Teens prepare for confirmation: learn how they are called to be missionary disciples
Preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation, about 330 teens and their parish leaders gathered for the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry’s winter “Called” Retreat Rally Day in late January.
Every year, the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry (OYAM) hosts several Called rally days for Archdiocese youth. The retreat or rally allows teens in Youth Ministry Programs to gather, socialize, and participate in faith formation. The rallies include music, prayer, breakouts, general sessions, lunch, closing Mass, and more. According to the OYAM website, the Called Rally Days align with the Lifelong Faith Formation & Education, Ongoing Formation/Support of Clergy, and the Active Engagement of the Laity Pillars of the “Forward in Faith Together ” Initiative of the Archdiocese, which was launched by Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., in 2019.
“The day was a great opportunity for the young church of Newark to gather and learn more about their faith, and how each one of us is called to be missionary disciples,” said Rich Donovan, Associate Director of Youth Ministry at the Archdiocese of Newark. “Being Catholic is a way of life – the way we act, how we treat each other, how we take all that God has given us and apply it in everyday life to spread His love to our families, our neighborhoods, and our communities.”
Students from eight different parishes around the Archdiocese attended the rally, including parishioners from St. Michael’s Parish in Cranford, St. Catherine of Siena in Cedar Grove, St. John Paul II in Bayonne, Blessed Miriam Demjanovich in Bayonne, St. Joseph Parish in Oradell, Our Lady of the Lake in Verona, St. Matthew Parish in Ridgefield, and Our Lady of Mount Virgin in Garfield.
During the retreat, teens split up into two large groups to attend workshops and information sessions. The workshops offered included “Called to Be Who God Made You,” “Called to God’s Family as a Child of God,” “Called to a Vocation,” and “Called to Build God’s Kingdom.” The workshops were presented by clergy and lay youth ministers from around the Archdiocese.
For the second year in a row, a Vocations Fair was held during the retreat, providing students with the opportunity to meet, speak with, and ask questions to clergy and sisters from around the Archdiocese. Teens interacted with various exhibit tables set up by several religious orders in the archdiocese, including the Sisters of Mercy, the Benedictine Sisters of Elizabeth, the Carmelite Friars, the De Lasalle Christian Brothers, the Community of St. John, the Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, and the Salesians of Don Bosco.
Sister Elfie Del Rosario, FFA, of the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco, was one of the workshop presenters at the retreat and tabled at the Vocations Fair on behalf of the order. Her workshop focused on the call to vocation.
“The kids were all very happy to be there and learn about their faith. It was beautiful to see the religious of the Archdiocese of Newark represented.,” Sister Del Rosario said. “The Vocations Fair opens students up to their own calling in life, whether that is religious life, the priesthood, or marriage.”
She said that she enjoys bearing witness to the joy that Jesus and Mary can bring to a person’s life and feels a personal call to help students grow closer to God: “We want to share the joy that can be found through answering God’s calling.”
Sister Elfie plans to return to give another presentation at the next Called Rally Day, which will take place on Saturday, Apr. 28. OYAM already has over 200 teens registered for this event, but there is still space left if you are interested in registering. The deadline to register is Apr. 3, and you can fill out a registration form here.
Teens also enjoyed lunch together, built community through various games and team-building exercises, and were led in worship by Quinn Furnald, a worship leader and musician who goes by the stage name “Q”.
The day ended in Mass celebrated by Father John Gordon, the Archdiocesan Secretary for Evangelization.
It was fantastic,” said Ellen Solinas, the youth minister at St. Joseph Church in Oradell. “The Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry did an amazing job engaging everyone, and spiritually fulfilling the teens.”
