Music to rock Catholic youth around Diocese

Catholic youth leaders, eager to counteract the sex, drugs and violence in today's pop culture, are using rock music and hip-hop to reach teenagers with a different message, that of the Gospel and Church teachings.

"Teens are surrounded by a culture that discounts their faith and undermines the dignity of people," says Karen Dutkowsky of Catholic Leatherstockings Area Youth, or CLAY, in Cooperstown. "It surrounds the kids, and is so full of information and so fast paced that it's hard to get their attention."

To try to have God's Word heard above the mayhem, CLAY is sponsoring a free concert called "Beauty and the B." It will feature an award-winning hip-hopper, Righteous B, and recording artist Kelly Pease at the Church of the Annunciation in Ilion on Nov. 8 at 7 p.m.
A week later and to the south, there will be a similar effort at the Annual Greene County Youth Rally on Nov. 15 at St. John the Baptist Church in Greenville, which will feature a contemporary educational group, Hard as Nails Ministry, and a parish-based rock band.

Teaching teachers
Prior to the Ilion concert, Righteous B and Ms. Pease will facilitate "Reality Check: Catholic in the Real World?!" This mini-retreat teaches high school students how to live the Catholic faith in real life situations. It begins at 1 p.m. in the parish center. Seating for the retreat is limited and admission is $10. Retreatants will attend 4 p.m. vigil Mass then enjoy pizza before the concert.

Righteous B, known also as Bob Lesnefsky, is a former youth minister at St. Paul's Church in Schenectady who spent several years working with inner-city youth in New York City. Now his music is his message, according to his website. "Its aim, rather, is to authentically share our lives, our stories, and our passions: all of which are intertwined with the heart of Christ."

On a song
Ms. Pease has described her music as a prayer that brings Jesus to people. Her lyrics stress the constancy of God in a turbulent world and the need for unity in the Church.
The music, says Mrs. Dutkowsky, gets kids' attention although the message is entirely different than that of the mainstream culture. "These are faithful Catholic lyrics and messages. The concert celebrates the freedom and reality of our faith."

From it she anticipates "more kids will embrace their faith and be supported and strengthened to live it out."

Bob Desrosiers, pastoral associate at St. Mary's Church in Coxsackie, hopes for the same with the youth rally at St. John's in Greenville. Presented by the Greene County Catechetical Leadership Association, the rally is for seventh-, eighth- and ninth-graders from the eight churches in Greene County.

NOTES OF FAITH
Music to rock Catholic youth around Diocese

Cutting through clutter
"They are bombarded with things on TV, their iPods, what they see at school," says Mr. Desrosiers. "They don't realize a lot of those avenues lead to no where. Sometimes it takes something extra or a new voice teaching solid Catholic theology to make it understandable in their terms."

The "new voice" is Hard as Nails Ministries (HANM), a Catholic ministry of youth and young adults who will direct the rally.

"They put together interactive talks on being a disciple of Jesus in the modern world," explains Mr. Desrosiers. "The kids examine themselves, their relationship with God and with each other.

"Faith formation in that age group is a real challenge," says Mr. Desrosiers. "They have walls up." But thanks to HANM, he has seen "the walls crumble down."

The rally ends with the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration and Mass.
"The whole day culminates in the Eucharist which is the source and summit of our faith," says Mr. Desrosiers. "It's a great way to end the day."

The rally will take place from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Music is provided by Life Teen Band from St. Patrick's Church in Ravena. For those not registered in religious education, a $10 fee is required by November 1.

(For more information on the Annual Greene County Youth Rally, call Mr. Desrosiers at (518) 731-9268. For information on the "Beauty and the B" concert in Ilion, call Mrs. Dutkowsky at (607) 547-7183.)

(11/06/08)