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Bishop Kevin Vann gives his homily to the 1440 young people and their
adult leaders at the DCYC Conference. Photo by Juan Guajardo
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I was at the DFW Airport Hyatt hotel on Saturday and Sunday for our annual diocesan youth conference, “DCYC.” Over 1440 young people and their adult leaders attended. The entire conference, keynotes, workshops, prayer services and interactive experiences were all focused on vocation. There were 45 different parishes present so I was able to talk with young people, chaperones, and parish leaders from all over the Diocese. One thing I can say for certain, the young people of our Diocese are filled with energy and enthusiasm for their Catholic faith and their leaders are wonderful advocates and mentors for them. Our vocation office was represented by Fr. Isaac Orozco and seminarians Gary Picou, Rijo Philip, and Fernando Peralta. The Vocation Office worked with the Office of Youth Ministry during the past year to develop the vocation theme: “Ignite My Heart...I Burn for You!” Gary Picou coordinated both Masses during DCYC and Rijo, Fernando and Fr. Isaac presented workshops on Saturday.
A high point for me on late Saturday afternoon was presenting the first ever diocesan youth ministry lifetime achievement award to John and Virginia Webb, long standing youth ministry leaders from Sacred Heart parish in Comanche. Both have had multiple medical challenges but through it all, they have remained committed to the young people of Comanche. This award will now be called The John and Virginia Webb Lifetime Achievement Award – as a legacy of their constant commitment to the youth of our Diocese. Thanks to John and Virginia. I will see them again when I do a parish visit later this summer at Sacred Heart.
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Bishop Kevin Vann presents the Lifetime Achievement Award to John Webb
for his and his wife's (Virginia) work and dedication to youth ministry.
Photo by Juan Guajardo
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John and Virginia Webb hold up there Lifetime Achievement Award
with Kevin Prevou, the Director of Youth Ministry.
Photo by Juan Guajardo |
Sunday morning I celebrated Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral and then drove over to the Hyatt for the closing DCYC Mass. This vibrant youth liturgy included a procession of 45 parish banners, great music led by Ben Briones from Immaculate Conception in Denton, and the enthusiastic participation of a hotel ballroom packed with faith-filled teens and their adult leaders. The readings were proclaimed in English, Spanish, Korean and Vietnamese – truly we are a multi-cultural family. Director of Youth Ministry Kevin Prevou invited the group from Korean Martyrs parish to stand and be recognized by the assembly as a reminder of our deep multi-cultural story.
After Mass, I left for Our Mother of Mercy to greet and give a blessing to those who would be attending the National Black Catholic Congress XI, in Indianapolis, Indiana. One of Our Mother of Mercy’s parishioners, Michael D. Barks, is to be honored there. The Congress XI is a celebration of Catholic African-American faith, identity, and culture.
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| Michael D. Barks |