A Message from the Associate Director

Dear Friends, On behalf of the Youth Day Coordinating Team it is my honor to invite you to Youth Day 2010. This exciting event begins our annual Religious Education Congress and welcomes over 15,000 high school students and their chaperones to the Anaheim Convention Center. This is a wonderful day of energetic workshops, great music, good friends, and Spirit-filled Eucharistic celebrations. Youth Day is an opportunity for young people to experience the love of God through the larger church community and to be empowered for their journey of faith. The Youth Day Coordinating Team is working hard to create a day that will compliment the work done in your parish or school. Please take time to look at the readings of the day and the theme reflection we have offered. It will be a great tool to assist you in preparing your attendance at our event. We look forward to celebrating God’s abundant love at Youth Day 2010! Mike Norman Associate Director Office of Religious Education

To Help Prepare for the Day

The Readings for Youth Day 2010 are: Exodus 32:7-14 and John 5: 31-47

Theme:  I’M JUST SAYIN’…

Our theme for Youth Day can seem a little bizarre at first glance, but after reflecting on the readings for the day it makes perfect sense. In our first reading Moses pleads with God to not punish the people that have been brought out of Egypt. Moses emphasizes that God’s actions will be remembered as either harsh or kind and it is as if the prophet is remarking, "I’m just saying you might want to be remembered as a God that is kind!" The gospel for the day emphasizes a similar call to action from Jesus as he reminds the people that there have been many signs that have testified to God’s love, but they have chosen to not believe. Jesus encourages them by implying, "I’m just saying you might want to follow the signs that lead to God and stay away from the ones that lead you astray."

Throughout our lives we are gently reminded by God in similar ways when we make decisions or as we interact with others. It’s important to realize we have free will, but we can always sense God’s encouraging words, "I’m just saying you might want to choose life . . . to choose love . . . to trust me . . . to make healthy decisions . . . to be happy." Whether we listen to God’s encouragement or not is up to us, but God’s loving support remains around us no matter what we do.

Finally, we are each called to be that same gentle voice for others. We can encourage friends, family members, and even strangers by using our theme as a tool for evangelization and catechesis. It’s as easy as remembering, "I’m just saying that God loves you" when dealing with ourselves and with others. Our theme empowers us to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with the rest of the world and that’s exactly what Youth Day is all about!