Middle school rally set for Oct. 7

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
September 7, 2006

The Diocese of Sioux City holds the biggest high school youth rally in the region. Knowing that it has such a powerful impact on the youth, this fall the diocese will offer a middle school rally for the first time.

"I see a great need to serve the middle school students," noted Jessica LaFleur, diocesan director of youth and young adult ministry. "We have a lot of programs for high school students, but middle school students are teenagers as well and they are starting to get their feet wet in a deeper faith."

The rally is slated for Oct. 7 at the Nativity Parish Center in Sioux City and is intended for sixth to eighth graders enrolled in Catholic schools or parish religious education programs. The rally, which is to be held on a yearly basis, has been dubbed Exodus.

LaFleur mentioned that the name Exodus was chosen as the permanent name of the rally because this is the time in the young Catholics lives when they are finding their paths.

"It marks the beginning of a new faith experience," described the diocesan youth minister.

The theme of this year's rally is Community, Commitment and Courage.

While this rally will have components that are distinctively different from the high school rally, one of the major elements of the middle school rally will be a keynote speaker. Bob Perron, director of youth ministry for the Diocese of Des Moines, is the featured speaker.

"They call him a Catholic edu-tainer because he definitely brings in catechesis and he teaches, but he is very funny," noted LaFleur, who added that Perron uses his personal and family life experiences to teach about the faith.

Perron's presentation will center on the theme of the rally.

The doors will open at noon for the middle school rally and the opening prayer is set for 12:30 p.m., followed by Perron's keynote presentation at 1 p.m.

The vocal-driven Christian pop rock band SevenGlory will perform at 2:30 p.m., followed by Christian hip-hop artist Heath McNease.

After the concerts, they will move into small group, discussion-based activities. Eucharistic liturgy is set for 4:30 p.m. with closing prayer slated for 6 p.m.

"We are limited with our space to 500," said LaFleur. "It is first-come, first-service." Cost of the rally is $15.

Middle schoolers are asked to register with their parish or Catholic school contact person, which most likely will be the parish DRE or Catholic school religion teachers. The parish and school groups are to register with the diocesan office by Sept. 29, however, even that deadline is subject to space availability.

If a parish does not have a contact person, they may call LaFleur at (712) 233-7561. Persons interested in volunteering at the rally may also contact her.

"I am excited about the possibilities with this," she said.