Theme for the year: Truly Alive
While praying and preparing for this year several of the staff heard the Lord's voice in a pointing in a particular direction. That direction was for the youth to open their hearts and allow the Holy Spirit to empower and change their lives. The Lord's call to live a "life in the Spirit" resounds in Pope Benedict's recent message at World Youth Day and as staff we decided to adopt his words as our own, and to encourage the youth to be "Truly Alive."
“Let us invoke the Holy Spirit: he is the artisan of God’s. Let his gifts shape you! Just as the Church travels the same journey with all humanity, so too you are called to exercise the Spirit’s gifts amidst the ups and downs of your daily life. Let your faith mature through your studies, work, sport, music and art. Let it be sustained by prayer and nurtured by the sacraments, and thus be a source of inspiration and help to those around you. In the end, life is not about accumulation. It is much more than success. To be TRULY ALIVE is to be transformed from within, open to the energy of God’s love. In accepting the power of the Holy Spirit you too can transform your families, communities and nations. Set free the gifts! Let wisdom, courage, awe and reverence be the marks of greatness!” (Address of His Holiness Benedict XVI, Vigil with the Young People)