Jesus, University Students and a New Year
It’s a fair question: why would 600 students spend five days of their Christmas break at an religious conference? And just what attracted three archbishops, along with many priests? What could be newsworthy here to merit the attention of our Salt + Light cameras?
As tipsy revelers filled Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square, a different kind of celebration was occurring one block away in the Marriott Hotel. There, college-aged Catholics were singing praises to God at the Rise Up conference, organized by an evangelistic university student movement called Catholic Christian Outreach.
The main draw, in my estimation, was the students’ fresh, joyful spirituality. For those of us who have long since completed our education, there’s something recognizable in their witness. They resemble you and I, perhaps many years removed, not long after we first welcomed Jesus into our lives…
Do you remember? It was when you recklessly invited God’s will–heartaches, uncertainties and all–conscious that you and Jesus were embarking on a momentous adventure. You still believed people could change, so you saw your aggressors as souls in need of healing and mercy, rather than obstacles in your way. You were unaware of ideological factions in your parish, or at least you knew then that such political concerns were less important than the higher cause of worship that brought you together. You were convinced that good deeds done for the Lord should always, always be commended.
This thoughtful, faithful group of students made me wonder how and when I began to regard such ideals as unattainable and naive. As the praise & worship band rung in the new year, I longed to rediscover the holy high principles of these commendable youth.
Thanks for the blog Kris! Glad to hear the students made as much of an impact on you as they did me … and I go to Rise Up every year! More importantly, those fine young men and women made a huge impact on my kids who came with me this year. For that I am deeply grateful!
2002 in edmonton was my first rise up I when not knowing what cco was so I thought oh I will go shopping at west edmonton mall on the way I could not find my wallet so I borrowed some money for lunch I got to the hotel and could not find my wallet still it was time for first session during one of the songs god said to me you are not here for the mall you are here for me it since then I have being to calgary vancouver and toronto and I have being praying about cco staff
I went to rise up in vancouver and now in toronto
At first i didnt think i got very much out of rise up But ill tell you HOLY SPIRIT man HOLY SPIRIT ive been stired up Im so ready for Gods will not my will Ive even considered just giving up my job to find a Ministry or Movement like cco to work with I got stired up to the point of chaos in my life Im on fire to share im on fire to give back what was given to me
RISE UP has become a part of my life Active participation in mass And parish life wouldnt have happened with out cco
JESUS rocks And with out cco i wouldnt have found that out I am a firm believer in preaching the gospel clearly and simpley to one person at a time and CCO also has helped me accept the graces to become an active missionary for christ
So i leave u with this awesome Qoute
“The young have shown themselves to be for Rome and for the Church a special gift of the Spirit of God… I did not hesitate to ask them to make a radical choice of faith and life and present them with a stupendous task: to become “morning watchmen” at the dawn of the new millennium”. —POPE JOHN PAUL II, Novo Millenio Inuente
God abundantly bless everyone who reads this and i hope my testimony to CCO brings you as much joy and happiness as it has to me I love sharing my experinces with anyone whos willing to listen
Godbless and VERSO LALTO
Mike
PS Kris Dmytrenko Your totally awesome for bloging about CCO