Pacific Region’s Surrey 2 chapter, joined by members of Surrey 1 and 3, prays the rosary at St. Matthew’s gym on Friday, October 4, 2013. (Photo: Zia Tran)
As I walked into the St. Matthew’s gym on the evening of our Surrey 2 General Assembly (GA), I immediately noticed that there were quite a few more people than usual. As I was greeting some of the members, I noticed that there were members from Surrey 1 and Surrey 3 who came to join us as well. It was truly great to see and realize how united the three Surrey chapters are. To see so many Catholic adolescents come to enjoy fellowship and worship Our God is really inspiring to see.
The activity for our GA was for all of us to pray the rosary altogether. There were candles placed around the gym in the shape of a rosary, with each candle representing a bead. You could truly feel God’s presence in the room. It wasn’t just 80+ youths offering up one rosary together, but each one of those 80+ youths offering one rosary each. The power of youth is something special. Pope Francis encourages the young people around the world: “The Church needs you – your enthusiasm, your creativity and the joy that is so characteristic of you. Do not be afraid.”
Now there is something I would like to share. If you could describe the chapter of Surrey 2 in one word, it would be that this chapter is very “young”. Every time I walk into the Jubilee Hall, or the St. Matthew’s gym, it fills me with such joy and it gives me much hope to know that these kids love our Lord so much. It is because of them that I continue to become better in my service. They are the reason why I found a passion in teaching and why I went back to school to study music. Some of them have said they look up to me as a leader when, in fact, I look up to them for being deeply rooted in their faith at a young age. I know for a fact that so many of them have grown in their faith and possess much passion for loving Jesus Christ and evangelizing his message through this community of CFC-Youth. I myself have lost track of how many of them have asked me to serve in Music Ministry. There is so much potential in the generations of Surrey 2 to come.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19)
Matthew Bantog, CFC-Youth Pacific Region
