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Catholics ‘bet on hope’ at 2014 Rediscover: Catholic Celebration

More than 5,000 people gathered Oct. 3 and 4 for the 2014 Rediscover: Catholic Celebration at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

While there was something for everyone, Mass with the archdiocese’s bishops and several concelebrating priests brought the faithful together for the ultimate celebration.

The day was full of true Minnesotan dialect — You betcha! — and included skits, performances from Marie Miller and Sonar, and inspiration for the New Evangelization from Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City, Scott Hahn, Father Dave Dwyer, Leah Darrow, Curtis Martin and others.

While the celebration is over, opportunities to grow in the faith are not.The archdiocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis announced upcoming initiatives for 2015: Women In the New Evangelization (WINE), The Amazing Parish, The Big Questions,  and others for women, men and children.

For updates, visit rediscover-faith.org.

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Striving for holiness, changing the world

A reflection on Young Adult Night

By Matt Kopp
For The Catholic Spirit

Hope is not a vague, abstract concept or a vapid political campaign symbol, but a genuine and concrete part of each of our lives created by God and through his Church.

This was the message conveyed to me and more than 1,000 others attending the Young Adult Night at the 2014 Rediscover: Catholic Celebration on Oct. 3. As Jeff Cavins, director of evangelization and catechesis for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, welcomed young adults to a night of socializing, music and notable speakers, I had a particular hope of my own: that it would be an influential and vitalizing night for everyone in attendance.

After a word about the Catholic Studies Program at the University of St. Thomas from Dr. Michael Naughton  — a former professor and good friend of mine — Archbishop John Nienstedt explained to us that “[we’re] not just the future of the Church; [we] are the Church.” He advised us to lead others, not to sit back, and that he and Christ are with us in this endeavor.

Leah Darrow, a former professional model turned Catholic speaker, served as a testament of hope, sharing her powerful story of abandoning her faith only to have a deep conversion. She reinforced that nothing can beat Christian hope, especially not the false “hope” the world offers us — a false “hope” in worldly affirmation that poisons our culture and causes us to fall.

The answer to these problems is, as Bishop Andrew Cozzens stated, holiness. We, as people of God, are called to a perfect state of holiness and to act as the face of the Church, that we might bring Christ to people where our shepherds cannot. This call to holiness is not easy, as we are well aware, but Father Dave Dwyer of Busted Halo Ministries offered us advice on attaining it: by recognizing the voice of God through deep and meaningful prayer, such as in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, we’re able to know God’s will for our lives and give an unadulterated “Yes” to Christ, imitating his sinless mother.

Curtis Martin, president and founder of FOCUS, explained that if we strive for that holiness and reach our potential, we can change the world. This can be accomplished by living our lives as we are, but infusing the love of God in ourselves and others, just as Christ did. Cavins reiterated that point when he said that Christ asks us to follow him because he wants to transform our lives, and that’s a hopeful thought.

After receiving this message of hope, there yet remains the task of extending it to everyone in our lives. And so I challenge you, fellow young adults — regardless of whether you attended the event — to hold fast to real hope, to spread it by striving for holiness.  You’ll be amazed at the effects it has when it permeates our souls, when the hope of Christ flows through his Church. If this happens, the world will never be the same again. And neither will you.

Kopp is a parishioner of St. Anne in Hamel.


‘Supernatural Grandparenting’

For Jeff Cavins, watching his adult children care for their children is like “loving them all over again.” Cavins, director of evangelization and catechesis for the archdiocese and grandparent of two, explained how grandparenting is a new phase and another chance to model the faith.

At the session “Supernatural Grandparenting,” Cavins and Judy Cozzens, mother of Bishop Andrew Cozzens and grandparent of nine, shared these tips:

With the parents

  • Tell adult children you’re thankful they’re generous to life
  • Don’t judge them, support them
  • Become friends with in-laws
  • Offer to take grandchildren overnight Saturday and bring them to Mass on Sunday

With the grandchildren

  • Don’t expect grandchildren to invite you into their life; as the adult, show interest and ask to take part
  • Give the gift of time
  • Each month, pray for them on the day they were born
  • Compliment virtuous acts
  • Write a note to them every birthday or feast day
  • Build a library for them and include a Bible and Catechism of the Catholic Church; write a message in the books
  • Don’t forget about grandchildren in college
  • Learn their ways of communicating: “If they like texting, you better learn to text,” Cozzens said.

twitterBetOnHope — The 2014 Rediscover: Catholic Celebration through the eyes and phones of attendees through Twitter and Instagram

More photos on Facebook


 

To order audio of the talks from the 2014 Rediscover: Catholic Celebration, visit http://www.SaintJoe.com/rediscover or call (800) 526-2151. Options include: Full set of talks on CD or USB, and individual talks on CD (English & Español). Individual talks will be available via MP3 download around Thanksgiving 2014.
 


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