Bishop Frank J. Caggiano urged young adult Catholics to “leave behind the comfort of your little boats in life” and like the apostles to accept Jesus’ invitation to go “into the deep and into the adventure of faith.”
In his welcoming address to a conference sponsored by Crossroads 4 Christ, a Connecticut-based organization that develops communities of young disciples, he said: “Accept this invitation and go out into the deep with the Lord to allow him to touch your hearts, your minds and your wills, to discover the power of his love that comes to us precisely through the Church, through the community that is his Mystical Body in the world, so that you and I, having been refreshed can go back to our lives with a new vigor, a new purpose and a greater mission to invite others to do the same thing.”
The Second Annual Young Adult Conference, with the theme “Into the Deep,” was held from May 17-23. The hybrid event, with in-person and virtual talks, attracted hundreds of young adults nationwide and from several countries.
Crossroads Cofounder and Executive Director Alex Soucy said, “This conference was a manifestation of the New Evangelization, where we as Catholics reach out to those who have stepped away from the Church to invite them to come back and experience the loving embrace of Jesus. The conference was also an opportunity for individuals to encounter Catholicism for the first time — through the comfort of their own homes during the live-streamed sessions and pre-recorded talks, and also through a mix of inspiring in-person events.”
Throughout the week, attendees had “the chance to dive into the abundant life that is found in Jesus Christ” through a mix of pre-recorded talks, daily live sessions, and select in-person events, he said.
The conference culminated with a Holy Hour and a Pentecost Vigil Mass where the Holy Spirit was invited to descend upon the attendees in a special way, he said.
The conference featured more than 35 Catholic speakers, including Chris Stefanick and Immaculée Ilibagiza, three Connecticut Bishops, several other clergy and religious, and many young adult Catholics from all walks of life.
Among the talks was one about the Sacrament of Confession titled, “Being Forgiven and Forgiving Myself” by Father Samuel Kachuba, pastor of St. Pius X Parish in Fairfield.
John Midy, co-leader with his wife Maria Vazquez Midy of the C4C chapter at Church of the Holy Spirit in Stamford, participated in a panel discussion and provided an overview of C4C and its mission.
Vázquez Midy gave a pre-recorded talk titled, “Immigrating into a Family of Faith” about how the Catholic community in the area welcomed her and provided a spiritual family away from her own family when she came to America.
Paola Pena, director of Student Ministries at St. Pius X, joined a panel discussion on evangelization and living a life of mission as a young adult. For the last 5 years, she has been outreaching, serving, and mentoring disciples who reflect the different generations in church life.
Soucy and his wife Jessica co-hosted several of the live conversations, including one with Archbishop Leonard P. Blair and Auxiliary Bishop Juan Betancourt of the Archdiocese of Hartford. In addition, Archbishop Blair was the principal celebrant at a special Pentecost Vigil Mass at the Church of St. Mary in New Haven, and Auxiliary Bishop Betancourt led a Holy Hour before the Mass.
In his remarks, Bishop Caggiano referenced the Gospel passage in Luke 5:4 in which Peter was told to “put out into the deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” He protested that they had fished all night and caught nothing but acquiesced and caught so many fish the nets were breaking.
“He sent them back out to go into the deep and to fish from the other side, a new way, the way he chose for them, and they yielded a great catch,” he said. “Our time together is going to be to accept the same invitation, for the Lord is asking you and me to go into the deep with him to let go of our reticence, our fears, our presumptions and to courageously explore that which the Lord wants to grant us—his invitation to feel, accept and allow his love for us to power that which he asks.”
Bishop Caggiano said through their relationship with Christ, the apostles discovered he was more than the prophets, more than those who came to teach a way of life.
“In time, they discerned that he was the one their hearts burned for, and having witnessed his death, they encountered him in his resurrection and were later empowered by the Holy Spirit,” Bishop Caggiano said. “They helped form and found the church of which you and I are members. And the Lord will accompany us, and his Holy Spirit will bless us.”
Crossroads 4 Christ has chapters around the state, including two in the Diocese of Bridgeport, at St. Pius X Parish in Fairfield and Church of the Holy Spirit in Stamford.
C4C Fairfield meets at St. Pius X on Tuesday at the Faith Center Community Room with fellowship from 7 to 8 pm and with adoration in church sanctuary from 8-9 pm. For more information, contact ppena@st-pius.org.
The Church of the Holy Spirit chapter in Stamford meets Wednesdays with fellowship from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. followed by adoration from 8:30-9:30 pm. For more information, contact c4cstamford@gmail.com.
