6th-8th Grade Youth Rally

Stepping Out: Be What God Called You To Be is the theme of the Diocesan Youth Rally for sixth to eighth grade students Saturday, June 28 and Sunday, June 29 in the Heritage Room of the Amarillo Civic Center.

Registration will begin at 9:00am, with Praise and Worship kicking off the Rally at 10:00.

The first of three keynote addresses will be presented at 11:15 by Joe Melendrez, whose address is entitled The Enemy Comes to Kill, Steal and Destroy—Step Out!

Joe Melendrez realized his calling at a young age to serve the Lord with a relevant and radical ministry. At 15, he began his faith-filled outreach, offering spiritual retreat facilitation, Christian rap and food for the hungry. After graduating with a Bachelor’s in Religious Studies, Melendrez released his revolutionary album Rosary Rap as way to inspire all to embrace this powerful form of prayer. The hip-hop beats and rosary raps draw the listener deeper into meditation on the Mysteries of the Rosary. His sophomore album, Fully Alive, is a matured form of Christian hip-hop, featuring scripturally inspired and sacramentally based tracks. Melendrez recently released his third album, Kingdom Come.

After lunch at noon, activities resume at 1:20pm with Workshops, followed at 2:30 with the second keynote address by Annie Sanchez, entitled Be What God Called You To Be—Step In!

A native of the Philippines, Annie Sanchez immigrated to the United States in 2010 with her family and shortly after arriving at Our Mother of Mercy Church, Wellington, she and her brother volunteered to be Faith Formation teachers. Sanchez is currently working as a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) at Wheeler Nursing and Rehabilitation in Wheeler.

At 4:00, Bishop Patrick J. Zurek will celebrate Mass with the youth, followed by dinner at 5:30. Following dinner, a second series of Workshops will be offered at 6:50, followed at 7:50 with the third and final keynote given by Sammy Blaze, who will discuss the topic Don’t Be Ashamed of Who You Are In Christ Jesus—Step Out and Make A Difference at Home, School and Community!

Sammy “Blaze” Argumaniz has been involved in ministry since high school. He has seven years of full-time ministry experience and is currently the Coordinator of Intercultural Ministry for the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Dallas. Argumaniz previously served as a youth minister in Abilene and a campus minister at Southern Methodist University. In 2010 he completed his Masters in Theological Studies from the University of Dallas.

Following the final keynote address, the evening wraps up with a skit and Adoration.
On Sunday, June 29, youth are encouraged to attend Mass at an Amarillo parish and take care of any meal needs before meeting at noon for an afternoon at Splash Water Park, until 6:00pm.

For additional information about the youth rally, contact Oscar Guzman at the Diocesan Pastoral Center, 383-2243, ext. 118.