Catholic teens -- Church of today and tomorrow -- have summer opportunities to enrich their faith

BY KAREN DIETLEIN OSBORNE
STAFF WRITER

Teens across the Albany Diocese have many opportunities to get involved this summer in activities, camps and service projects that strengthen and stretch their Catholic faith.

And Michelle Stefanik, director of youth ministry for the diocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, says that they'll have a lot of fun doing so.

SARATOGA COUNTY

Run by teens for teens, this year's Saratoga Deanery Youth Rally asks middle-schoolers to get charged up about four areas of teen faith: communication, vocations, music and prayer.

Older teenagers in Saratoga's youth peer-retreat program will be running workshops for their younger peers. Mass, games and keynote addresses on friendship and acceptance -- by Saratoga retreat team members Nate Giroux and Joanna Smith -- will round out the day.

Ruth Moon, director of youth ministry at Our Lady of Grace Church in Ballston Spa, hopes teens develop "new friendships and relationships [across parish boundaries]. They get together, they meet each other, and their faith is strengthened by seeing all the others who share it."

(The Youth Rally will take place June 3, 1:30 p.m., at Our Lady of Grace. Admission is $5.)

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PYRAMID LAKE 1

The summer Christian Leadership Institute (CLI) is back for another year. At CLI -- a program that's been going strong for more than a decade -- teens experience Christian community, attend workshops and social events, and develop communication and leadership skills.

The goal of CLI is to prepare teens to be proactive forces and leaders within their parishes, schools and communities.

At CLI, "the Spirit stretches everyone who is involved -- our minds, our hearts and our faith," said Ms. Stefanik. "It's fun. We have a good time together. There's a lasting bond created through the community."

(Summer CLI runs June 24-28 at Pyramid Life Center in Paradox. Alongside liturgies and reflection time are canoe rides, hikes and campfires. CLI costs $255 for the week; financial assistance is available. Call Michelle Stefanik at 453-6630 immediately.)

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PYRAMID LAKE 2

"Music & Liturgy At Pyramid Lake" is back for its eighth year, July 8-12.

The five-day musical experience for Catholic youth musicians in grades 9 and up, it takes place at Pyramid Life Center and is a hands-on workshop for teens who want to use their musical talents at Mass or other Church events.

"We hope teens will take back musical and liturgical skills to serve their parishes, to assist their parish music ministers and to possibly lead music when they leave for college," said Marie Bernadett, music minister at St. Vincent de Paul parish in Albany and co-director of the workshop alongside Richard Putorti, a music minister at Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Rotterdam.

Mrs. Bernadett hope to provide "music-filled days," prayer experiences, ensemble sessions, outdoor activities, and mini-courses in music skills, song selection and liturgy.

Young Church musicians of all kinds will get to join jam sessions and learn about picking music for liturgy, arranging music for Mass, as well as sharing their favorite hymns and Christian music.

"They should be looking forward to music-filled days, and time to pray together, play their instruments, sing and have a good time," said Mrs. Bernadett.

(Call Richard Putorti, 356-9129, or Marie Bernadett, 464-0970. Tuition, room and board costs $325.)

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AURIESVILLE

It's the second year for the St. Isaac Jogues Youth Conference, sponsored by the LifeTeen programs at St. Ambrose Church in Latham and St. Paul the Apostle Church in Schenectady.

This year's theme for the July 13-15 event is "Overflow," reflecting God's overflowing love for all people, according to promotional materials.

Participants will stay at a hotel and spend the weekend days at the National Shrine of the North American Martyrs in Auriesville, attending Mass, socializing, singing, listening to speakers, talking about God and sharing faith with their friends.

(Lodging, food and conference fees for Overflow are $145 and due June 15. To apply, go to www.joguesyouthconference.com or call 785-1351, ext. 30.)

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CAPITAL DISTRICT

Two sessions of the Service Action Learning Teams (SALT) will hit the streets in the Capital District this summer to engage in community-building, social justice activities and direct service to the underserved.

The high-school-age SALT teams will learn more about Catholic social justice issues through both conversation and action.

Last year, for example, participants visited New Day Art and St. John/St. Ann's outreach center, both in Albany, and low-income housing run by diocesan agencies.

SALT is about "helping others," said Ms. Stefanik. "We must emulate what Jesus said we should do, realizing how fortunate we are in our own lives. Part of the responsibility to give back to others. It's always hard for anybody to come to a program where they don't really know anybody, but it's an experience that's like no other."

Teens tell her that it was "awesome to be around people who think the way I think, believe what I believe, and challenge me too," she said.

(SALT, July 15-19 and 22-26, costs $210 for supplies, meals and lodging, with registration due now. Financial assistance is available. For more information, call Michelle Stefanik at 453-6630.)

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