A
taste of Catholic culture for teens
By NADIA POZO
CS&T Staff Writer
Where can you go on a Saturday evening to take in good music, be inspired
by great speakers and be around hundreds of Catholic people your age?
The answer is the first “Fan the Flame” event in Philadelphia,
to be held from noon to 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 4 at Archbishop John
Carroll High School in Radnor.
Fan the Flame will feature Matt Mahr, one of the most popular and critically
acclaimed Catholic artists in the country. It will also feature the grooves
of ValLimar Jansen with her soulful, electrifying, unforgettable voice,
and the crisp, sweet voice of the singer-actress Mandy Bruno.
Sponsored by the archdiocesan Office of Youth and Young Adults (OYYA),
the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry and Spiritandsong.com,
Fan the Flame will also feature a “Philly Expo” block party
offering those who attend the chance to join service projects and team
activities, play games, meet college representatives and local music talent,
and enjoy “Taste of Philly” food booths.
The event will conclude with a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Justin Rigali
with Auxiliary Bishop Joseph McFadden.
According to Andrea Myers, the Vicariate Coordinator of Philadelphia South
for OYYA, Fan the Flame is expected to draw 1,000 teenagers and young
adults who will be “celebrating their faith during a high-energy
day full of music, worship, service — and lots of fun.”
Fan the Flame was conceived by its sponsors to provide young people with
a taste of Catholic culture that they will find at the National Catholic
Youth Conference (NCYC), which is held every two years. The event is held
in the years between conferences in order to “fan the flame”
of the Holy Spirit working in American youth through the conferences.
OYYA’s Myers said the Nov. 4 event “will bring [teenagers
and young adults] from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and surrounding
dioceses together to experience the Gospel of Jesus Christ through
quality worship, spiritually enriching music, meaningful service, and
inspiring fellowship.”
OYYA hopes students from all the Catholic high schools and members of
all the young adult groups will be a part of the day.
Cardinal Rigali has also extended a personal invitation to the youth and
young adults of the Archdiocese to gather on that day.
“Whenever I am present at events with young people, I am uplifted
by the enthusiasm and joy with which you approach the Eucharist,”
the Cardinal said. “I trust that this day will be filled with opportunities
to experience our Catholic faith, and to strengthen us all as friends
and disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. … I look forward to seeing
you on November 11.”
DON’T MISS “FAN THE FLAME”
Registration ends Oct. 31st, and the cost is $25.
Those who register before Oct. 11 will pay the early-bird price of $20
for the event. Please register at www.oyya.org, or call (215) 965-4636
for more information.
CS&T staff writer Nadia Pozo can be reached at npozo@adphila.org or
(215) 965-4614.