Special to the HERALD
(From the issue of 6/17/04)

The nearly 90-degree weather didn’t hamper attendance at the Junior High Bash on May 15 at All Saints Parish in Manassas. Shortly after 4 p.m., 500 junior high students had filtered into the back parking lot area, which was filled with colorful inflatable games. Kyle Masson of Precious Blood Parish in Culpeper enjoyed watching his friends compete for touchdowns on one of the inflatables. The Bash, he commented, was "even better than last year." Junior high students didn’t remain timid for long as they climbed the obstacle course, jousted in the gladiator ring and munched on pizza before being called inside for the start of the evening program with Chris Padgett’s humorous and inspiring message. He held their attention as he issued them a challenge: "God wants you to be holy. Now go and show the world with your actions and words that you can be holy."

"The Bash is an approachable, high-energy event for sixth, seventh and eighth graders," explained Kevin Bohli, director of the Office of Youth Ministry. "It is an invitation for young people at various points in their faith development to come together and build community."

Bohli coordinated the event with Rob Tessier, coordinator of youth ministry at All Saints. At the close of the Junior High Bash last year, Tessier and Bohli counted 260 young people in attendance from 26 parishes, but hoped for growth in coming years. This year brought them more than the growth they’d hoped for — they were relieved to see that everyone fit inside the gym. Next year a new location will be necessary: "We had to close registration early and turn away a lot of young people because the facility could only accommodate 500 young people with their chaperones," said Bohli.

"In the Youth Office, we really want to devote more of our efforts toward the vulnerable middle school population," said Kate Bergman, assistant director of the Office of Youth Ministry. "When you read in The Washington Times that gangs in Fairfax are beginning to recruit children as young as seven years old in public schools, you realize how important it is for the Church to reach out to them more and more before high school."

Attendees joined the parishioners of All Saints at the regularly scheduled vigil Mass. Guest homilist Father Jack Peterson spoke to a packed church. He encouraged young people to be champions like saints and assured them God’s love for each of them. "The message of being a saint is one of the things that we tell the Spanish youth all the time, so they were excited to see it as the theme of the Bash," said Elsa Santamaria, a volunteer at Christ the Redeemer Parish.

After Mass, members of the Arlington Catholic Youth Board performed a "Modesty Fashion Show," which was met with an enthusiastic response by the younger teens. The show feature appropriate outfits for a variety of settings such as church, school and outdoors, sprinkled with suggestions on how to dress in a trendy, yet modest, way. Next, the Catholic improv comedy team Fools performed several sets, much to the delight of the crowd. Hundreds of hands waved in the air each time the Fools requested an idea for their next act. The night wrapped up with a snack and social time, during which Rod Kresge of All Saints spun vital records of popular music.

"I had so much fun," said Kelly Piché, 12, of the Holy Spirit Parish in Annandale. "The games were great! The Mass was the best I’ve ever been to, and the huge ceiling in the church was neat!"

Santamaria expressed a similar sentiment. "I think it was a great experience for all of us," she said. "Speaking with some of the kids going home, they told me that they had enjoyed the event, and that it was good to see everyone (together) as one." Or, as Tommy Eales, a student from All Saints, so succinctly summed up the experience: "It’s cool, I guess."