Florida Catholic | Diocesan Roundup

Diocesan Roundup

CARLOS BRICENO | FLORIDA CATHOLIC ST. PETERSBURG BUREAU EDITOR

Published: 10.05.07

TAMPA | The Diocesan Roundup last appeared months ago, during the spring. After a summer off, the roundup reappears, and I’m sure no one has missed it.

I take that back. My mom probably did, but then again she’s biased. And for any other family members out there who missed it, here it is again, revving up for a busy fall.

As in the past, the roundup will take tidbits of news going on around the diocese and present it in a breezy way, because we all know how hot that Florida sun is. So any breeze is better than no breeze at all.

Today’s topic is youth. There is an old saying that goes like this: “The youth are the future.” Church leaders also know that they are the present. And two area parishes are proving that by starting Masses specifically aimed at getting youths to sit in the pews.

Good Shepherd Parish in Tampa is small. It has around 250 families. But it has a commitment to youths, mainly because it is run by Salesians, an order started by St. John Bosco, who was known by the title of “father and teacher of youth.”

During the summer, 21 youths from the American and Korean communities that make up the parish attended a Catholic Heart Work Camp in Indiana. The youth minister, Pam Brewer, and the director of music ministries, Linda Ruescher, planned a special Mass to commission the youths, and they soon found out they had teens who play enough various instruments — from cello to flute to violin to trumpet to guitar — to make up a small orchestra.

After the Mass, the pastor, Father Bruce Craig, wondered: “Why can’t we do this more often?”

As always in life, there were obstacles. The musicians sat in the aisles because of lack of space. The sound system was inadequate and no money was budgeted to help out.

But then, some prayers were answered: The pews were removed to make room for the ensemble. Parishioner Joe Brocato offered to buy a sound system. Randi Crooks of Magnum Sound Group provided the equipment at cost. A retired professor of music from the University of South Florida donated his time to set up the system and train the youths to run it.

And on Sept. 16, the first Mass for youths was held and it was deemed a success.

“Being a Salesian parish, it’s very important for us to get the youths involved in the whole parish community,” said Father Craig. “If someone has the opportunity to play the cello (as part of the youth-led music) and praise God at the same time, they should do it.”

He said the Mass will usually be the third Sunday of the month at 11 a.m. This month will be an exception; The Mass will be on the second Sunday, Oct. 14.

He said the parish is embarking on learning more about evangelization and the Eucharist as part of the Living Eucharist initiative the diocese is leading, but he said, “If we can get these positive concepts into young adults and high school kids, we’re really ahead of the game for the future, but you can’t do that unless you get them into church.”

At another parish, St. Anne in Ruskin, parishioners celebrated their first youth Mass Aug. 26.

The Mass, celebrated by Father John McEvoy, is one of several youth activities organized by Lorna Carter and Sandy Bloodgood of the faith formation team under the director of Father McEvoy, pastor.

The Mass included contemporary Christian music liturgy, under the direction of Joanne Scott, who has developed similar programs in Hudson, and the musical accompaniment included the guitar, flute, trumpet and clarinet.

Members of the parish’s youth group were responsible for ushering, greeting and reading during the liturgy.

The Mass will be on the last Sunday of every month at 5 p.m.

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