It’s a person-to-person call and a challenge to answer that call, sent by a team of Catholic ministries who have set their sights on expanding service to God among youth.

“The Nerve to Serve” is a joint effort of the Sacramento Diocese’s Office of Youth Ministry and Office of Vocations for a youth day to be held on Saturday, Oct. 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at St. Anthony Parish in Sacramento.

The event will feature music, a variety of interactive activities, speakers, prayer, refreshments, information booths and even a commemorative “Nerve to Serve”
t-shirt for participants.

“The message is all of us have been called to serve and that God has given us many gifts,” said Dominican Sister Maureen McInerney, co-director of the Office of Vocations. “The question is how to best use those gifts—where is my energy, what gives me life.”

To set the stage for the day, organizers have called upon a keynote speaker with considerable talents of his own. Brian Johnson, director of youth ministry in the Diocese of Galveston-Houston, Texas, was a presenter and revivalist speaker in 26 dioceses nationwide in 1999 and a facilitator at World Youth Day in Denver in 1993.

“(Johnson) is a dynamic storyteller who can reach every kid in a room full of hundreds of kids,” according to Julie Tucker, youth minister at St. Anthony Parish. “Young people hang on his every word.”

The day will provide ample opportunities for youth to speak informally with people representing a variety of religious and lay vocations, from priests and nuns to representatives from the Jesuit and Lasallian volunteer groups and married couples.

“We’re really trying to address all the ways we’re called to serve,” said Tucker, adding that teens will be challenged to answer nuts and bolts questions like “What kind of lifestyle do I prefer?” and “What is the purpose of my life?”

Breakout sessions will feature presentations by Catholic leaders representing a cross section of vocations. Speakers include:

• Mercy Sister Michelle Gorman, vocations director for the Sisters of Mercy of Auburn, on “A Day in the Life.”

• Presentation Sister Monica Miller, vocation director for the Sisters of the Presentation of San Francisco, and Franciscan Brother Franklin Fong, vocation director for the Franciscan Friars of the Santa Barbara Province, on “Sexuality: The Strongest Link, The Weakest Link.”

• Mercy Sister Maria Campos, vocations director for the Sisters of Mercy of Auburn, leading a panel discussion on “1,001 Questions.”

• Matt Sanders, youth minister at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Carmichael, on “How to be a Spiritual Companion with Young People.”

• Victor Alvarez, youth minister at St. Rose of Lima Parish in Roseville, on “Community Service in Mexico.”

Sister McInerney says more young people than ever are seeking to grow in their spiritual lives. She points to the diocese’s youth days that attract over 500 young people each year and to the seven Catholic high schools which involve hundreds of teens in community service.

“As I travel throughout the parishes, I see a hunger for spirituality and a special desire to reach out and give service to those less fortunate,” she said.

High school students in the diocese are also being encouraged to compete in an essay contest in which entrants will address priority issues facing the Catholic Church and ways to encourage service among its young people. Winners of the contest will be sent to represent the diocese at the biennial National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis in December.

In addition to across the board support from several religious communities, other groups collaborating on the youth day include members of the Knights of Columbus (Bishop Armstrong Council no. 4443) who will serve lunch, and the Serra Club of Sacramento whose members will serve as greeters.

Partial funding for the event was received from a $1,900 grant from the National Foundation for Catholic Youth in Washington, D.C.

The deadline to register for “The Nerve to Serve” youth day is Oct. 12. Deadline for essay contest registration is Oct. 1.

For more information, call Julie Tucker at (916) 428-5678, ext. 109.

Copyright © 2001 Diocese of Sacramento - All Rights Reserved

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