Sister Jude remembers Youth Spectaculars of yesteryears

Sister Jude Janecek, IWBS, left, and youth minister Jim Unverferth with Brian Reynolds planning Youth Spectacular. Archived Photo

In 1985, the average rent was $375, the average price for a car $9,005, a gallon of gasoline was $1.09 and a stamp cost 22 cents. The song “We are the World” was raising money for famine relief in Africa.

And in 1985, the Diocese of Corpus Christi held its third Youth Spectacular for youth and young adults with the theme “In Giving, We Receive.”

Sister Jude Janacek said, “The youth ministry institute team also assisted with a performance of the musical Godspell for the youth and young adults. I remember how the resource team helped with getting Godspell ready and how the youth really liked the musical.”

Jim Unverferth and Tom Hooper were members of the planning team for the Youth Spectacular with Sister Jude. Ernest Chapa and R. T. Mireles introduced the concept of the “Coffee House” as a way for the youth to introduce themselves. Danny Kollaja facilitated small groups of 12 youth for community building activities.

The youth really enjoyed their time of “getting to know other youth from around the diocese and Youth Spectacular helped provide that opportunity,” Sister Jude said. Another part of Youth Spectacular that she remembers vividly was the involvement of deaf youth and how they followed all the activities of Youth Spectacular through the assistance of sign language interpreters.

Sister Jude also recalled how the youth felt and reacted “When Bishop Rene Gracida would come and greet the youth and young adults. They really, really enjoyed that.”

She remembers coordinating a special Youth Ministry Recognition Mass for outstanding youth and young adults in Youth Ministry with Bishop Gracida. The Mass was held at the Corpus Christi Cathedral on May 10, 1985. The bishop recognized youth from the Alice, Beeville, Kingsville, Portland, Sinton, Corpus Christi and Laredo Deaneries.

In 1986, the fourth Youth Spectacular was again held at the Corpus Christi Bayfront Plaza for approximately 1,700 youth and young adults “hungry for God.” The theme for this Youth Spectacular was “Take the Risk…Accept the Challenge.” Bobbi Sims was the keynote speaker and seminarian Frank Martinez (now Father Frank Martinez) led the youth and young adults in praise and worship with his guitar and voice.

Sister Jude remembers many volunteers assisting her with the Youth Spectacular. One of her assistants was Scott Lawson, a longtime organizer of diocesan youth events. “Scott and others played such an important part of the Youth Spectaculars,” Sister Jude said. “Even though I was the Youth Director, I was not a great motivator and needed Scott and others to be the motivators during the event. I also remember the many seminarians that assisted me who are now priests.”

Sister Jude also remembers how the parishes were always excited when Youth Spectacular came and how some of the teens from a parish mimed the Gospel during the Mass with Bishop Gracida.

In 1986, seminarian Frank Martinez (now Father Frank Martinez) led the youth and young adults in praise and worship with his guitar and voice. Archived Photo

(Editor’s note: This is the second in a series on Youth Spectaculars that will be featured in the run to the 30th Annual Youth Spectacular in September.)