YOUTH DAY SCHEDULE
Thursday, February 19, 2004

NOTE: There is NO online registration for Youth Day

8:30 a.m.	Opening Sessions	Youth Day 2004 officially gets underway with the rocking sounds of Catholic recording artists Scarecrow and Tinmen! We will also be able to hear the music of returning Youth Day favorite Matt Maher  and his band. Our keynote address will be given by Mike Yaconelli from Youth Specialties. Mike is considered one of the innovators of youth ministry and gives inspirational talks around the globe. There will also be a second keynote address by Matt Smith, cast member from MTV’s “Real World 9: New Orleans.”
9:45 a.m.	Morning Workshops	Immediately following our Opening Sessions participants will be able to attend one of 13 Morning Workshops (listed below). We suggest that you share the list of speakers with your group and let them choose who they want to hear. There are many great speakers to choose from and most will be repeated in the afternoon.
11:00 a.m.	Liturgy	This day would not be complete without our liturgies. Cardinal Roger Mahony will celebrate our Arena Liturgy, with music provided by youth from across the Archdiocese, under the direction of Ed Archer of St. Monica Parish in Santa Monica. Concurrently, we will have a second liturgy in Hall B. This liturgy welcomes Fr. Ken Deasy from St. Agatha Parish in Los Angeles as its presider. Music for this liturgy is provided by youth from across the Santa Barbara Pastoral Region, under the direction of John Vasellina of St. Raphael Parish in Goleta.
12:15 p.m.	Lunch	Share a moment with other youth from the Archdiocese – and beyond – and catch some great lunchtime entertainment in the Arena featuring Joe Mattingly and The Newman Singers.
1:30 p.m.	Afternoon Workshops	Here’s a second chance to hear from some of the best speakers for young people from across the nation.
2:45 p.m.	Rally	When you think the day is over and there isn’t anything more to do – we get your group moving with our two Closing Rallies. Join youth from across the Archdiocese as we close out Youth Day with the speakers and musical artists seen earlier! You think you know Youth Day ... But you have no idea!
3:30 p.m.	Dismissal

 

YOUTH DAY WORKSHOPS
Thursday, February 19, 2004

A  Why We Are Catholic!

Every day we are confronted with choices of how to act and what to believe. One of the strongest beacons of guidance is our Catholic faith. Join APeX as they explore, in their unique way, why we are drawn to the Catholic faith and what it means to be truly Catholic.

APeX Ministries

APeX Ministries (aka Gene Monterastelli and Brad Farmer) are two young men who make their living by crisscrossing North America as evangelists. They use a unique presentation style they call Christian Vaudeville, which includes death-defying juggling, humor, drama, storytelling, audience participation and personal testimony. The duo can be found online at APeXMinistries.com

B  Intimacy: No One-Night Stand

God gave us this wonderful gift of sexuality. This gift can be used to divide, hurt and exploit ... or we can use it to connect, build and create life-giving relationships. Healthy intimacy patterns with God, ourselves, and one another lead to a healthy sexuality.

Bob Bartlett

Since 1970 Bob Bartlett has been working with young people as a youth minister, retreat director, teacher and counselor. He has spoken nationally to schools, youth rallies and parishes. He is married and has three grown children, the youngest, at age 19, works with adolescent issues such as sexuality and chemical dependency.

C   Hey, I’m Worth Something, I Swear!!

Reneé Bondi’s life drastically changed overnight, leaving her feeling worthless. She has triumphed and become an inspiration for thousands. Reneé will take you on her faith journey starting before her accident, continuing through her valley of fear and questioning, to her marriage and the birth of her son, through her sister’s paralysis and anger, and finally coming to know Christ’s peace once again. You’ll be laughing, you’ll be crying, you’ll be rockin’! (Afternoon Arena session only.)

Reneé Bondi

A Christian singer before her accident, Reneé Bondi still travels throughout the United States singing and speaking at Christian conferences, church events and youth rallies. In the last 12 months she has performed at more than 80 venues spanning from Hawaii to Florida, sharing her story that includes paralysis and a life confined to a wheelchair, and her marriage and the birth of her son – events that took place after her accident!

D   Driver’s Ed for Life

Do you know where you’re going? How will you get there? With God’s GPS, you can be led from wherever you are! All of us need some tips about making important decisions, even if some of us don’t like to ask directions.

Sr. Kathy Bryant, R.S.C.

Sr. Kathy Bryant, a Religious Sister of Charity, works as a "Talent Scout for God." A musician, missionary, speaker and educator, she is presently Vocations Director for the Los Angeles Archdiocese. She has taught in California, Ireland and Africa and has spoken at Youth Day for a number of years. She is also author of "All For Love, A Journal For Those Trying To Find Their Way In Life."

E   Pray Your Heart

How’s your prayer life? Don’t feel guilty! Every day is a new opportunity to grow deeper in your relationship with God. Sometimes all of us struggle to connect with our Lord because of worries, pressures or other roadblocks. You may wonder at times if prayer makes sense or if you even know how to pray. Check it out – the answer is already within you. Come and share stories, songs and suggestions for praying your heart and growing in faith, hope and love.

Daughters of God

The Daughters of God celebrate and promote through song the spirituality, faith and fellowship of Catholic women. The group – currently including Sarah Hart, Jessica Allez-Smith, Nellie Cruz, Janet Sullivan Whitaker, Susan HooKong-Taylor, Rebecca Harper, Jennifer Martin and Wendy Andino – travels the country in various troupes giving concerts, keynotes, workshops and leading spiritual events.

