Annual youth conference reveals Jesus, spiritual gifts to 1,400-plus teens from Archdiocese

First-ever Eucharistic Procession proclaims God’s True Presence to downtown with youth witness. (Photo by James Ramos/Herald)

HOUSTON — Led by the commanding yet humble and endearing voice of Father Houston Okonma, more than 1,000 teens joined their chaperones in a solemn Eucharistic Procession around the Hilton-Americas Houston hotel in downtown Houston during the 2023 Archdiocesan Youth Conference on July 29.

Carried by Father Okonma, who was assisted by Deacon Joe Wright of St. Ignatius of Loyola in Spring, the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance often glimmered in the downtown lights as it moved slowly around the hotel with nearby Astros fans streaming from the ballpark directly encountering Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.

A number were Catholic, sporting bright orange jerseys, pausing to genuflect and pray, genuinely surprised with the blessed encounter. A few snapped photos and video-chatted loved ones at home. Crews of others on bikes, scooters and trikes zoomed by as loud music boomed from speakers.

The city noise would come and go as hundreds of teens continued praying the Rosary while waiting at eight stations spread through the hotel and the two city-square blocks. As the procession continued, the presiders would stop and place the monstrance on an altar, pause for silence, read a reflection and sing a song of worship before continuing while incense wafted through the crowds.

At one point, a man across the street kneeled when he saw the Eucharist and fully bowed as it went by him.

Eventually, the procession returned to the conference’s main gathering space, where Adoration concluded with Benediction and the Divine Praises. Father Houston, who served as the Archdiocesan Youth Conference’s chaplain, prayed with the teens and said, “Loving and gracious God, keep us ever mindful of Your presence, not only before us now but with us at all times. Mold our hearts so we may bring Your loving presence to all those we meet and, by doing so, share the Gospel with the world.”

The call of evangelization, for teens to go out and proclaim the good news to the world, was the consistent message throughout the many talks and workshops, which included addresses from Meg Hunter-Kilmer, Father Casey Cole, OFM, and Paul J. Kim. Throughout the weekend, Josh Blakesley led the conference with music and worship.

The youths ranged from a large group of 73 boys and girls wearing purple T-shirts from St. Helen Catholic Church in Pearland waving a big purple flag to a small group of half-dozen girls from Immaculate Conception coming in from Sealy with their adult female chaperone Marcie Chapman.

Father Cole, a young Franciscan friar who runs a YouTube channel called “Breaking in the Habit” with about 30 million views, delivered the keynote address on July 29 to an energetic, overflowing ballroom of teens.

The priest told the at-capacity crowd, “It’s not just me and my Jesus. Be a tabernacle yourself. You are a shining light to the world.”

He added, “You are a gift to the world. Share what you have, not because you have to, but because you get to!”

David Calderon, a high school junior at Strake Jesuit College Preparatory, spent a break between speakers to impromptu sing hymns at a booth with the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word. But afterward, he confessed the secular world’s emphasis on social media and popularity gives him anxiety. “But when I sing in a church choir, it’s a lot more peaceful, and I feel a lot more close to God because there’s no competition there. You’re just singing to praise Him.”

On July 30, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo presided over the closing Mass, which included commissioning the new members of the Archdiocesan Youth Council.

At the Mass, which saw more than 1,800 in attendance, Cardinal DiNardo encouraged the teens to embrace the “special gifts” they have been given and be inspired by the Blessed Virgin Mary.

He called them to be “active agents” in their faith and not to be passive in the life of the Church.

“Go witness! Go witness,” Cardinal DiNardo said in his homily. “In Jesus’ kingdom, no one is unemployed.”

He continued: “If you ask of Jesus’ wisdom in his Kingdom, He’ll give you stability in the search; it’s one of the gifts... Stability comes as a gift, and the more you share it in the Kingdom of God, the more there is. That’s the discovery of the surprise. God never ceases to be generous to you. God is always generous.”

The youth also turned to Our Lady of Confidence throughout the weekend, seeking the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

“Never, never forget that the Virgin Mary, who bore Jesus in her womb and in her heart, she’s always going to direct you right back to Him,” he said. “Whenever you think you’re strained, speak to the Virgin Mary so you can go right back to Jesus.”

Cardinal DiNardo echoed Pope Francis’ call for young people to create a “happy chaos.” The pope, he said, has spurred the young people to share their faith and to walk with others in the faith.

“Jesus loves you. Jesus gives Himself to you,” he said. “Let’s ask Jesus that He will make us more, and more, like Him.”

In closing, Cardinal DiNardo again turned to the Eucharist, “[Jesus] is our Bread of Life. His body and blood, His soul and divinity, are brought to us so that we can indeed accompany others in the gift that has been shared with us.”