The Valley Catholic
youth & young adults
Volunteer youth minister shares
Life Teen experience
Julie Lai is a volunteer youth minister
at St. Christopher Parish, San Jose. She
graduated from Branham High School
and will be attending the University of
San Diego this fall. She was invited to
write the following article about her experience at a recent Life Teen conference.
By Julie Lai
“If we don’t teach our children
to love Christ, the world will teach
them not to.” As I read that quote,
I became so thankful of the youth Julie Lai participated in praise and worship at Life
ministry program at my parish for Teen Leadership Conference. (Life Teen photo)
showing me Christ.
I believe there is fear of what the
ish, I was the only one from California.
future of our Church may hold, espeA day at LTLC consists of morning
cially when we look at a world waged
prayer with the monks, Bible study,
in sin and darkness. As a young person,
Liturgy of the Hours, Mass, praise
however, I look at the incredible things
and worship, talks on various topics,
God is doing through youth ministry
Reconciliation and adoration.
programs and I am hopeful for our
This may seem heavy for teenagers
future.
but we’re underestimating the potenMy life is a testimony to how God
tial of our young people. At LTLC I
is working through youth ministry.
witnessed teens wake up at 5:30 am to
Raised by lukewarm Catholics and
attend optional prayer and Bible study.
attending public school, the process of
Teens entered into worship in the most
Confirmation and youth group radipassionate way--examples of how God
cally changed my life.
is reviving our generation.
From the moment I started truly
Youth ministry was a door that albelieving four years ago, God had
lowed God to enter my life. God was
much greater plans for me than I would
working at all 12 retreats I attended
have ever imagined. Unlike most DSJ
in the past four years, every youth
parishes, St. Christopher does not have
group and Confirmation meeting, and
a youth minister. At the age of 16 and
through every youth minister I’ve met.
greatly unqualified, I was called by
In a world obsessed with sin, we
God to this role as volunteer “youth
young people need youth ministry to
minister.” (Confirmation and youth
show us the light and the truth. Given
group).
the right direction and tools, young
Now 18 and a high school graduate, I
people are capable of the unimaginable.
see how great an impact youth ministry
Blessed John Paul II said, “The youth
can make in both myself and my peers.
are the hope of the Church.”
Because of my role at my parish, I was
Someone must show youth the hope
blessed to attend Life Teen Leadership
of Christ. Youth ministry must be a
Conference (LTLC) at Benedictine Colpriority and taken seriously. Every
lege in Kansas in June.
single penny and every minute poured
LTLC was a week-long conference
into youth ministry is an investment
for teens who are taking their faith seriin the future of our Churc