1,000 teens show ‘fervor of faith’ at YouthFest

Nationally known evangelist Jesse Manibusan is joined on stage by teens as he exhorts the crowd to respond to his message at the Youth Fest.

Energized by the music and humor of keynote speaker Jesse Manibusan, some 1,000 teens from more than 30 parishes in the Diocese of Tucson took part last month in the annual diocesan YouthFest in Tucson.
“If anyone doubts the faith of young people,” said Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas, “I wish they could have been present with us… The fervor of the teens’ faith and their desire to do great things for Christ was apparent.”
Bishop Kicanas participated in the day-long event and presided at a Mass that he described as “very moving.”
In his homily, the Bishop shared with the young people the encouragement offered by Pope Benedict XVI last month in Germany: “Dare to be glowing saints, in whose eyes and hearts the love of Christ beams and who thus bring light into the world.”
The theme for the gathering at Tucson Convention Center was “Planted in Mission,” and Bishop Kicanas noted that the teens “showed that they are planted deeply as they were challenged to a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and to service of one another.”
Referring to the nationally known evangelization of Jesse Manibusan, the Bishop said the speaker “incited singing, shouting, clapping and praying” with “his music and his powerful words of encouragement to become beacons of hope, bringing their gifts to care for those most in need.”
The teens chose from three workshops – one led by students at San Miguel High School in Tucson reflecting on the dignity and sanctity of all human life, focusing especially on the harm caused by bullying.
Another workshop dealt with helping teens see how they can safely navigate the digital world as disciples of Christ, while in the third Bishop Kicanas and Marcos Martinez of Catholic Relief Services outlined the unequal resources among those in first, second and third world countries.