In restarting the young adult ministry at St. Alphonsus Parish in Minneapolis after the pandemic, I couldn’t think of better spiritual inspiration than Pope Francis’ post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation, Christus Vivit, or Christ is Alive (2019).
Francis identifies “Christ is alive” as the third of the three great truths. The other two are: “God loves you” and “Christ saves you.” Christ is indeed present in every moment, as he “fills it with light and take[s] away all sorrow and solitude.” Christ always invites us “to set out toward ever new horizons” (#125).
Setting out toward a new horizon was essentially what I did with a group of young adults involved at St. Alphonsus Parish in Minneapolis. We made our way to Northshore – an area in northern Minnesota known for its coastal views along Lake Superior – for a weekend retreat.
One of the highlights of the retreat was climbing Mt. Josephine, a peak in the Sawtooth Mountains that sits at 1,300 feet in Grand Portage, MN, only five miles from the Canadian border. It was a very challenging hike – at least for Minnesotans – because the trails were not well marked. When we ascended to the peak, we reveled in the spectacular view of Lake Superior and captured a glimpse of Canada in the distance.
The weekend retreat provided us with an opportunity to bond with each another and to discuss possible events for the year, such as faith sharing, bible study, fundraisers, recreational trips and service projects. A group discussion on Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation, Christ is Alive, provided the young adults with an opportunity to dive further into what Francis has to say about the three great truths.
They shared examples of how Christ has been alive in their lives and instances of when they need the light of Christ to illuminate the darkness. The discussion also prompted them to learn more about synodality and what actually takes place during a synod. That was appropriate, as St. Alphonsus Parish had been preparing for small synod sessions that are scheduled on Sundays in October.
We capped off our weekend retreat with the celebration of the Eucharist, a constant reminder that Christ is always present and alive in a Christian’s life. After all, Pope Francis exclaims that the Eucharist is a precious gift of God that “transcends all times and places despite [their experiences of] changing times and sensibilities” (#229).