Today, our parish youth spent a day of fellowship, immersion in and celebration of our Catholic faith. In observance of Respect Life month, they prayed the rosary in front of an abortion clinic. They enjoyed an afternoon of paintball. After a Holy Hour in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, they concluded the day with a Catholic Coffee House (a teen version of Theology on Tap).

A highlight of the day was a Votive Mass (in the OF) of the Blessed Virgin Mary at mid-day. Rather than usual music associated with liturgies for teens (i.e., praise & worship with guitars), our youth director invited our Schola Cantorum to assist. The Schola selected Gregorian Propers (Salve Sancte Parens for the Introit and Exsulta Filia Sion for Communion) and chanted traditional hymns (Salve Mater Misericordia for Offertory, Ave Maria and Ave Maris Stella for Communion, and Salve Regina for the Marian Anthem after the Final Blessing). It was inspiring to see around 50 teenagers actively and devoutly participating in the liturgy.

We had a similarly positive experience earlier this year when we sang Gregorian chant for Solemn Vespers attended by hundreds of young people at a Diocesan youth conference. I hope youth ministers will find our example an inspiration to incorporate chant into liturgies for teens.

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