YOUNG CHURCH Young adults from our Diocese joined other young adults from around Southern California for a Eucharistic conference May 6-7. The event included talks, prayer, time for community with other young adults, Adoration and a Eucharistic procession (right).
By Guadalupe Rosales
On May 6-7, hundreds of young adults from all over Southern California gathered at Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove for a Young Adult Eucharistic Revival. The revival was a product of collaboration among the young adult ministry offices of the Dioceses of San Diego, San Bernardino and Orange and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
The gathering, titled “Ever Ancient, Ever New,” was a two-day event centered and organized around the Eucharist as a response to the USCCB’s call for Eucharistic Revival. It was an invitation to encounter and transformation through the Eucharist, explored via the mind, heart and body as pillars of Eucharistic Revival.
Upon their arrival, young adults were greeted at the doors of the Cultural Center of the Christ Cathedral Campus with their nametags and invited into the Freed Theatre for praise and worship led by Nomadic Worship from the Diocese of Orange. Soon after, Father Timothy Anastos (keynote speaker) was invited on stage to open the revival with his talk on Eucharistic Revival of the mind. The day progressed with reflective experiences, lunch, breakout sessions, the second keynote given by Sister Maria Goretti, OCD, on Eucharistic Revival of the heart, a Eucharistic procession, and adoration.
Diocesan seminarian Oliver Garcia-Tirado, who participated in the event as a social media volunteer, shared, “My experience at this event was rejuvenating and brought a lot of hope to my heart. The young adults thirsted for Christ, and this was shown through their reverence, their joy and their longing for community. Christ is alive, and it was beautiful to see Him alive in each and every one I had the privilege of encountering.”
A Rosary at the Shrine of Our Lady of LaVang opened up the second day’s events, followed by Mass and the third keynote talk on Eucharistic Revival of the body given by Dr. Amanda Alexander from the Diocese of San Bernardino. The event concluded with the blessing of the senses and the commissioning of these young adults to go and live their Eucharistic life in the world.
Many young adults who attended the revival shared their positive experiences at the revival and voiced a desire for more moments of encounter like this one. Sandeep Chahal, a young adult participant from St. Patrick in Moreno Valley, said, “My experience at Ever Ancient Ever New was a revival in my heart, body and mind. It was amazing to hear from Fr. Tim who said, ‘Don’t go through it alone but speak to the Lord about your wounds.’ This spoke deeply to my heart.” The running sentiment among the young people was joy and a growing hope for connection in friendship as the Body of Christ.
Guadalupe Rosales is the Young Adult Ministry Associate for the diocesan Office of Ministry With Young Catholics.