February 25, 2017

Calling all youth: activities planned throughout the diocese

REGIONAL
Story and photos by Carolee McGrath

SPRINGFIELD — Father Piotr Calik, parochial vicar at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in West Springfield is very optimistic about the future of the church. Father Calik was one of 70 World Youth Day (WYD) pilgrims who traveled to Krakow, Poland last summer, joining millions of other youth in witnessing to Christ’s love and mercy.

“I have no doubt that when our group came back from World Youth Day after their experience back in July and August 2016, they were moved by deep and authentic faith,” said Father Calik.

“This is why now is a time to share that with others who were not able to go,” he said. “We need to keep that fire of faith and love here and now in our Diocese of Springfield.”

So Father Calik is helping to organize several events for the youth in the next year.

“I think that all of the activities which we are providing are very important. Once again I experienced that in Poland during World Youth Day 2016. Young people are hungry for faith, but faith which is authentic, which comes from our daily relationship with God,” he added.

Gina Czerwinski, who also attended WYD, is the director of youth ministry for the Diocese of Springfield. Czerwinski has been working with Father Calik, planning several activities over the next few months, leading up to the diocesan celebration of the 32^nd World Youth Day at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Ludlow.

“I want them (the youth) to know that there are events as we are trying to build on the momentum from World Youth Day, where they can come and meet other Catholic youth throughout the diocese and celebrate their faith,” Czerwinski said.

As part of the preparation for the local World Youth Day, a kickoff event was held Dec. 9 at the Newman Catholic Center, at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. The next World Youth Day even will be held in March.

“I think they get a sense of the wider church that there are lots of young people who share the same beliefs they do,” Czerwinski added.

She said when teens are members of a youth group or attend a retreat, their faith is strengthened.

“All of the statistics right now point to young people who are engaged in retreats, like Steubenville East, when they do those events, they’re much more likely to be involved in their parish community and also more likely to stay involved,” she explained.

She added youth events show teens they can love Jesus and have fun at the same time. Each event begins with prayer and ends with a social gathering

“We are here because we love Jesus. But we want young people to know that our faith is part of every day life. Everything we do should be flowing from that relationship with Jesus Christ,” said Czerwinski.

The events planed are:

• March 24 — World Youth Day Stations of the Cross and Social at St. Mary’s Parish in Westfield
• April 1 and 2 – Diocesan Youth Rallies (St. Mary High School, Westfield and St. Joseph Central High School, Pittsfield)
• April 22 – Chaplet of Divine Mercy and Social at Divine Mercy Parish in Three Rivers
• May 12 – Prayer Service and Social at St. Joseph Parish in Pittsfield
• July 8 — Diocesan Celebration of the 32nd World Youth Day at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Ludlow
• Aug. 8 – Catholic Youth and Family Day at Six Flags New England

Father Calik is encouraging young people from all across the diocese to participate. He said he has good reason to be so optimistic about the future of the church.

“I have more than great hope. I truly believe that young people, are especially called to become missionaries of the New Evangelization, by daily witnessing to God. We, as church leaders, must entrust to young people the task of proclaiming to the world the joy, which springs from having known Jesus.” 

Father Calik said youth and their parents should remember the words of St. John Paul II, when he said:

“Dear young people, my friends: Be witnesses to the love of Christ, sowers of hope and builders of peace” (St. John Paul II, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1987).