Youth Charisma:
New Horizons, Togetherness, Enthusiasm

Having about 400 young people, journeying several days together, listening and praying, playing and dancing, chanting and singing, in harmony and serenity, is an impressive sight to view. Well, this was the scene we enjoyed during the Catholic Chaldean-Assyrian Youth Convention, July 3rd through 6^th 2008, in San Jose, CA.

For a young person, the principal and fundamental issue is to determine where he/she stands in relation to humanity, and to the universe, most of all in regard to his/her own destiny. With no God, everything is confused, non-sense, and futile. With God, the universe makes sense, humanity has a meaning and purpose, and personal existence, value, and destiny are anchored to a solid point of reference.

Another basic matter: is there room for the Holy Spirit to play a transforming role in the evolving and growing personality of the young person? If not, the whole youthful energy and searching focus will be dissipated in fading dreams and transitory gains. Indeed, a life encircled by, and limited to, the physical and earthly realm, results in a process making the human person subservient to his world, not at all in control of it. Only the Spirit of God is able to give us wings to carry on through lofty and spectacular horizons. Among the activities of the Convention’s agenda, amazingly, our youth were especially attentive to the spiritual, to the meaningful, to the serious, and they wanted more of it. Entertainment and fun were performed in a balanced way. 

A belonging to the Catholic Church gives our youth depth and dimension that solidify their belonging to a society that has been proven to survive mortality and decay, human fragility and the worldly forces of evil. Having with us the guidance and support of the ecclesial community is paramount to prevailing against the moral temptations of the devil in the midst of this world.

Being Assyrian or Chaldean and belonging to each other in closeness and harmony, feeling and acting as one community and people, could have found no better model than the living reality of the Convention. If the first Youth Convention was a sort of sailing in un-chartered waters, if the second convention had to deal with bringing groups toward each other in understanding and appreciation, the third convention can claim achievement and maturity in organizational skills and in the forging and merging process between our youth, our parishes and our communities.

Our community of St. Mary’s taught us how to serve in love and joy. Our youth showed us how to behave properly and enthusiastically, and how to identify and appreciate what is valuable.  The 3^rd Youth Convention was a great success, and we are proud of it.