This morning’s Holy Mass, celebrated by Fr. Chris Martin, honored Mary: Our Lady of Mount Carmel. We are truly grateful for the 50+ priests who joined Fr. Martin, as well as the Carmelite religious sisters who have a special devotion to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.

The Homily

Like Mary, we need to be courageous and fearless in the face of the challenges in our lives and world, as Fr. Martin reminded us. When you get to the heart of every problem, the ultimate answer is Jesus Christ – the One who created us so that we may have life and have it to the full. In Mary, we have the perfect model of ultimate trust in God’s plan and love for her.

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Tonight, keynote speaker David Calavitta began by reminding the 3,500-plus members of Generation Z gathered here that each person is created fearless: made for love and from love. David shared with the teens that each of us is a miracle.

During the good times, we receive that simple, loving message easily. But, in more difficult times, the message of God’s unconditional love gets drowned out by lies from the Enemy. When we fail to live up to a certain standard of performance, behavior, expectation, status, or popularity, we might be tempted to run and hide from our loving Father. Shame drives us to hide instead of allowing us to run freely into His arms. There we would find the love and peace we seek.

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The greatest commandments of our Catholic faith are to love God, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

But, as Bishop Edward Rice reminded the 3,000 teens, leaders, and volunteers today during the Steubenville Conference closing Mass, Jesus calls us to go a step further. We need to love with our whole heart, so we can become fearless disciples.

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Sunday morning started with Michael Gormley who reminded us that, this weekend, we have heard about how we need to live fearlessly for Jesus. Maybe that has empowered you. Maybe you are ready and convicted to make a change in your life. Or, maybe you are nervous to return to your homes and families, and you are unsure about what life will look like now. Whatever way you are feeling, it is ok.

No matter what is going on in your mind and heart, God planned for you to be here this weekend at the conference, and He has done something within you. Even if you are not aware of it, God is moving within you. You might be tempted to pretend that has not happened. You might want to put on a mask and ignore the change within you. But Jesus is calling you to greatness. You are not called to a life of mediocrity. You are called to change the world, and the only thing that can truly change the world is the love of Jesus.

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Our world is hurting. We all need healing, yet many of us are separated from the very source of our strength. Jesus Christ invites us to return to — or encounter for the first time — the very source and summit of our faith — His Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist (National Eucharistic Revival).

As we did tonight during Adoration, let us bravely approach Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament anytime we need His strength, peace, joy, and love. “There is no place He’d rather be. He’s for us. He’s for you. He delights in you. We believe in Your love for us, Jesus,” Fr. Joe Freedy reassures us.

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