Diocesan teens serve as Young Apostles at conference

Posted Sept. 26, 2002

CHARTER OAK/UTE - Jessica McAndrews of Ute and Jimmy Staley of Charter Oak were chosen to serve on the Young Apostle Leadership Team at Steubenville North, which took place on the campus of St. Thomas University in St. Paul, Minn. this past summer.

Steubenville North was one of 12 summer youth conferences held in nine states across the country, all of which were hosted by Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio. Approximately 29,000 teens attended the conferences, including 14 youth from the Catholic parishes of Charter Oak and Ute. The theme of the 2002 conference was "Set Free."

McAndrews and Staley submitted applications last April after their CYO leader, Julie Staley, suggested that they apply for the honor. They received word in May that they were accepted into the program.

The Young Apostles participated in the youth conference and served their peers by welcoming participants, performing dramas, teaching participants the theme song, and sharing their testimony. Although the conference ran from Friday to Sunday, McAndrews and Staley arrived in St. Paul on the previous Monday to prepare for a week of fun, service and growth in Christ.

The 18 members of the elite leadership team, who hailed from all over the United States, were guided by Karen Reynolds, director of youth ministry for the Island of Bermuda.

The Young Apostles visited a homeless shelter, where they served breakfast and lunch to nearly 600 people. They also met and played with some of the children who were living in the shelter.

"The children were so happy to see us and have us play with them," said McAndrews. "Many of the people were so friendly and you could just see the appreciation in their eyes. It was amazing to be in that position. I now appreciate everything and when I think things are bad, I remember that they could be much worse."

Along with helping others, the Young Apostles helped themselves by attending daily Mass, studying Scripture, and delving deep into the topics of sin, Eucharist, and evangelization.

"As Young Apostles, our goal was to prepare ourselves spiritually to be the dirt that the conference attendees walked on to get to Jesus. All week we grew in our faith. A lot of our own chains were broken and our relationships with God and each other grew immensely," stated McAndrews.

"My favorite part of the weekend was putting on a skit in front of two thousand kids, and just seeing all the kids there in search of Christ," said Staley. "This was, by far, the most life changing week I've ever experienced!"

Both teens performed special duties during the conference. Staley played the part of Christ in the Young Apostles' Friday night drama before a capacity crowd at Shoenecker Arena. McAndrews proclaimed the New Testament reading at Sunday's Eucharistic liturgy, which was celebrated by Bishop Frederick Campbell.

McAndrews, a freshman at Iowa State University, is the daughter of Frank and Denise McAndrews of Ute. She is majoring in early childhood education.

Staley is the son of Randy and Patty Staley of Charter Oak. He is a senior at Charter Oak-Ute high school.