive. I was like, okay. Someone was hearing me and Karen, like, get all wrapped up again in, like, the work stuff. [00:39:43] Speaker B: And the last day, we stupidly worked out work email. [00:39:47] Speaker C: I was like, why am I reading my work email? I'm working with the teens now. But, like, it was so funny. So I have that clothespin on my desk in the office. Perfect. Because. So that's my little. That's awesome souvenir from ncyc, just to. [00:40:00] Speaker B: Remind myself my last God moment from the weekend. So my mom, Kitty, which you've all heard about, she's a confirmation adult leader, and three of the kids that went to NCYC are in my mom's group. [00:40:14] Speaker C: That's right. [00:40:15] Speaker B: And so we're walking down the street Friday or Saturday morning, I can't remember, and one of the kids comes up to me and says, karen, how's Kitty? And I'm like, kitty's great. Let's call her. So we FaceTimed my mom. [00:40:31] Speaker C: And I'm. [00:40:31] Speaker B: Holding it up as we're walking down, and my mom, I could see that she had, like, tears in her eyes. I was like, oh, the kids were asking about you. And I think because the kids were asking about her, not just because I wanted to talk to her. Right, right, right. I think she's like, oh, my gosh, my little group. But it was the cutest thing. [00:40:48] Speaker C: I love that. [00:40:49] Speaker B: And it just. It meant a lot to me that my mom is, like, the grandma of the group. [00:40:53] Speaker C: Yes, she totally is. I love that. [00:40:56] Speaker B: So it was really cute. [00:40:57] Speaker C: Oh, and hey, we got to take a selfie with the Pope. [00:40:59] Speaker B: Yes, we did. [00:41:00] Speaker C: We'll give that to Jeff so you can see us with our new bestie. Do you think he'd come on the podcast? [00:41:07] Speaker B: Wait a minute. Better idea. We'll bring the podcast to him. [00:41:11] Speaker C: Okay. [00:41:12] Speaker B: We'll go to Rome. [00:41:13] Speaker C: Road trip. Jeff, we're going to Rome. But seriously, though, we will hope you guys will keep a lookout in the coming weeks. We are working on getting our teen witnesses to get up in front of the parishes at Mass and speak. We'll probably do some kind of, like, a video or maybe even a podcast episode with them. So. Yes. But thank you to everyone in our parish who has supported our young people through this adventure. It matters. It is meaningful. [00:41:40] Speaker B: They are here. They are on fire. So pray and encourage them. Welcome them into ministries if they decide that they want to do something or just help them be present. [00:41:55] Speaker C: And we hope that your third week of Advent, Joy Week, can be a little bit joyful now that we more joyful now that we've shared the joy of our young people with you. And yeah, keep smiling as we head into Christmas, you guys. [00:42:08] Speaker B: Thanks, everybody. [00:42:09] Speaker C: Have a great week. [00:42:09] Speaker B: Bye. [00:42:11] Speaker A: Thanks for taking a Faith Break with us today. Karen Luke and Ann Gallagher are lay ministers with the parishes of St. Catherine of Siena in Menden, New York, and Church of the Transfiguration in Pittsford, New York. More about our parishes, including weekly live streamed Sunday Mass, can be [email protected] or transfigurationpittsford.org Engineering Today is by Jeff Beckett. Join us for new episodes of Faith Break each week in Studio on YouTube or on your favorite audio podcast or music.