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Home  / News & Publications /  Michigan Catholic News / 2009 /  Weaving the Future Together

by Danielle Center special to The Michigan Catholic
Published May 22, 2009

Gregg McIntosh | The Michigan Catholic Archbishop Allen Vigneron and Bishop Daniel Flores personally welcome the group of singing participants to the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament.

Detroit - When 320 young people from across the Archdiocese of Detroit gather, they pack the day with laughter, excitement and hearty participation. Weaving the Future Together, a Sunday afternoon event that included spending time with and asking questions of Archbishop Allen Vigneron and Bishop Daniel Flores, was no exception.

Songs of praise and worship opened the afternoon as a friendly and diverse crowd entered the gymnasium of the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament.

Initially the teens sang and clapped apprehensively, but one ice-breaker later, they were laughing with speaker Mike Patin as he encouraged the students to realize that a happy life centers on prayer, learning, unity and service. For Fadi Haddad, 18, from St. Cunegunda Parish, Detroit, Patin's interactive talk was a high point, the incorporated visuals and games making the topic "more fun for everyone."

Brenna Hicks, 16, from St. Genevieve Parish in Livonia, said the speech was her favorite part. "Mike Patin made it understandable why we should continue to follow God," she explained.

Gregg McIntosh | The Michigan Catholic Santiago Fernandez discusses the beauty of unity within the Church to the young adults.

Santiago Fernandez, music minister at St. Michael Parish, Pontiac, led music and spoke to the teens from both English, and Spanish-speaking backgrounds. Through bilingual translations continually projected on the walls of the gym, Fernandez stressed the importance of being welcoming and generous to different ethnic groups. He urged the teens and young adults to leave their comfort zones of familiar language and song and to strive to learn about others; although these steps involve sacrifice, Fernandez asserted that through these decisions one can say that "my sacrifice is now meaningful; it makes someone else feel at home."

When Archbishop Vigneron and Bishop Flores arrived at the event, sponsored by the archdiocesan Office for Youth Ministry, they personally greeted and welcomed the young people. "How are you?" Bishop Flores asked; "It's good you are here!" Archbishop Vigneron exclaimed as they shook hands with the participants. The teens took their seats: an attentive, diverse crowd.

A microphone was opened for the teens to ask questions for the leaders of the Church. The impromptu questions varied from "How do you get selected to be a cardinal?" to concerns about the closing Catholic schools. Archbishop Vigneron and Bishop Flores answered all of the questions with obvious concern and clarity.

Gregg McIntosh | The Michigan Catholic Danielle Carmody, 13, of Christ the Good Shepherd Parish, Lincoln Park, asks a question.

Danielle Carmody, 13, from Christ the Good Shepherd Parish, Lincoln Park, was impressed with the compassion the archbishop and bishop showed to the young people. Carmody said her favorite part of the program was, "when they cooperated in answering all of our questions."

Eric Pohl, age 14, of St. Mary's Parish, Wayne, took the opportunity to ask: "When did you receive your calling to the priesthood? How old were you?" Archbishop Vigneron responded that he was drawn to the priesthood from childhood, but later doubted this calling when he realized it might not be as easy or fun as he first imagined. He then pointed out to the young people that God's call is a call to happiness, and that there is a difference between comfort and happiness. Pohl stated that the answers to his questions were the highlight of his day, "It always inspires me," Pohl said, "to hear how someone received their calling. Each one is unique and interesting." Pohl said he is pondering if he, too, is called to the priesthood. To Pohl, events that bring the youth of the archdiocese together are a powerful tool, and his favorite part of the day was the answer section "to hear them talk about when they were younger."

Gregg McIntosh | The Michigan Catholic Archbishop Vigneron blesses baskets of necklaces bearing the early Christian fish symbol, which were distributed to each participant.

One of the final questions asked was, "If you had one message for the youth, what would it be?" Bishop Flores started this answer, inviting the young people to be friends of Jesus: to know, love and serve Him. Bishop Flores commended their gift of youth, declaring it "a special grace that lifts the world from despair: energy and hope." Archbishop Vigneron continued by urging the teenagers to realize their capacity to give and receive friendship.

As parting advice, Archbishop Vigneron pointed to the Gospel commission message; he encouraged the young people to view the Gospel as their story as well and to believe that "my mission is to bring Christ to those in the space around me."

From there they departed: More than 300 teenagers united in a new way to bring Christ to the spaces around them.

Danielle Center, 22, a senior at University of Michigan-Dearborn, is a member of St. Vincent Ferrer Parish, Madison Heights.