TO KICK OFF THIS YEAR’S Catholic Schools week (Jan. 26-Feb. 1), more than 1,200 Catholic high school students assembled at Christ Cathedral for the
second annual Go Forth retreat. Dr. Erin Barisano, superintendent of Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Orange, said, “This year’s Go Forth event is part of a larger ‘I Thirst’ movement in the Diocese of Orange. Our goal is to create an opportunity for high school students to encounter Christ in a very real way through Mass, peer testimonies, inspiring speakers, praise, worship and Adoration.”
SANTA MARGARITA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ATTEND THE GO FORTH RETREAT, WHICH IS PART OF A LARGER ‘I THIRST’ MOVEMENT IN THE DIOCESE OF ORANGE. PHOTO COURTESY OF SANTA MARGARITA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
All six Orange County Catholic high schools were represented, with about 200 students from each school. The decision as to which students attended was left up to the school. For example, Servite sent everyone from their freshman class who wished to participate and about 97% of freshmen opted in. Rosary included juniors and seniors, while Mater Dei primarily included students in Campus Ministry. Cristo Rey, Santa Margarita and JSerra also sent students.
“The Go Forth retreat is a space for students to encounter Christ in a way to know that He loves them,” said Dr. Barisano.
A CRISTO REY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT SPEAKS DURING THE SECOND ANNUAL GO FORTH RETREAT HELD ON THE CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS. PHOTO COURTESY OF CRISTO REY HIGH SCHOOL
The day of celebration began with Mass offered by Bishop Vann, who welcomed the students, and a sermon by Fr. Mark Cruz, chaplain of Campus Ministry at Mater Dei. The event was conceived and designed by Deacon Steve Greco, director of Evangelization and Formation in the Diocese of Orange and founder of Spirit Filled Hearts Ministry, and Fr. Jacob Hsieh, a Norbertine priest from St. Michael’s Abby.
“As in the Gospel of John, God is calling us,” said Deacon Steve. “We believe as Catholics that our most important mission is to evangelize and to help each other get to a closer relationship with God.”
He added, “Mother Teresa is my inspiration – through her writings she described Jesus’ ‘call within a call’ and his ‘thirst for souls’. This is all part of the Eucharistic Revival the Diocese of Orange is spearheading in a way that can be taken to other dioceses.”
The Go Forth retreat is part of the ‘I Thirst’ movement, which Deacon Steve began in 2022. It was inspired by a recent poll indicating that a majority of Catholics do not believe in Christ’s real presence in the Eucharist. The retreat’s theme is to help Catholics become Eucharistic evangelists through the sacraments, leading participants to say ‘yes’ to Jesus through Mass, Adoration and Reconciliation.
Other conferences are adult oriented but Go Forth is tailored to young people. The impact of social media, addiction and isolation has led to all-time high rates of suicide and depression among teens — at a time when they should be enthusiastically looking toward their future.
Go Forth brings a message of hope and Jesus’ compassionate love for them. The retreat is centered on student testimonies, as the message is best delivered through the voices and personal experiences of their peers. Consequently, six student speakers, one from each high school, shared their faith journeys in their own words.
Tyler Dunning, a student at J Serra, a star athlete and utility player on its baseball team, spoke to his colleagues on his faith journey and ultimate conversion to Catholicism in April 2024.
“I started to realize that my achievements on the sports field didn’t last. I saw that there was something different about the way Catholics live. Truth and Goodness attracted me. I had to figure out if God existed and how we are supposed to live.”
Dunning explained that he attended a retreat in the fall of 2023 and was moved by the song “You Are Yeshua” during Adoration.
“I knew then that the purpose of my life was to live for God,” he said.
Dunning was baptized the following spring.
In addition to the student testimonies, the keynote speaker was internationally acclaimed multimedia evangelist and president of Real Time Catholic, Chris Stefanick. His presentation focused on joy, showing the students that Christ and the world need them more than ever.
Stefanick explained that the joy of the Lord brings you strength through metanoia – which means a profound change in one’s thinking.
“First, and most importantly, give thanks for God’s will for you, said Stefanick. “Have a grateful mind because ingratitude will destroy your life.”
Deacon Steve said the annual Go Forth retreat will continue. “Parents love to see their kids get excited about their faith,” he shared. “It’s like watching them catch something positive in their lives.”
The response has been so positive that Deacon Steve is working on creating a similar program for middle schoolers with the ultimate vision for Orange County Catholic schools to continue to give students a classic education and send Eucharistic Evangelists into our world.