AYF HISTORY
2001: Catholic Survivor
Perhaps Archbishop Francis B. Schulte summed it up best when he asked, “Where’s the press?,” during the first-ever Abbey Youth Festival held on Saint Joseph Abbey grounds April 7, 2001.
Approximately 2,500 teens gathered in a large clearing behind the abbey church where they sang, laughed and prayed among their peers. Never before have large groups of teens gathered here in one place to worship God, reconnect with their Catholic faith and mingle with seminarians, priests and monks.
Despite the large turn-out for the event, the unique location, a celebrity guest and the participation of Archbishops Schulte and Alfred C. Hughes, local television stations, although invited, instead chose to cover large groups of rowdy college students enjoying their spring break vacation along the gulf coast. Nevertheless, the local newspapers, along with at least two Catholic newspapers recognized the importance of such an event and the positive impact on teens.
The day’s theme, Catholic Survivor – Outpray, Outgrow, Outlove, was designed to give teens the tools and confidence necessary to stand above the world’s views and boldly live out their Catholic faith. Notre Dame Seminarian Beau Charbonnet delivered a moving speech entitled “Out Pray Your Doubts.” Charbonnet described how his life improved through his persistent prayer.
Matt Smith, of MTV’s “Real World,” asked teens to “Out Grow Your Fears.” While a regular on the hit television series, where several people of varying personalities are placed together under one roof and then taped daily, Smith outgrew his fear of not conforming to other cast members’ non-christian lifestyle and attended Mass each day. Although the camera crews rarely followed Smith to church, they did on occasion when Smith invited other cast members to join him. Smith is now a much sought-after speaker for Catholic youth functions.
“Out Love the World,” was the theme of Benedictine monk, Brother Basil Burns’, O.S.B., talk and homily. “You can’t outlove the world until you realize how much God loves you,” he said. “Everyone is empowered to love in a special way and you can’t really outlove the world until you understand what that special way is for you.”
Christine Baglow, wife of the festival’s coordinator, Dr. Chris Baglow, Apostolic Formation Director at Saint Joseph Seminary College, challenged teens to choose abstinence rather than risk the difficulties sex outside of marriage can bring. In choosing abstinence, teens would choose to live in purity and truth which are great gifts to bring into marriage, she said.
Along with dynamic speakers, a local Christian music group, Seraphim, played throughout the day keeping teens and adults enthusiastically involved through praise and worship. Carolyn Arends, an internationally celebrated Christian artist and a two-time Dove Christian Music award winner, took center-stage for an evening concert.
After months of planning, Baglow’s face was aglow during the festival as he proudly watched the day’s progression from one spiritually moving event to another. Plans for the event began last June, receiving immediate enthusiastic response from seminarians, the seminary administration and the Benedictine monks of Saint Joseph Abbey. As the days leading up to the festival rapidly approached, enthusiasm seeped throughout the seminary, culminating in a day marked by high spirits, high fives and abundant energy.
“I thought it was a fantastic success for our first-time event,” Baglow said. The day’s events ended with nearly 3,000 flickers of light as each teen, seminarian, priest, monk and adult youth leader, held a candle during adoration.
Each teen received a medal blessed by Father Justin Brown, O.S.B., prior at Saint Joseph Abbey. As blankets and chairs were folded, bags packed and weary teens began the journey home, many were already talking about next year’s festival. The second Abbey Youth Festival, planned for April 13, 2002, promises to be even grander.
