11 p.m., Friday, Nov. 20
The Friday evening general session we found ourselves in the Grand Ballroom. The session kicked off with a rousing performance by the band Ceili Rain, a Christian rock band with a little Irish flavor.
We were then taken to the Sprint Center by video where Steve Angrisano introduced the keynotes for the night, Jason and Crystalina Evert. They presented a chastity seminar titled “Romance without Regret.”
“In the depths of our heart we yearn for something good and pure and beautiful. Christ did not die on the cross to give us coping mechanisms for our sexuality. He has to get in to change our hearts and teach us how to look at women again,” Jason Evert said.
His wife took over and spoke to the girls in the crowd about their power in relationships.
“I don’t put all the blame on guys. I think guys are just as gentlemanly as we allow them to be. It’s up to you to know how to approach these things and how to behave,” Crystalina Evert said.
The night ended with a prayer and then a long trek to the buses and a ride back to the hotel that had the adults chatting more than the kids
4:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 20
The first workshop some of the kids popped into was There’s Something About Mary presented by Chris Padgett. The workshop focused on seeing Mary for her sacrifice and her advocacy.
“The first workshop we went to was really cool. It was about trying to love Mary more than Jesus does,” said Colby Doucet, Immaculate Conception, Groves.
The groups split up for lunch. After eating, a few youth from Immaculate Conception, Groves, toured through the exhibit hall. Everyone wants a “Peace Y’all” shirt from our diocese. After looking at t-shirts and doing some trading we headed to another workshop.
This one was called called Eracism, presented by Ron Landfair, from the Diocese of Lansing, Mich. Landfair discussed the importance of diversity in our culture and race relations.
“Kids today view race differently than we did because they are bombarded with multi-cultural information all the time. This is what Jesus taught, to teach all nations, and it’s happening now,” Landfair said.
10:30 a.m., Friday, Nov. 20
After a breakfast of eggs, biscuits and cereal in the hotel we headed over to the convention. After such a great beginning last night, we knew today was going to be just as faith-filled. We weren’t disappointed.
Steve Angrisano opened this morning’s session and welcomed Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston and Brian Johnson, director of Youth Ministry for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.
Cardinal DiNardo spoke about how the Eucharist is the highest intimacy.
“Jesus lives with His Father and He wants us to come and live there with Him. He wants us to be a branch on the vine. That’s why he gave us the Eucharist” Cardinal DiNardo said.’’
Johnson encouraged the youth to continue to make a change in the world with their work.
“Be the hands of Christ in your world. We saw those hands during Ike in Houston and the Diocese of Beaumont. Be those hands when you go home,” said Brian Johnson, director of Youth Ministry for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.
A wonderful way to begin a day of faith at Christ Reigns – NCYC ’09.
