“Y.L.” was typical teen who always complained and balked
over church attendance. One evening, to fulfill a CCD requirement, she reluctantly
went to a different church within her parish cluster to hear a particular speaker
give a talk, and attended the Youth Mass being held prior to that speaker’s
presentation. A band of teenaged musicians, similar to herself, were performing
the music for the Mass. That night she went home and told her mother “God spoke
to me tonight, and I want to go sing at that church”. That next weekend she
came and joined the teen band. She finished her confirmation at her new church.
She, along with a number of the band members, is enthusiastically helping with
the new Extreme Edge program for middle schoolers. She is, in less than a
year’s time, one of the strongest performers in a group of many strong
performers, while remaining honestly humble about her own talents and inspired
by the others talents. On practice nights, she arrives late, apologizing, as
she rushes in straight from her part-time job. She coerced her parents to hurry
home from an out-of-state wedding because she “had to get to Mass”. She has
taken over role of primary piano player which includes the responsibility of
being the sole accompanist during the Mass Parts music – a role that scares
many musicians. She enters the room with enthusiasm even when her day hasn’t
gone so well. She cheerfully befriends new members who join the band and
welcomes them wholeheartedly, as was done to her when she joined.
Not a single person can claim credit for her transformation
and dedication, but the entire band individually and collectively, by being
true ministers indeed did contribute to her finding her calling. I warned them
when we first started this project, and repeatedly remind them of the fact that
every one of them was now a true minister, like it or not, believe it or not,
and that they might never know the effect that they have on other people – but
it is a beautiful thing to discover specific cases were you do know for
certain.
And it can have a domino effect. A year after “Y.L.” joining
the band, her mother is so thoroughly pleased, impressed and inspired by her
daughters compelling witness, she is completing
RICA classes herself to be confirmed this year, wanting to fill a need
that she had suppressed for all these years.
16 year old ministers inspiring their peers; children
showing their parents the way to deeper faith; amateur musicians unifying,
leading, and inspiring an entire parish – just more examples of God working in unorthodox
and magnificent ways.
