Father Sulpicio Vincoy of the Diocese of Dumaguete, Philippines celebrates Mass on August 16, 2013 at the University of Calgary. (Photo: Paolo Aquino)
I set out to make my way to Calgary with the Pacific West Cluster on the evening of August 15. The bus ride was 13 hours and, like everyone else, sleep was something I got very little of. Upon arriving at the MacEwan Hall at the University of Calgary, I saw CFC-Youth from other regions and that alone pumped me up enough. (“Jesus Expo” is my second conference.) There was so much excitement in me that fatigue was immediately out of the picture.
“Jesus Expo” began right each day with the rosary and Mass. In 2011, when I was still new to the CFC-Youth community, I frequently wondered why we had to begin with the rosary and Mass. I am in guilty while typing this but mass felt like such a drag.
“Why can’t we just get going with the events already”, I would think to myself. I thought that way because I didn’t understand. Appreciating the celebration of the Eucharist was foreign to me mainly because I grew up in a household that did not practice the faith. But that reason does not hinder me from getting to know Christ today.
Brothers and sisters, magnifying Jesus and venerating our mother Mary should be the priority in anything and everything that we do. Throughout the years that I apathetically sat and “listened” during mass, I missed out on messages from the Lord. When we are apathetic, or even indifferent, we prevent ourselves from discovering the greatness that He has for us. I think that it is a matter of letting go of the doubts, really pushing through, and opening up to God. Basically, doing whatever He tells you (John 2:5). I am not going to lie, this is something I still work on and struggle with today. With that being said, Father Vincoy of the Diocese of Dumaguete, Philippines had a really captivating homily with points that youth can relate to.
“There are three dimensions that make us a human human; physical, psychological, and spiritual”, Father said.
“What comes in when we are so focused on the physical or the materialism of the world? Greed sits in, and greed is the opposite of love. Why did I say that? Greed is inward directed, but love is outward directed”, Father added. We must make sure to keep the three in balance. We can do so, R.A.K.-ing the world (Random Acts of Kindness), Confession, utilizing our God given talents, and actions that exemplify Jesus.
“Are you really happy? Are you following the will of God?” Father asked. From where I was sitting, I didn’t answer. I know that I am not truly happy, and I know that I am still in the process of completely surrendering to follow His will. Days go by and I find myself compromising with what the world tells me versus what God is telling me. It gets confusing. As ironic as this may sound, I am totally okay with being confused because God is good. This may just be one of His sneaky ways of getting me to know and to love Him more. I am hopeful for there will be clarity in confusion.
The lights, the band, the venue, the banner that each delegation brought, and the youth from all over Western Canada coming together to worship God were just great! I sigh joyfully as I type this because the amount of awesomeness that the first day of Conference brought to me (and hopefully you, reader) surpassed any sort of restlessness.
In that, may God be glorified!
Charlene Puche, CFC-Youth Pacific Region
