7/23-24: 2011 Catholic Youth
Xperience, Valparaiso University
Regina Lopez (DYC rep, Nativity) carries the cross into
the Harre Union during the CYX Opening Session, passing the cross from its
last parish to CYX!
7/22: PRE-YX, Nativity of Our Savior, Portage
The last stop on the journey to CYX: PRE-YX, held the
night before CYX at Nativity.
7/21-22: Nativity of Our Savior, Portage
The Cross had been by Lake Michigan (see: Whiting), but
now it's been IN Lake Michigan, thanks to Pepe and the youth from
Nativity! Just prior to Pre-YX and CYX, the Cross was reunited with its
maker, Dan Lopez. Also pictured below: Nativity Pastor Fr. Andrew Corona;
fundraiser at Portage 16 Imax.
7/18-20: Sacred Heart-Wanatah /
St. Martin-LaCrosse
No photos submitted
7/15-17: St. Teresa of Avila, Valparaiso
In addition to a prayer service at our CYX host
community, the CYX Cross cooled off in the middle of a water fight, and
participated in a scavenger hunt. One of the items on the checklist: "a
tea party with stuffed animals and dolls."
7/13-14: St. Mary, Kouts
As per St. Mary Youth Minister Caren: "The kids had a
great time with the CYX cross. We did a tour of Kouts, visiting the Depot
with St. Elizabeth and playing some kickball, then we went on to explore
some soybean fields and cornfields, checked out the new town signs, and an
old silo. We ended the evening with a bonfire and lighting of a floating
lantern. The kids enjoyed their evening together as a group."
7/12: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton,
Valparaiso & St. Mary, Kouts
As per St. E.A.S. Youth Minister Andy: "We
took the Cross to Kouts for the exchange today. Members of the two Youth
Groups met at The Depot, an ice cream place. Afterwards, we played
kickball with the Cross. The lead runner was required to carry the Cross
around the bases. If tagged out, or if they made it home, they had to pass
the Cross to the next runner on base." Strangely enough, this is good
theology: always lead with the cross! Nonetheless, if the Vatican
calls, I'm sending them to Porter County.
7/11-12: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton,
Valparaiso
The teens, young adults, and youth
minister Andy have some fun with the cross, taking it to Dairy Queen and
Valplayso (a city park in Valparaiso), where the cross made a formidable
Ultimate Frisbee opponent.
7/9-10:
St. Patrick, Chesterton
The teens carried their cross to Coffee Creek
and prayed a Rosary for all teens in the community. After praying the
Rosary the group took the cross back to St. Patrick and placed it in the
front of the church with a description of its meaning.
7/7-8:
Holy Spirit, Winfield
Anyone who's ever driven through Winfield knows
you can't miss that huge cross outside Holy Spirit Church. Ray had a
professional photographer take some pictures, and the CYX Cross juxtaposed
against the Holy Spirit cross makes for some great shots. I wanna' know
how they got the CYX Cross to hover over the lake!
7/5-6: St. Casimir, Hammond
This from diocesan seminarian Roque Meraz, one of the
leaders of St. Casimir's delegation to CYX: "We had a talk about the
importance of the cross in our lives. We also talked about how we can
share the light of Christ with the world. We are the future of the church
and we have to bring Jesus to those who live in darkness, this is why we
have some dark pictures because we turn the lights off to show them how we
live in darkness and the candle we have represents Christ."
7/2-4:
Juventud Católica (Our Lady of Guadalupe, E. Chicago & St. Francis Xavier,
Lake Station)
The CYX Cross was there for Sunday Mass, as well
as a rosary before the patroness of Our Lady of Guadalupe parish.
6/30-7/1:
Gary Cluster Parishes
Cross was in the church to listen to the famed
Ss. Monica & Luke Choir sing; was part of Vacation Bible School; along for
soup kitchen
6/27-29: St. John the Baptist,
Whiting (& Whiting-Robertsdale Catholic Community)
The CYX Cross made the paper! The NWI Times
captures the Cross used as part of a Corpus Christi procession at
Immaculate Conception, a parish in the Whiting-Robertsdale Cluster. The
cross made its way around Whiting in its brief stay there, spending time
being bench-pressed and taken to the lakefront, an impromptu dip in the
pool, being present for lots of prayer, and joining teens for a walk
around the neighborhood. The teens and the cross turned a few heads as it
made its way around Whiting streets (and down the aisles of Walgreens),
and the teens did a great job of telling lots of strangers about the CYX
Cross!
6/17-18: St. Edward, Lowell
6/9-16: St. Matthias, Crown Point
Because the cross was commissioned a little
earlier than originally planned, the first parish on the schedule- St.
Matthias (Crown Point) got the cross a little longer than all others! The
cross was part of their parish history: moving into the brand new parish
hall! Below you'll see teens and the cross help youth minister Teresa move
into her brand new office!
6/9: CYX Cross Commissioning, Pastoral
Center
Due to a funeral, Bishop Melczek was unable to
celebrate Mass at the Pastoral Center on June 9th, the Mass in which we
had planned to commission the cross. The change of plans meant that
Deacon Bob Marben, newly-assigned to be a diaconal assistant to the
Office for Youth & Young Adults, performed his first official duty: bless
the cross and send it away on its journey across the diocese!
The cross was then taken to St. Matthias, Crown Point.
BTW, special thanks to Pepe Flores-Carillo and
Dan Lopez (Nativity of Our Savior, Portage) for the hands and heart
that created the CYX Cross!
Check out the
entire gallery, posted at PHYRE's Facebook page
