- Oct 30, 2003
- 11,154
- 562
- 44
- Faith
- Catholic
- Marital Status
- Married
Check out this article from the Catholic Sun (the Diocesan paper for Phoenix).
The Catholic Sun
Finding a loving devotion to the Eucharist in common, Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted joined Valley teens in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament last month.
Adoration to some seems a waste of time, but we who believe in Christs death and resurrection know there is nothing more real, Bishop Olmsted said, addressing a weekly gathering of an eXaLT youth group meeting Nov. 9.
When we kneel before the Blessed Sacrament, we are present to the mystery of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, he said to the group.
Teens throughout the diocese are finding the special focus on the Blessed Sacrament during this Year of the Eucharist reaffirming. For more than two years teens in the XLT program have centered their weekly worship on Christ in the Eucharist.
XLT is an area-wide prayer group for teens that follows a three-part format of praise and worship, a guest speaker and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
Bishop Olmsted said the centrality of the Eucharist is a necessary impetus of faith for believers.
The resurrection shows us that death is not an end; it gives us hope in times of desperation, the bishop said, a hope that encouraged Maximillian Kolbe, martyr of Auschwitz, and inspired Mother Teresa in her constant challenges with the impoverished and the dying. The bishop challenged every teen in the room to embrace that hope as they are asked to carry crosses in their life.
Nothing so radically connects us to Christ as does the Eucharist, the bishop said.
XLT praise and worship leader Matt Maher said the bishop is a consummate teacher, a true shepherd. This was the most kids weve had here and they were just glued to him.
Regularly, XLT prayer meetings attract an average of 200-300 teens, but this evening found more than 500 coming to hear and pray with a man who has quickly become a model of the faith for them.
The way he connected suffering with life was awesome, said St. Timothy teen John Hyland. We are so blessed to have such a man of God as our bishop.
Kelly Ditto, a teen from Christ the King Parish in Mesa and three-year XLT veteran, said the bishops message was awesome and inspiring. I had never heard him speak before, she said. He was amazing.
Adoration is the foundation of XLT worship, signified in the groups title. We always want to bring teens before our Eucharistic Lord, said Jason Pastore, Western Regional coordinator for Life Teen International and coordinator for local XLT events.
While XLT meetings are open to teens of all faith, the time before the Eucharist is Catholic. Yet Pastore said that teens of other faiths are actually very comfortable with this portion of the evening, and many conversions to the faith have occurred as a result of Adoration.
The evening concluded with Bishop Olmsted praying over teens considering vocations to the priesthood and religious life. He urged them to seek the freedom that comes with sacrifice, supportive friends, and courage to hear and follow Gods call.
Weekly gathering draws youth to the Eucharist
By Mary Moore
The Catholic Sun
Finding a loving devotion to the Eucharist in common, Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted joined Valley teens in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament last month.
Adoration to some seems a waste of time, but we who believe in Christs death and resurrection know there is nothing more real, Bishop Olmsted said, addressing a weekly gathering of an eXaLT youth group meeting Nov. 9.
Teens throughout the diocese are finding the special focus on the Blessed Sacrament during this Year of the Eucharist reaffirming. For more than two years teens in the XLT program have centered their weekly worship on Christ in the Eucharist.
XLT is an area-wide prayer group for teens that follows a three-part format of praise and worship, a guest speaker and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
Bishop Olmsted said the centrality of the Eucharist is a necessary impetus of faith for believers.
Nothing so radically connects us to Christ as does the Eucharist, the bishop said.
XLT praise and worship leader Matt Maher said the bishop is a consummate teacher, a true shepherd. This was the most kids weve had here and they were just glued to him.
Regularly, XLT prayer meetings attract an average of 200-300 teens, but this evening found more than 500 coming to hear and pray with a man who has quickly become a model of the faith for them.
Kelly Ditto, a teen from Christ the King Parish in Mesa and three-year XLT veteran, said the bishops message was awesome and inspiring. I had never heard him speak before, she said. He was amazing.
Adoration is the foundation of XLT worship, signified in the groups title. We always want to bring teens before our Eucharistic Lord, said Jason Pastore, Western Regional coordinator for Life Teen International and coordinator for local XLT events.
While XLT meetings are open to teens of all faith, the time before the Eucharist is Catholic. Yet Pastore said that teens of other faiths are actually very comfortable with this portion of the evening, and many conversions to the faith have occurred as a result of Adoration.
The evening concluded with Bishop Olmsted praying over teens considering vocations to the priesthood and religious life. He urged them to seek the freedom that comes with sacrifice, supportive friends, and courage to hear and follow Gods call.
