The Catholic Weekly - The Catholic Times at 1520 Court Street, Saginaw, MI 48602 US - Jamboree takes teens on a 'faith odyssey'

LANSING — The lights went down at the Lansing Center Sunday, Nov. 4 and Catholic teens, numbering close to 1,000, from across the diocese were swept into a space odyssey. “A Faith Odyssey…The Future Is Now” was the theme of the 2007 Lansing Diocese 21st annual Jamboree event. Under Pat Rinker’s direction Emily Crockett, youth coordinator at Lansing Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish (who is expecting her first baby in six weeks) and her crew of 13 teens organized a space journey that didn’t include a trip to the moon but something better. Spacesuit- and moon boot-clad Jamboree team members jumped out of a rocket on stage and danced to dozens of song clips such as Steve Miller’s, “Space Cowboy,” Styx’s “Mr. Roboto,” and the Manhattans’ “Honey, You Are My Shining Star.” After wrapping up the dance routines, spacesuits were shed to reveal lime green Jamboree t-shirts. The teens stepped forward to ask the audience two questions: “Are you willing to get closer to God?” and “How can any one person make a difference?” To help the audience ponder those questions they read poems, reflections and prayers. In addition the Jamboree included an out-of-this-world keynote speaker, Anna Scally, more than a dozen workshops, Mass led by the diocesan director of seminarians, Fr. Jerry Vincke; lunch, dinner, music, a dance, blow-up inflatable playthings and games. The odyssey of faith trip was meant to make young believers laugh, smile, think, talk, sing, pray, deepen their faith and interact with each other by applying a renewed Christ-like attitude. Scally had a lot to do with that. This was not her first appearance at the Jamboree. “I was at your first Jamboree 21 years ago,” she said. “It is an honor to watch the progress and faith of this wonderful diocese. Just so you know, I have a feeling that our journey together will be filled with wonderful stories and a chance to learn from each other.” Known as the “Pope’s DJ” because of her role as the master of ceremonies at World Youth Days in Denver, Toronto and Germany, the author, columnist, performer, artist, president of Cornerstone Media and 2005 Woman of the Year (American Business Women’s Association) told the young listeners to imagine that two giant, blank multi-media screens have just dropped down behind her. “Can you see them?” she asked. “I’m about to describe two types of people that have arrived at our wonderful Jamboree. I can guarantee you that one of my descriptions will match you closely. I’m pretty confident of that. Don’t tell anyone what screen you’re on. “Screen number one is the person who might be checking their watch and wondering when this darn day is going to be over. This is the person whose best friend was supposed to be here but they’re not. No matter what, this person will not fully be present here with us today. How many of you have something going on in your life right now that you’re a little concerned or preoccupied with?” Hundreds of hands shot up in the air. “I do too,” she said. “Those are honorable things. Here is my sincere prayer for you. Please don’t stay on screen number one. Because if that happens we won’t be a full community. We will never have experienced your presence with us. So I invite all of you, including myself, to join me on screen number two.” Screen number two, she said, has “Person of faith” written on it in big, full writing. Scally said she spots a person of faith instantly because they act differently. “A person of faith possesses two very important qualities,” she said. “They know God has created them. And they know they have been given life and put on this planet for a purpose and they do everything they can to discover it.” To make her points stick, Scally did what she’s known best for — she interjected her talk with popular music clips. She played Chris Daughtry’s, “Home” when she talked about moving forward on the journey of faith and growing closer to the Lord. When you have a relationship with Jesus Christ, she told the teens, it will allow more Christ-like attitudes to be revealed. “A great characteristic of our Lord is that everything He did made a statement,” she said. “When He didn’t like what was going on He let people know in a gentle but direct way. Take a look at what happened in the temple when they were selling merchandise. He handled it. Compare that to your life. Everything makes a statement. Even when Jesus faced things that were difficult, He responded. It’s not what happens in life that matters, it’s how you let it affect you. How do you manage things? How do you handle it when others hurt you? That’s what this odyssey of faith is all about. We have to learn to forgive and reconcile. Learn to take a look at things and let go. Be a part of the sacraments, that’s why we have them. God is inviting us every single day to let go of those things and let God out. None of this ‘Let God in.’ God’s already there. As Catholics we believe in the incarnation. Our Lord is present. Reveal Him to yourself and others.” She then used another song, “So Small,” by Carrie Underwood, to drive her point home. Then she asked the teens if they were ready for the biggest challenge yet. “For one minute I want you to look in the mirror and see yourself the way God sees you,” she said. “See yourself with all of your potential beauty, grace, strength and weaknesses. But wait. There is more. From that moment on, listen carefully, I want you to see anyone else you meet the way God sees them. My friends of this diocese, you will never live the same. I mean it. You will never love the same. You will listen to people differently. You will take on learning opportunities in a whole new way. Because when you learn to live and see the way God sees the world you’ll instantly come to a conclusion. You and I are called to partner with God in loving this world. That’s what our challenge is.” A poem read by one of the teens: If only they knew how it was for me I’m turning 16. The world I begin to see My friends begin to change right before my eyes Now they seem to laugh and tell all sorts of lies. They hang around in groups of three or four, the language they use it isn’t gentle anymore The kids that seem most lonely wind up in their pack and those who stand alone, well, they talk behind their back. Somehow I feel rejected because I don’t conform. Those who step to their own beat Just don’t seem to be the norm. I watched a few just fade away with drugs and alcohol and many more have given up, too many to recall. Alcohol’s an option for everyone in my school. I’ve lost friends to booze again, I will not be a fool. And sex — it seems so open for everyone to explore. Three girls I know who came to school don’t come here anymore. If only I could make a difference. What could I do or say? I would go to school and try my best each and every day. There is something I’d like to do before I graduate — I’d like to touch them one-by-one before it’s too late. Then another teen read this prayer: Dear Lord, you have chosen us, the youth of today, to lead. You have chosen us because we are the future. Help us make a difference in our world whether it’s through mission trips, by donating money or food to the needy or even the smallest act of prayer to approve the world we live in. You have brought us together today as a sign that every single one of us should go out there and make a difference for our neighbors, family, friends and even the perfect stranger. Lord, we know it will be hard and we may think we don’t have the time to help other people just because we hardly have any time for ourselves. But we know that you can find a way of reaching into our lives and touching us in a way that we will all be inspired to do your work. We are your messengers, O Lord, so give us the message to spread. By Lisa Briggs, The Catholic Times

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