Our young people are a great treasure for the Church.  We can never devote enough time and resources for their formation in the ways of the Lord.  I am so grateful to parents and parishes who consider the formation of our teens a major priority.

   This weekend, Catholic teens and their adult youth ministry leaders will gather at Valparaiso University for the seventh-annual diocesan Catholic Youth Xperience (CYX), a conference for high school-aged youth.  The theme is “I AM,” and is inspired by Jesus’ query, “Who do you say that I am?” which is found in each of the Synoptic Gospels. Through a variety of experiences, including Eucharist, adoration, reconciliation, contemporary music, inspiring speakers, serving others, and in community with others, the young Church will encounter the Great I AM, Yahweh, who dwells within each of them.

   This year, in addition to celebrating Eucharist with all participants and their families on Sunday, I will join a number of my brother priests from the diocese on Saturday for the Bishop & Priest Forum. A group of incoming 12th graders will engage in a dialogue with priests and me about youth issues, Church issues, and other matters. The goal is for both priests and teens to have a greater understanding of the unique perspectives and challenges facing the other as we carry on the mission of building the Kingdom of God.

   While we are participating in the forum, other teens will be engaged in nearly a dozen other catechetical sessions that translate the Gospel into a teen’s own unique language.

   Each year I confer the Sacrament of Confirmation to thousands of 8th and 9th graders.  I am inspired by their seriousness of purpose.  Adolescents today are very socially-conscious and share with me often how willing they are to help and serve others. They share with me often how important God is in their lives. Yet parents approach me often lamenting that there aren’t enough ways to keep their young people connected to Christ and to our faith.

   That is why I encourage every parish youth ministry leader to use our diocesan youth activities, including CYX, the National Catholic Youth Conference, TAPT retreats, and Grásta Dé! (for middle schoolers), to supplement their local parish ministry.  While nothing is more important than the ongoing youth ministry within the parish, teens that attend large scale events like diocesan conferences, retreats, and rallies are significantly more likely to attend liturgy regularly, to read the Bible, and to report being close to God (“National Study of Youth & Religion: Analysis of the Population of Catholic Teenagers and Their Parents”). All of us – young and old – need special religious moments to sustain our everyday faith life, and we are blessed to have such opportunities for teens.

   Parents, if your parish is not offering such opportunities for teens, talk to your priest, Parish Pastoral Council, or youth minister about how you can create or enhance parish opportunities for teens. Our diocesan director of youth ministry, Kevin Driscoll, can assist parish leaders who are looking to develop strategies to minister to youth.

   The life of a teenager today is fast-paced.  They are bombarded with negative values in a sin-permissive culture.  I salute the teens who will gather this weekend at CYX – and all adult leaders and parents who helped to make that happen – for taking time to make Christ the center of their identity.

      I am very grateful to you for reading this column.  I hope you take time each week reflecting upon several articles and columns in the Northwest Indiana Catholic.  Its purpose is to help you make your faith relevant to your daily life by providing articles and columns from which you might derive inspiration, encouragement, and guidance in living your faith.

      When finished with our diocesan paper, I encourage you to share it with others, perhaps pointing out an article or column that might light the fire of faith or warm their hearts to action for the good.

      The Northwest Indiana Catholic, now in its 24th year of publication, strives to keep you informed about the Catholic Church and events in which the Catholic Church has an interest – from messages from the Holy Father on timely subjects to the moral and ethical dimensions of legislation debated in Washington and Indianapolis.  You will not find the Gospel perspective on issues like capital punishment, health care reform, immigration legislation, same-sex marriage, or abortion in the secular press.

      The Northwest Indiana Catholic staff has produced stories, features, and series on Lent, respect life, and the current Year for Priests.  The staff has traveled from the volleyball courts of Ball State University for any of Marquette Catholic High School’s many state championships to New Orleans for Katrina relief projects by local church groups, and to Washington, D.C. for the annual March for Life.  The staff has regularly reported on local people of faith who live that faith.

      In addition, the diocesan newspaper runs columnists supplied by Catholic News Service and, a favorite among many readers, columns by Father Ron Rolheiser, OMI.  These columns serve to complement the news stories by offering an inside look at the Catholic Church and its teachings.

      Our newspaper also has a Web site, www.nwicatholic.com, through which it can enhance the print edition by providing news, photos, movie and book reviews, and even a study guide for use by our Catholic schools and religious education programs.

      I personally have written more than 800 columns for the Northwest Indiana Catholic.  Through these columns, I, as your bishop, communicate with you about our faith in the Lord Jesus, the challenges of discipleship, and the ways to develop a greater love for the Church which Jesus founded on the cross.

      February is Catholic Press Month – a time to renew your subscription or to become a new subscriber.  If you are already a subscriber and know of someone who would like to receive the paper but cannot afford it, consider a gift subscription especially for someone in college or in the military.  Our diocesan paper is an excellent tool for evangelization.  If your subscription has lapsed, please consider rejoining our readership family.