By Alfonso Aguilar
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 10/21/04)

The annual rally at Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington drew more that 700 youths under the theme "Get Real." Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde celebrated Mass and several priests and experts conducted workshops on self-worth, multiculturalism, vocations and gang violence.

A record 700 youths from different diocesan parishes participated in the Youth Rally 2004 to celebrate life and faith. The marathon event included workshops, Eucharistic adoration, rosary, a Mass, confessions, concerts, inflatable games, and food from several countries.

This year the event, whose theme was "Get Real……The Real Presence," emphasized multiculturalism as a way to recognize the growth of minority youth throughout the entire diocese. Actually, one workshop was conducted for the first time in both Spanish and English.

The event was held at Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington last Sunday and was attended by Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde and many other priests who assisted during the Mass.

"I am convinced that some of you will hear the call to a consecrated life while others will be committed to building strong families. We need both," said Bishop Loverde.

"It was the largest group in many years to attend the rally," said Kevin Bohli, director of the Office of Youth Ministry.

In addition to many activities about faith, religion, family values, community involvement and consciousness of poverty, slavery and social injustices around the world, one of the rally’s workshops was dedicated to discussing the impact of local gangs on the Church, neighborhoods, families and schools.

"Gangs are everywhere, in every high school, in every neighborhood," said an official of the Manassas police force anti-gang unit.

"The press has somehow vilified Latinos, but the reality is that youth, like all of you, from many cultures and colors, poor and not so poor, immigrants and natives are involved in these criminal activities, and the answer to this increasing plague begins with you," said the official before several dozen students, some of whom had not considered the many dimensions of this issue.

Other breakout sessions dealt with issues of self-worth, vocations, faith in college and multiculturalism.

Bohli explained that the theme for all of the activities this year was ‘"get real…the real presence." The Eucharistic theme was selected to go along with Pope John Paul II’s special year of the Eucharist. 

Bohli also said that each of the speakers and performers were asked to share what the Eucharist has meant to them and how it has strengthened them in their faith.

"Steve Angrisano started the day off with tremendous energy through his games, stories and music.  Craig Kielburger finished the day with an amazing challenge to the young people to allow their faith to guide them towards making a difference in this world," said Bohli.

"Today you can change your world and change the life of millions, especially of those children suffering slavery and starvation," said Kielburger, who founder Free the Children in 1995 at the age of 12. Since then his group has helped millions of children in 45 countries from China to Kenya, from India to Haiti.

"I know you are eager to celebrate Halloween, but this year let’s celebrate a Halloween for the Hunger," said the young leader as a big applause emerged from the audience.

Around 5 pm, when participants were enjoying food from Latin America, Germany, Italy and Asia, Father Michael G. Taylor, O’Connell’s chaplain and assistant principal, said that "the day has been running very fast, but the best part is that in this format participants have many options, some are more-spiritual, some more sports minded, however everybody is enjoying the day."

Antonio Pérez-Alcalá from the Spanish Apostolate and at least 40 Hispanics from many parishes attended. "I am impressed with the level of organization and the state-of-the-art technology used in this celebration," said Alcalá.

For Alonso Landaverde from the Hispanic Leadership School of Manassas, this was the first time he saw many Hispanics in this annual event, and although "we have different ways of doing thing, we share the same goals based on our mutual faith."

Finally, Alonso and many others like Americans Andie Schwanz and Teresa Kozlowski and Filipinos Regina Reyes and MaryAnn Calica concluded the celebration by attending the rock concert performed by three women under the name BarlowGirl.