More than 150 youth gathered at the Skaggs Catholic Center on Sept. 19 for the youth session of the Utah Catholic Conference. The attendance represented twice the number of participants from the previous year.
Tanner Ray served as the primary retreat facilitator, worship leader, and key presenter for the gathering. Through music, storytelling, and scriptural reflections, Ray challenged participants to consider the purpose God has set for them. He used a live demonstration involving balloon-blowing and physical stretching to illustrate how spiritual discipline can expand a person's capacity to receive grace and divine love. Ray also warned against modern distractions, specifically digital media and screen time, which can pull individuals away from their spiritual trajectory.
Bishop Oscar A. Solis addressed the teenagers, stating that their presence is vital to the mission of the local Church. He remarked that without young men and women, the Church would not be the Church or be called Catholic. The bishop encouraged the youth to take ownership of their faith by sitting closer to the front during Sunday Mass and inviting peers to join them. He also challenged the audience to act as distribution centers for grace by sharing their talents and convictions rather than acting as passive storage bins.
Among the attendees were 25 participants from St. George Parish in St. George, who traveled five hours on a bus provided by the diocese. One participant, 16-year-old Esteban Zambrano, said he attended to learn about God and his teachings. Another attendee, 13-year-old Gianna Bren of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Sandy, said she begged her parents for permission to attend because she enjoyed meeting others who share her faith and interests.
The event included presentations using passages from Isaiah 55 and Proverbs 3 to compare human limitations to the vastness of God's wisdom. Ray also cited the writings of St. Catherine of Siena and the Gospel of Luke to discuss personal identity and the transformative power of divine love.
