Around Bosco: Students Reflect On Their Faith At Youth Day 2020
by Ryan Tavera
Last Thursday, St. John Bosco students were given the chance to share their faith with thousands of different students from around the country at Youth Day 2020.
“Hopefully, the students who were involved left inspired and challenged to live as missionary disciples in their homes, schools, parishes, and communities,” said Brother Quang.
Twenty fortunate students went to Anaheim for the day, to see other kids their age who come from many different backgrounds all throughout the Archdiocese.
The staff and students were able to experience many unique workshops that focused on a certain aspect of life and how God can guide one through rough conditions. Bosco students found themselves in front of Bob Perron, an advocate of his faith and speaker. Perron’s workshop dealt with relationships and if they are really worth the risk many go through to maintain them.
“Let’s face it, relationships can be tough. To be a good friend requires our willingness to be vulnerable and let someone really see us as we are with our gifts, our talents, and our unique weirdness. Yet, in the end, friendship is worth it,” said Perron.
Perron talked to the youth for a little over an hour explaining the key details that make up a relationship and how God makes every one of us in his own way to have an impact on the relationships we construct throughout our lives.
As for Perron he was a man of emotion and displayed how he felt at all times while on stage. Perron spoke clearly and with perspicacity, all in all, the workshop was a very enjoyable experience for all involved.
After Perron’s workshop students were led to the main building where mass was being held. Students were greeted with sweet air conditioning, comfortable seats and beautiful art made by Bosco’s very own Mrs. Macrae. Other students rushed onto the stage and explained the theme for Youth Day “Through God’s eyes,” which emphasized youth seeing themselves through God’s eyes, rather than through the shallow gaze of social media and other forms of peer pressure.
Shortly after Doug Tooke walked onto the stage where he shared his story to 7,000 young people. Tooke drove home the fact that “Holiness is hard,” in his 40-minute speech, Tooke continued to explain the problem between young people and their faith.
“There’s a generation of people who have no idea of what this mystery even is they don’t know the beauty they don’t know it’s about their story and the churches story they don’t know about surrounding to be a vessel for the eucharist because you and I don’t tell them,” said Tooke.
Following Tooke’s powerful speech, Archbishop Jose H. Gomez, stepped onto the stage to begin mass. The mass was filled with music and bright lights, but the most important was the liturgy, which effectively invites us into prayer that deepens our relationship with Christ.
The mass ended with an explosion of music, lights, singing, and cheering. Youth day ended with Students feeling enlightened and open-minded.
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