600 Catholic teens celebrate their faith Youth convention a hit in Portland

PORTLAND – Sarah Noll has moved 13 times in her 16 years. As her family has gone from one military town to another, the teenager has clung to the one thing that has allowed her to make friends more easily and sustained her – her Catholic faith.

Noll, who lives in Brunswick, was one of 600 teenagers from around the state who gathered in Portland over the weekend for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland’s 19th youth convention. Planned and executed by high school-age Catholics, the event was dedicated to the late Pope John Paul II.

As the newly elected Pope Benedict XVI delivered his first homily at his investiture ceremony in Rome, the teenage faithful in Maine were networking, confessing and praying on the theme of this year’s event, “Fuel Up on the Living Bread.”

Before his death on April 2, John Paul II declared 2005 the Year of the Eucharist.

Maine’s young Catholics confessed on Saturday that they knew little about their new spiritual leader. Many, however, stuck holy cards bearing the picture of John Paul II in the plastic nametags they were required to wear.

Spending time with other young Catholics practicing their faith in Maine was the reason they attended the event.

“To be with other youth who are so close to God is so uplifting,” Dan Morneault, 16, of Caribou said Sunday. “I take all the positive and negative experiences away from here and use them as tools and resources to keep expanding the faith.”

Morneault, who attends Sacred Heart Catholic Church, is one of 14 teenagers from around the state who make up the Maine Diocesan Council for Catholic Youth. The group plans events around the state always keeping in mind seven virtues – commitment, teamwork, trust, zeal, fidelity, fairness and discipleship.

At Mass, each council member and each parish received a candle representing one of the virtues.

“This light is their symbol of leadership to keep with them throughout the year,” Jeanne Bigelow, diocesan director of youth ministry, said Sunday morning.

The convention, which began Friday evening and ended at noon Sunday, included workshops on sex, life skills, vocations, the Eucharist, and time for swimming and socializing.

Young people were closely monitored. They were allowed in their rooms only at designated times and had to be under adult supervision at all times. Visitors were escorted by adults and asked to sign in and out of the convention.

The Mass on Sunday morning, led by Bishop Joseph J. Malone, head of the diocese and leader of Maine’s 134,000 Catholics, sent the teenagers home energized and eager to evangelize in their parishes and communities.

Malone joked that he had received a call Monday night from a cardinal in Rome who’d informed him that the Maine bishop had been elected pope.

“But when they told me I had to be there on Sunday” for the investiture ceremony, he said, “I said, ‘I have to turn it down. I have to be at the youth convention Sunday.'”

In his homily, Malone urged the young members of his flock to accept the call to be good Catholics.

“When we give ourselves over to Christ and live a full, faithful Catholic life,” the bishop said, “we’re going to know what Jesus means when he says, ‘I am the life.’ Have you felt the life of Jesus Christ this weekend?”

Cheers filled the ballroom of Holiday Inn by the Bay, where the event is held each year.

As the Mass ended, Mary Falls, 17, of Bradley said that she was taking new leadership skills back to her home parish, St. Ann Catholic Church in Bradley, and Old Town High School, where she is a junior.

“When I show my faith to others,” she said, “I show that teens can have faith as strong as anyone of any age.”

Brendan Rauth, 18, of Cape Elizabeth and chairman of the youth council, ended his term with a metaphor not usually associated with church.

“This party – it doesn’t end here. This is the training for the real party. And I expect to see you 10 or 12 years from now, still partying.”