Rally challenges teens to ‘Tend My Sheep’

Peer pressure, dating, school, hormones – teens have a number of issues they deal with daily, often leaving their spiritual side on the back burner. Today’s reality is that it is not always easy to get children pumped up about their faith.

Renee’ Bondi, the keynote speaker at the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux’s Tend My Sheep Youth Rally, agrees. This year’s rally is set for March 27 at Nicholls State University.

“I think teens want to see visible miracles,” the San Juan Capistrana, Calif., resident says. “The fact that God is a mystery can be negative to them, especially in a society where everything is so immediate.”

Bondi is a living example of God’s miraculous power.

Months before her wedding, Bondi, 29 at the time, dreamt she was diving. She awoke to discover a tumble from her bed had shattered her spine and left her a quadriplegic.

Her mobility was gone, as was her beautiful singing voice.

Refusing to be silenced, Bondi reclaimed her singing voice through the power of prayer and hard work. She married her fiancé one year after leaving the hospital and, a few years later, gave birth to a baby boy named Daniel. Bondi continues to travel the world, addressing crowds from her wheelchair, talking about God’s grace.

“God was very faithful through it all,” she said.

Bondi believes her message can inspire young people to have faith God is always present.

“I have found, when I have traveled across the country, that [teens] are very responsive to seeing how God has worked in my life,” Bondi explained. “And if He’s worked in my life, He can work in theirs.”

For the past 30 years, the Diocese has held its annual Youth Rally to help teens better understand their religion and to show them that practicing their faith does not have to be a humdrum experience.

The rally was born out of an effort to get teens involved in Holy Week. “There was a need to get young people ready for Holy Week,” explains Michael DiSalvo, the Diocese’s youth ministry director, “to show that Holy Week is the most important week of our faith and we need to prepare for it.”

DiSalvo predicts the event will draw more than 1,300 teens – 8th graders to college freshmen.

“We have 100-percent participation,” he said. “All 40 [church] parishes have people coming. This shows that young people are [spiritually] hungry.”

The day kicks off with a performance by Abundant Praise, a Christian band that frequently performs at St. Thomas Aquinas Church on Nicholls State’s campus.

The rally officially opens with a drama tied to the day’s message. “The theme is about how young people tend to God’s sheep,” DiSalvo added.

Bondi’s compelling story follows the concert and dramatic performance.

“I think she has a powerful message of hope for young people that may not feel like they are worthy of God,” he said. “She shows others that God’s message is one of hope and peace and that God can work through all of us.”

Afterward, it’s time to relax and have fun at the Youth Village.

“We have volleyball, rock wall-climbing, large blow-up things, bands … kind of a youth-a-palooza atmosphere,” DiSalvo said.

Chasing Canaan, a Shreveport-based group, and local band Elyseeum are slated to perform.

The afternoon also includes an opportunity to attend reconciliation and a number of workshops. Three “Mega Workshops” to help prepare attendees for the succeeding Passion of the Lord liturgy, close out the day.

“We break down the big theme into three sub-themes: ‘Look to the Lamb’; ‘Getting Over Our Doubts as Shepherds’; ‘Tending to the Flock’,” DiSalvo said. “These workshops are designed to prepare them for the liturgy that follows.”

The night before the Youth Rally, Adult Night of Praise is held. The event is hosted for those who minister to the needs of local teens. The primary goal of the night is to prepare and inspire youth ministers to spread the word of God.

“You have to [spiritually] feed them before feeding the children,” DiSalvo said. “Let them know that they are doing good work – God’s work.”

Bondi will be among those speaking at the night’s event.

“I really hope that everybody makes an effort to come and take time away from their daily lives, to laugh but also to experience the amazing power of God’s grace,” she said.