Leap of Faith! is the theme for the 23 nd Annual State Youth Conference! Come join over 600 youth and adults from around the diocese at the White Oak

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1 Leap of Faith! is the theme for the 23 nd Annual State Youth Conference! Come join over 600 youth and adults from around the diocese at the White Oak Conference Center, March 8 th -10 th, 2013! The line-up of presenters are some of the best we have ever had at our annual youth conference Sean Forrest, Tammy Evevard, Cooper Ray and music from 2 or More! This weekend promises to be a weekend of dynamic talks, powerful liturgies and engaging worship! You don t want to miss this life -changing event!

2 2013 High School Youth Conference Greetings! I am writing to you to invite you to the 23 rd Annual Diocesan High School Youth Conference, which will take place on March 8 10, Over 600 youth and adults will gather from around the diocese at the White Oak Conference Center for a weekend they will not forget! This year s theme is Leap of Faith! When we were kids we were told, Don t do this. Or Be careful doing that. Jesus calls us to step out of our comfort zone! Just as he called the fishermen to drop their nets and follow him and to drop what they knew and to abandon the safety of everyday life! So he is calling us to drop everything that we think we need and to step out of our comfort zone. It isn t easy and it can be scary, but I guarantee you that your life will never be dull! Go ahead Take a LEAP of Faith! Come see what Jesus has in store for you! This year s conference is going to be powerful and life changing! Our speakers for this year s high school conference are: Sean Forrest, Tammy Evevard, and Cooper Ray. Along with powerful and challenging keynoters, we will have mass daily, reconciliation, adoration, and special prayer time. Get your basketball, dodge ball, or kickball team ready for the tournament on Saturday afternoon during free time! The weekend also includes thought provoking workshops, music from 2 or More, and skits and games lead by the diocesan youth evangelization team! Imagine over 600 Catholic youth and adults gathered together for a life changing weekend! You don t want to miss this weekend! Come and meet new friends and get reacquainted with your old ones! Take a Leap of Faith! I dare you! Sean Forrest Sean began his ministry as a full-time youth minister at St. James Parish in Stratford, Conn. In January of 2000, Sean founded Movin' With The Spirit, Inc. (MWTS), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to renewing the Church and society as a whole by proclaiming God's eternal Truth and love for all. Since then, he has had the opportunity to speak to hundreds of thousands of teens and adults across the country and internationally. Sean has been a guest on multiple programs on the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) and has been featured in nationally recognized magazines and newspapers. In 2000, he won two honors at the UCMVA UNITY Awards, and in 2004 he was the recipient of the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry s For God and Youth award. Sean has performed and spoken at venues such as: The National Catholic Youth Conference, World Youth Day, many Steubenville youth conferences, and the CreationFest and SoulFest Christian music festivals. He also has been challenging men at diocesan men s conferences throughout the country to live their faith and lead others to Christ. Last year, Movin With The Spirit Mission Haiti completed construction on a new orphanage, and has been

3 housing, feeding, and caring for children and villagers in desperate need of support. MWTS is now in the process of building a state-of-the-art school and medical clinic in Haiti. Sean Lives in Connecticut with his wife and three children. Tammy Evevard Tammy Evevard spends whatever time she isn t shopping for shoes traveling the country sharing the amazing truth of how much our God loves us! Tammy has presented to countless audiences, large and small as well as been featured on several radio and television programs including EWTN and CNN. Tammy is known to be a dynamic, passionate speaker who captures audiences with her enthusiastic style and storytelling. She is the author of the newly released book Becoming. Tammy lives in Boulder, Colorado, with her husband, Mark, and their three children. Cooper Ray Cooper is quickly becoming one of today s most popular and sought after speakers, worship leaders and retreat facilitators. He is a dynamic & light-hearted speaker and musician who shares his faith with honesty and passion. Through story, humor, and audience participation, Cooper leads groups of all ages to a greater awareness of who they are as Catholic Christians and how to recognize God s presence in their lives. Cooper has entertained, motivated, and inspired thousands youth and adults at hundreds of diocesan, parish, and school events across the country. He has presented workshops at the National Conference for Catholic Youth Ministry, the National Catholic Youth Conference and led music and emceed at catechetical sites at the international World Youth Day. His relevant message and crowd interaction can reach a teen all the way in the back row. Cooper received his call to ministry while serving as a camp counselor at a Catholic summer camp during his college years. It was at camp where God ignited his love for music and knowledge of ministry and started Cooper on a journey of drawing youth and adults to know and live the Gospel. After 6 summers, he transitioned into diocesan ministry in Baton Rouge where he spent 10 years, 7 as the director of youth ministry. Soon after arriving in Baton Rouge, Cooper's speaking ministry took off and slowly, but surely schools, parishes, and other dioceses began to invite Cooper to share his stories, music, and life experiences. After 16 years in formal ministry, he started the next phase in his journey answering the call to go "on the road" full-time where he has been ever since. Cooper has been a contemporary music liturgy director at a his parish for the past 7 years and just released his first solo album,

4 "Wake the Dawn". He was a contributing writer for Josh Blakesley's "Our God is Good" and was featured on Steve Angrisano's LIVE CD. He holds Bachelors in Psychology and a Masters in Pastoral Studies. Cooper lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana with his wife Laura and newborn son, Eli. Two or More Two or More is a music ministry in the diocese comprised of young adults from around the state who love music and love Jesus more. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus states, for where two or more are gathered together in my name, there I am in their midst. Two or More was created with the intention of coming together in Christ s name to use music as a mechanism to connect the act of worship and celebration of liturgy with personal lives of faith. Bishop Guglielmone will be our presider at our closing Mass on Sunday morning.

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