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Happening ... in the Local Church
 Now
in its 13th year, Destination Jesus continues to inspire high school
youth from across the Local Church and beyond. (Photos by Lisa Wilson-Cotillier) |
 Father
Stan Fortuna encourages teens to stay pure “regardless of what society
says you should do.” |
 Elizabeth
Whalen, of St. Philip Parish in Peoria, Ill., prays the rosary during
the 13th annual Destination Jesus retreat, sponsored by the parishes of
the Carmel Deanery. |
 This
year’s event, held at St. Theodore Guerin High School in Noblesville,
drew more than 900 teens. |
 “God
listens to prayers,” Rwandan genocide survivor Immaculee Ilibagiza tells
Destination Jesus participants. |
 Davey
Hiatt, a youth ministry volunteer from Central Catholic Junior-Senior
High School, Lafayette, greets guest speaker Immaculee Ilibagiza. |
 Kaity
Payne, of St. Joan of Arc Parish, Kokomo, prays during adoration of the
Blessed Sacrament. |
 Youth
volunteers lead teens in a rendition of “Yes, Lord, Yes” during the
retreat. |
By Lisa Wilson-Cotillier
The Catholic
Moment
NOBLESVILLE — Imagine a gymnasium packed with more than 900 teens. The decibel level — you might think — would be off the charts. But it’s silent.
Jesus is the reason.
Destination Jesus, an annual retreat for high school students sponsored by the Carmel Deanery, brought young people together for prayer and praise Feb. 15-17 at St. Theodore Guerin High School. Now in its 13th year, “DJ” continues to inspire.
“I’m having a blast,” said 17-year-old Elizabeth Whalen of Peoria, Ill. “It’s really great to get away from the stress of everyday life and come here and just focus on my relationship with God.”
The theme this year was “Overflow.”
“‘Overflow’ came to mind both with Father Stan Fortuna’s witness and his love for Christ, which really just overflows from him, and also from Immaculee Ilibagiza’s witness,” said Louis Paiz, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish youth minister and Destination Jesus organizer. “It also speaks to the miracles that God can work in our own lives. We all have that hole that society tells us to fill up with stuff. When we fill that hole with Christ, he not only fills it up, but it overflows with his love for us.”
Father Fortuna, of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, talked about chastity, encouraging teens to stay pure “regardless of what society says you should do.”
“There are all kinds of messages out there, but only one is the truth,” he said. “It’s not easy to be countercultural, but Jesus is always willing to give you the grace to remain faithful to his word. Pray, say the rosary, go to Mass, confession and adoration. Jesus is there in the Blessed Sacrament waiting to help you stay strong.”
Rwandan genocide survivor and best-selling author Immaculee Ilibagiza told the story of her conversion as she hid for 91 days during the Rwandan holocaust in 1994. She implored the young people to cultivate a closer relationship with God, and to appreciate what he has given them.
“God listens to prayers,” she said. “Whenever you are afraid, or you have doubts or worries, turn to prayer and trust in God. He will help you in everything.”
Hannah Tina, of Our Lady of Grace Church, Noblesville, said she knew after attending the retreat last year that she would come again.
“It was so life-changing for me,” she said. “It hit me hard, and I left feeling so much closer to Christ.”
“It’s definitely been unlike anything I’ve ever done before,” said Timyael Barton, also of Our Lady of Grace.
“It’s so much fun,” she said. “The speakers are great and I’ve really learned a lot. I feel lifted up.”
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Mass and confession were central to the retreat.
Gavin West, 16, of St. John the Evangelist Church, Hartford City, attended for the first time this year.
“I was really struck by the Mass,” he said. “It’s really great to be able to come here and see so many kids who believe the same thing I do. I feel supported and really connected to my faith now. It was also great to hear the speakers. They both really kind of drove home the message that if you count on God, anything is possible.”
Behind the scenes as many as 1,000 adult volunteers kept things running like a well-oiled machine.
“Bar none, the dedication of the staff and the volunteers has been exemplary,” Paiz said. “Without them, this weekend would not happen. Everything they do, they do for Christ and I think that really shines forth and sets a wonderful example for the kids who come.”
Volunteer Barb Roederer coordinated food and hospitality for the weekend. She has volunteered at Destination Jesus ever since her daughter, who is now grown, attended as a teen.
“The volunteers are always phenomenal,” she said. “They are willing to go above and beyond to make sure everything that needs to be done is done. I enjoy volunteering here, I love the volunteers and to see these kids transformed is awesome. Knowing that this retreat is making such a wonderful difference makes it all worthwhile.”
Alice Kasdorf, a volunteer for eight years, agreed.
“I have witnessed amazing transformations and I know that this retreat can change lives,” she said.
Each year, seminarians of the Local Church also volunteer.
“We go to a lot of effort to bring seminarians back from as far away as Boston and Maryland,” said Father Brian Doerr, vocations director for the Local Church. “Their witness is irreplaceable to the young people, who see in them young men who are willing to give their lives to God. It makes them look at their own lives and evaluate where they might be going. They form bonds with the seminarians, who will someday be their pastors, who will marry them and baptize their children.”
Many priests of the diocese and beyond also attend.
“I’ve been to 10 or 12 Destination Jesus retreats, but I’ve never really seen one because typically I am in the library hearing confessions,” Father Doerr said. “Young people come here with a deep desire to be reconciled with God and to progress, leaving behind the negativity and sinfulness. I don’t think enough can be said about our gratitude for the volunteers. Whether priests or laypeople, youth ministers or seminarians, they all pull together to make this an experience that is all about the youth and their relationship with God.”