By RENEE WEBB
Content and Design Coordinator

Youth in grades 7 to 12 were encouraged to strive for holiness at the third annual Called Youth Conference held Nov. 1, All Saints Day, in Granville.

Jon Konz offered the keynote and led praise music at Called Youth Conference held Nov. 1 in Granville.bout 250 teenagers attended the conference that featured a keynote talk, breakout sessions, service project and prayer opportunities all built upon the theme of called to be holy.

Jon Konz, keynote speaker, acknowledged that when he was younger he didn’t always see Mass for what it truly is – the source and summit of the Catholic faith. Uninterested parishioners, mediocre homilies, so-so music, etc., led to an experience that sometimes felt underwhelming rather than extraordinary or even sacred.

Examples of holiness
Women in his parish had mentioned to him that he would make a good priest one day.

“I looked around at Mass and I thought, if this is the high point, what does it say about the rest of it? It seemed to me the options were to be really holy and bored or don’t be holy and have a little fun,” said Konz.

As he got a little older and grew in his faith, his perspective started to change and so did where he sought inspiration.

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By DAWN PROSSER
Director of Communications
 
Natural family planning (NFP) has long been part of the marriage preparation process in the Catholic Church. NFP programs can also be beneficial to couples married for several years to assist with infertility and body changes through various stages of life.
 Karmen Bower of the Faith Formation Office at last week's Clergy Day on NFP.
In order to ensure everyone has access to NFP resources and a space to ask questions, the Office of Faith Formation is encouraging the faithful to consider serving as an NFP ambassador in their parish.

 Karmen Bower, diocesan director of faith formation, explained that often parishioners may not know where to start if they would like assistance or more information on NFP methods and benefits.

 “Lots of people will learn natural family planning through a particular method before they get married. But then after, during postpartum and perimenopause, the woman’s body can change and people don’t know what to do in those moments either,” she said. “There needs to be an increase of information available to people, both engaged couples preparing for marriage as well as married couples who are living that out.”

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