Youth focus on the family at annual Middle School Spectacular held in Robstown

More than 600 young people excited about their faith took part in the Middle School Youth Spectacular 2014 on Sunday, Sept. 21, at the Richard Borchard Regional Fairgrounds in Robstown. The theme of the gathering was "Love is Our Mission: The Family Fully Alive."

"It is absolutely awesome that each one of you have the faith to be here today," keynote speaker Father David Bayardo, said to the youth.

Father Bayardo, a newly ordained priest serving as parochial vicar at Ss. Cyril & Methodius Parish, focused his talk on the family, telling the youth that he was able to live a life of faith because of his own extended family.

He said that everyone they would come into contact in their faith journey would become part of their family. From the very moment of their Baptism they became part of something bigger; a part of God's family.

"Each one of you brings something authentic, something new, something different," Father Bayardo said. "There is no other you in the Church, you are unique, you are special."

It can be hard to figure out how you can be important in something so big as the family of God when you are so young, he said. "You can figure it out through a personal relationship with Christ. It is the only way to live fully in our families, in the body of Christ."

It is a daily struggle trying to understand what Christ is calling us to. "It's through prayer that we understand who Christ wants us to be. We start to understand more fully, we start living the life that we were meant to be," Father Bayardo said.

The family of God is not as strong without their gifts, without what they "bring to the table," Father Bayardo said to the youth. "That is what we are being called to understand; who we are and what Christ wants us to do. It is not difficult, it is not impossible."

There are times when young people may feel alone. They feel their parents do not understand them. Their friends do not care about their problems. It is during those moments that "Jesus Christ reaches into our hearts and tells us how much he loves us and what he has in store for us. You will know when it happens; your heart will be set on fire," Father Bayardo said.

He reminded the youth that they were not meant to live, as society wants them to live. He drew spontaneous cheering when he told them "Heaven is way better than the iPhone 6."

"The one thing we can always count on is that through Baptism we will always be a family," Father Bayardo said. "God will not abandon you in the face of fear, in the face of pain, in the face of everything that is in your world that is devastating. Christ is bigger, Christ is better and he is calling you each and everyday."

Father Bayardo closed his talk by telling his "younger brothers and sisters" that they will always have a home with Christ.

The conference opened with prayer and prayer intentions from different parishes represented. Perpetual Motion and youth minister volunteers led the youth in icebreakers with the games that allowed teens to mingle and get to know each other.

The youth band "United through Faith" from Sacred Heart Parish in Mathis led the youth in praise and worship. The youth lifted their parish signs, raised arms in song and praise and walked around as a group around the seating area.

Father Pete Elizardo, pastor at St. Joseph in Alice, presided over benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, joined the youth in adoration and celebrated the closing Mass.