October 20, 2006

‘Consumed’ by Jesus

Consumed retreat

Photo caption: High school students take part in the opening Mass at the “Consumed” retreat. At the front of the church, Susan Fritsch of St. Louis Parish in Batesville proclaims the first reading.

By Katie Berger

Special to The Criterion

Nearly 200 young people in the archdiocese recently set aside a weekend to literally follow Jesus.

The fourth archdiocesan “Consumed” retreat, hosted by the archdiocesan Office of youth and young adult ministry, was held from Sept. 29 to Oct. 1 at Mother of the Redeemer Retreat Center in Bloomington. The retreat’s theme, “Emancipation through Consecration,” brought the students and their chaperones together for a weekend devoted to prayer and focus on the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.

The group listened to talks that centered on breaking the chains of those things which attach them to the world and, as a result, becoming a slave of Jesus Christ.

Participants were also given the opportunity to receive the sacrament of reconciliation over the course of the weekend.

At the heart of the retreat was Mass, followed by exposition of the Blessed Sacrament as youths took part in several eucharistic processions.

“We, as Catholics, believe that Jesus is most truly present in the Blessed Sacrament, so a relationship and a recognition of his presence in this sacrament is essential to our youth,” said Father Jonathan Meyer, archdiocesan director of youth and young adult ministry and associate pastor of St. Luke Parish in Indianapolis.

It is Father Meyer’s hope that, through the “Consumed” retreat, young people will come away with hearts radically in love with the Eucharist.

“I hope for a heart willing to recognize Christ in the Eucharist and in one another,” he said, “a heart open to the will of God.”†

 

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