To the youth of the Catholic Church in Corpus Christi

Peace be with you and greetings from St. Joseph Seminary College in St. Benedict, Louisiana! My name is RJ Regalado; I am a seminarian from our diocese, and I would like to extend to you an invitation to Abbey Youth Fest, a youth rally coordinated by my seminary.

On March 10, St. Joseph Abbey Seminary College will host its twelfth annual Abbey Youth Fest, which is a full day of contemporary Catholic music, inspiring keynote speakers and the celebration of the Mass. As the sun sets, we unite with the Benedictines in Vespers, the Evening Prayer of the Church, and we end the night with candlelight Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament—all underneath the stars.

Throughout the festival, you will have the opportunity for personal prayer in an outdoor chapel, confession with visiting priests, a tour of St. Joseph Abbey and exposure to several religious orders and various ministries who set up information booths to share their charisms with the thousands of Catholic youth in attendance.

My first Abbey Youth Fest experience was in March 2010. It was amazing to be able to see more than 2,000 teens come together to offer their praise and worship to the Creator of all things, visible and invisible. The most amazing sight was when the sun fell into the horizon and the moon and countless stars illuminated the night sky, the teens fell to their knees with candles in their hands to adore our Lord, Jesus Christ. That is an unforgettable experience you just don’t get in the city.

The theme for Abbey Youth Fest 2012 is, “Restless,” which is taken from St. Augustine’s, Confessions: “My heart is restless until it rests in you, O Lord.” The event will feature Mark Hart, Vice-President of Life-Teen and youth speaker. Catholic musicians L’Angelus and Ayleron, will provide a rockin’ good time! The event will provide reflections upon and an experience of the beauty of God.

Ask your youth minister to get a group together and make the trip to South Louisiana! I hope that you will be able to join me, 80 other seminarians, the Benedictine monks of St. Joseph Abbey, several priests and religious from all over the country and thousands of Catholic youth in worshipping our Lord and searching for the vocation to which He calls us.

While the first Benedictine monastery dates to around 530 AD, Saint Joseph Abbey was founded in 1889 on more than 1,200 acres of land in Southern Louisiana. The monks used the land to raise cattle and grow their own food. Now, the wooded areas are used for peaceful walks on the trails and some of the fields are used to host events like Abbey Youth Fest.

In our 11-year history with Abbey Youth Fest, we have hosted more than 25,000 teens. Currently, Saint Joseph Seminary College has 80 seminarians enrolled—representing 19 different dioceses. This year we hope to see you and several thousand more of your brothers and sisters in our backyard!

For more information and pictures from previous festivals, visit www.AbbeyYouthFest.com and find us on Facebook. You are in my prayers; may our hearts, like St. Augustine’s, find eternal rest in the heart of God.