H   The 411 on the New E: Evangelization for Dummies, Geeks, Jesus Freaks and Everybody in Between

Pope John Paul II has emphasized the "New Evangelization" for the last 20 years, yet most of us don’t have the 411 (all the information) on this mission of the Church. If all of us are called to evangelize, how do we get started? Where can we get help? Are there any resources online? We’ll do a quick A-to-Z on the "New E" and practice witnessing on our friends. BYOB: Bring your own Bible!

Msgr. Raymond East

Msgr. Ray East is Director of the Office of Black Catholics and Vicar for Evangelization for the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. He had served in six Washington parishes before being named to his present position. He serves on the boards of St. Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, Pa., and the University of Dallas. He has worked in the areas of liturgy, youth ministry and evangelization.

I    Living the Vida Loca with Christ – Keeping it Real!

It’s time to stop saying WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?) and say WWID (What Would I Do?). We know that Christ calls us to live a radical life and the world wants us to be someone else. If we only ask the question about what Jesus would do we will never be people of action. Come learn how to keep the faith, be yourself and still be Catholic! It’s a lot easier than you think.

Paul Florez

Paul Florez has over 14 years experience as a bilingual diocesan youth minister and public relations professional. His time is split between on-stage work with Amigos Ministry (as a bilingual keynote and multicultural formation workshop speaker and performing song artist) and behind-the-scenes work with Bridges Marketing Research Co., which works with dioceses to assess and develop evangelical ministry with budget planning and design and implementation of certification procedures.

K    Peace4 = Peace to the Fourth Power!

This powerful, violence-prevention program helps identify violent and potentially violent situations while offering possible solutions. Gangs, date rape, suicide, alcohol and drug abuse entangle four characters into the vicious cycle of violence. Learn how to be part of the solution. Come and discover that you hold the power to disband the violence in your life and learn how to spread the peace to those around you.

HealthWorks Theatre

Founded in 1988, HealthWorks Theatre creates and presents unique education programs dealing with critical health issues – issues including HIV/AIDS prevention, youth-violence prevention and prenatal care. HealthWorks, an award-winning health-issues theatre, combines song, dance and age-appropriate dialogue with candid information that challenges audiences to make positive choices regarding their health.

M    Relationships: What’s the Secret to a Love that Thrives?

Relationships begin with me. But most of us don’t want relationships; we want security. Are we destined to tread water in a relationship, or are there steps that allow for growth, and a love that thrives? How do we face the three great challenges of Risk, Conflict and Transition? And what do we do when the relationship feels like a one-way street? How do we practice a love built on a foundation of kindness, appreciation, sensitivity and attention? (Morning Arena session only.)

Rev. Terry Hershey

Terry Hershey is Founder of A Few Things That Matter Seminars. He is a minister, writer and landscape designer on Vashon Island, near Seattle. He speaks throughout the country on relationships, spirituality and gardening. He is a regular on the Hallmark TV show, "New Morning" and author of "Soul Gardening," his seventh book.

P     Pay It Forward

God is good ... and we have been given many blessings. What are some of the ways that you can take the gifts God has given you and "pay it forward" to make your parish, school, neighborhood and society better because of your involvement? It’s time to stop being a "shadow hero" and step out into the "sunlight."

Colette A. Kennett

For the past 24 years Colette Kennett has worked for the Catholic Diocese of Belleville, Ill., where she presently serves as Director of Youth Ministry. Actively involved with youth in many capacities she has given presentations at numerous conferences, confirmation rallies, retreats and civic events. She has accompanied youth and adults on missionary experiences and has traveled to Haiti, Chile, Costa Rica, Africa and Guatemala in her ministry.

S     We’re Taking Over! Youth Involvement at Mass

"Mass is boring" is an often-heard complaint among the young and the not-so-young. Sometimes it’s said with good reason! Liturgy, however, is never boring when we reclaim in our prayer that God wants to meet us where we are, as we are, and to enable us to celebrate this intersection of His saving love with our real lives. In this workshop we look at how Liturgy, our communion with God and with one another, can have beauty, be just and real, and be the life-giving experience Christ intends it to be.

Rev. Richard Leonard, S.J.

Australian Jesuit priest Richard Leonard is Director of the Australian Catholic Film Office. He has given missions, retreats, lectures and workshops on the media, film, theology and culture, liturgy and music across Australia and in England, Ireland, Scotland, Pakistan, India as well as the United States. He is also a consultant to the Australian Catholic Bishop’s Media Committee and a film critic for all the major Catholic newspapers "down under."

T     Finding God in a Hectic Schedule

Job ... grades ... friends ... parents ... dating ... extracurriculars ... college choices. Keeping it all together is tough. And then, (where) do we make time for God? Come take a second look about what life’s all about and how to find/recognize God in all the speed of living today.

Mike Patin

Mike Patin uses energy, humor and stories in his speaking engagements before nearly 500 groups in 45 dioceses, ranging from groups of 10 to 10,000. Since 1984 he has worked with teenagers and adults in a variety of settings as a high school religion teacher, campus minister and assistant coach. He also served in the Ministry Office of the New Orleans Archdiocese for 12 years.

X     Living Dangerously: When Self-Esteem Meets Jesus

Let’s be honest. We normally don’t think of faith as living dangerously. When it comes to faith what we really think is "boring." But what if real faith is anything but boring? Mike Yaconelli says the real Jesus "ruins" our lives, turns our lives upside down, captivates our senses and makes us radical, dangerous, outside-the-lines and passionate people. What most young people are struggling with is not alcohol and drugs, but meaninglessness – and the dangerous Jesus is all about life with meaning.

Mike Yaconelli

Mike Yaconelli has been working with young people for 40 years. He is owner and co-founder of Youth Specialities, an international organization started in 1968 that trains and provides resources for over 100,000 youth workers worldwide. He lives in the rural northern California town of Yreka, where he is lay pastor of Grace Community Church.