Keynote speaker Kim captivates youth at the 2014 High School Youth Spectacular

Keynote speaker Paul J. Kim had about 600 youth from 33 parishes from the Diocese of Corpus Christi laughing and dancing at the 2014 High School Youth Spectacular on Sunday, Sept. 28, at the Richard Borchard Regional Fairgrounds in Robstown.

Like the middle school Youth Spectacular celebrated the Sunday before, the theme for the high school event was "Love is Our Mission: The Family Fully Alive."

Kim captivated youth with his a cappella style music and self-deprecating humor. He challenged teens to go to church, not for entertainment value, but "to work on a relationship with God."

"How can you be Catholic and not be religious? It's like being a Girl Scout and not selling cookies," Kim said. "If I treat my faith like another subject, I might dump it after I'm done with the class."

He told youth to download the Bible on their phone and "get to know Jesus by reading his word in the Bible, especially the New Testament Books by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John," he said.

"God is like the father in the story of the prodigal son. He is saying 'come home.' God is saying you can begin anew today. You don't have to change to go to God, it is going to God that changes you," Kim said.

"No one can force you, no one can change you. You're the only one that can unlock the chains around your heart," Kim said, after which he led the teens in prayer.

Speed of Life band from St. Joseph in Corpus Christi led the youth in praise and worship and Father David Bayardo spoke on vocation and the family.

During the breaks teens participated in a variety of games, rides and inflatables.

Bishop Michael Mulvey led the youth in Adoration, followed by Mass. In his homily Bishop Mulvey spoke about loving one another, especially in the family unit. He reminded the teens that sometimes it is a form of love to let another be more important than one self.