| Winter
Springs - Adult Catholics around the world have deepened
their appreciation of the Eucharist — and spread it to others
— through a program promoted by the Congregation of the
Blessed Sacrament.
A Florida
parish is the first to engage teens in the Ohio-based order's
Life in the Eucharist (LITE) movement.
“These
kids are the most ordinary teens,” said Father George
Dunne, a Blessed Sacrament father who serves at St. Stephen Parish
in Winter Springs., near Orlando. “It's not like they
are in Mass every day or anything, but they've just come to understand
what the Mass is all about. They didn't get it before, but now
they do.”
Father Dunne,
whose order focuses on spreading devotion to the Eucharist, decided
during a confirmation retreat that LITE would help students better
understand their faith.
“I
asked the young people if they were interested and 30 teens showed
up at the first meeting,” he said.
After completing
LITE seminars, the teens give presentations to youth groups and
parishes. St. Stephen's LITE team, made up of public high school
students, recently shared knowledge and personal testimony with
students at Bishop Moore Catholic High School in Orlando.
“The
thought of going to the Catholic high school was a little intimidating,”
said Lauren Morgan, 16, a junior at Winter Springs High School
and a member of the LITE program. “I was really nervous
because we were talking to juniors and seniors who attend Catholic
school, but they were very attentive.”
Lauren's
presentation focused on transformation and she approached how
the Eucharist changes her.
“I
spoke about letting go of material wealth, focusing on faith and
helping others,” she said. “I used to be
stressed in traffic. Now I try to be patient when driving. I used
to yell at my siblings, but now I try to be understanding and
forgiving. If I see someone I can help out, I do.”
LITE focuses
on five eucharistic themes: nourishment, reconciliation, transformation,
abiding presence, and liberation. Father Dunne teaches biblical
and theological insights, and helps the teens create presentations.
“I've
learned so much (at the meetings) I didn't understand
before,” said Kelly Diamond, 15. “Now when
I'm listening to the Gospel or a homily, I realize it applies
to my speech on transformation.” |
In
the past three years, LITE teens have spoken to confirmation classes
and congregations at their parish. When they ventured off-campus
to talk to Bishop Moore Catholic High School students, they discovered
common ground.
“They
really had courage to talk to a group of strangers,”
said Christina Ditraglia, Bishop Moore senior. “I admire
them for that.
We clapped
for them, laughed at their jokes and sympathized with their situations,”
she added. “I could relate to them.”
“It
was really refreshing to see people my own age excited about their
faith and going out into the community to speak about it,”
said Joe Henry, a Bishop Moore senior. “They provided
tangible concepts that could help me improve my life.”
Scott Brogan,
Bishop Moore's assistant principal, embraced the program. “We're
open to local youth ministers," he said. “We look to
bridge the gap between Catholics in public schools and Catholics
in parochial schools. When you focus on the Eucharist, you realize
the common elements of our faith. We're on the same journey.”
Parents,
too, are encouraged by the ministry.
“My
daughter's participation in LITE has been a real blessing,”
said Susan Diamond, parishioner at St. Stephen and Kelly's mother.“
Kids are evangelizing in their own language. Their passion
is just amazing. I can't remember the last time I had to say,
'Kelly, get dressed for church.'”
“Lauren
didn't want to go to church or to the confirmation classes until
she became involved in the LITE program,” said Cindy
Morgan, Lauren's mother. “Somebody called to invite
her and she just decided to go. I don't know what prompted her,
except the phone call. Now she explains to others why you need
to go to church. It's really amazing. She's further along in her
spiritual journey at her age than I ever was. I wish every child
could participate.”
This month
the LITE team will present a one-day seminar to teens at St. Pascal
Baylon Catholic Church in Cleveland, the headquarters for the
the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament. “Just think,”
said Father Dunne. “Our headquarters is inviting the
teens to speak to them.”
“Before
I became involved in LITE, I seriously considered not being confirmed
and changing my denomination,” said Kelly. “But
now I truly believe that if the people who created all the other
Christian denominations understood the Catholic Church the way
I do now, those other churches would never have started.” |
