Local Youth & young adult

Youth the focus for rosary under the stars

Last year’s Holy Family School of Faith live rosary at Fiorella’s Event Center in Overland Park drew hundreds of people. This year’s rosary on Oct. 17 is geared specifically toward youth. LEAVEN FILE PHOTO BY DOUG HESSE

by Moira Cullings
moira.cullings@theleaven.org

OVERLAND PARK — Holy Family School of Faith has drawn enthusiastic crowds to its live rosary events held at Fiorella’s Event Center here.

Now, organizers have teamed up with the archdiocesan youth ministry program to draw more youth and young adults to its next rosary event on Oct. 17.

“The youth and young adults are not just a vital part of the church today — they are the future of the church,” said Chris Hillyer, director of membership for the School of Faith.

“In order to welcome and include the youth, we must meet them where they are at,” he said. “We must lead with friendship and encounter. The goal of the evening is to have both.”

The event will begin at 5 p.m. and last around three hours. It will include a tailgate, opportunity for conversation, a rosary meditation and eucharistic adoration under the stars.

All are invited to attend, and young people are particularly encouraged to participate.

Hillyer said experiences like the live rosaries are a key part of the School of Faith, which aims to bring people to Jesus through Mary and provide authentic social opportunities for Catholics in the archdiocese.

“Our faith is meant to be personal, but it was never meant to be private,” he said. “Most people find it difficult to invite others or talk about their faith.”

Hillyer hopes the powerful, faith-filled witness of young people will inspire older generations.

“Whether it be for young people to encourage their parents to come back to the faith, or for them to invite a friend to ‘come and see,’ this night will provide an opportunity for invitation and encounter,” he said.

For more information, visit the website at: schooloffaith.com/events.

About the author

Moira Cullings

Moira attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Overland Park and Benedictine College in Atchison. She majored in marketing, minored in psychology and played center midfield for the women’s soccer team. Moira joined The Leaven staff as a feature writer and social media editor in 2015. After a move to Denver, Moira resumed her full-time position at The Leaven and continues to write and manage its website and social media channels. Her favorite assignment was traveling to the Holy Land to take photos for a group pilgrimage.

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