Metro North parishes to host Young Catholics Come Home
Bill Howard
Jan 22, 2010 4:00 PM
COLORADO SPRINGS. Since Dec. 18, Catholics Come Home television ads urging inactive Catholics to return to church have been airing around the Colorado Springs metro area. Youth ministers in diocesan parishes will hold a special overnight event aimed specifically at inactive Catholic youth on Feb. 12-13

at Holy Apostles Church.

The evening will start at 6 p.m. on Feb. 12 and end at 8 a.m. Feb. 13. Attendees will have the chance to attend eucharistic adoration, play board games, enjoy ice cream and music, and other social endeavors. Among the guest speakers at the event are Catholic Christian entertainer Doug Brummel of Lighten Up! Ministries in Colorado Springs, and Colorado Springs Bishop Emeritus Richard Hanifen, who will speak on "Why Do We Do That During Mass?"

The event grew from an idea by youth minister Cathy Kusman of Our Lady of the Pines Parish in Black Forest, who wanted to hold a "Young Catholics Come Home" night at her parish. The idea was pitched to other youth ministers at the Metro North Deanery meeting, and it became embraced as a diocesan event.

"We do our best to keep kids involved through graduation of high school and then send them off to college and offer them nothing to be involved in until marriage and having children," Kusman said. "Young adults in the Catholic community are struggling. We hope that Young Catholics Come Home will help them see that the church is welcoming them."

Kusman said that youth and young adults may not be aware of the many opportunities to serve at their parish, such as social justice projects, missions and Bible studies, sporting events and teaching religious education.

"Young people today like to do for others," she said. "Young people today want to change the world. Let’s get them back to the church!"

Kusman anticipates the attendees will be highly inquisitive of the faith, which is one reason Bishop Hanifen’s educational talk on the Mass will be important.

"This is a big issue with young people, especially those who have been away from the church," she said. "Many do not understand the Mass. If we want young people to come back, we want them to love and understand the church."

Brummel said he is excited to be part of the event.

"As a former youth minister, I have great love and respect for the young people of our church," he said. "I will bring along some of my ‘characters’ to share what we really believe as Catholics, to dispel some common misconceptions about Catholics and, again, to share the joy of the Lord. We also need to make sure they are truly ‘welcomed home.’"

Cost for the event is $20 and attendees are encouraged to bring a friend. To register or for more information, one should contact his or her parish youth minister.